Tim's Last Orgasm 31: Friends Take Care Of Their Own

Jared spied James before James saw him, and he had a quick decision to make. Did he want to go with this guy and take his chances, or did he want to come up with some excuse why he couldn’t go with him tonight? He knew what he wanted, but was it fair to James? He had spent the entire day arguing with himself, but he knew without question what he wanted, fair or no. He knew that he was only leading James on, that in so doing he was doing them both a disservice and that it would be all over as soon as he revealed his secret. Nevertheless as soon as he saw the handsome young man leaning against his Corvette, he knew what he would do.

“Hi, James,” Jared said cheerfully when James saw him. “You been waiting long?”
“Only a few minutes,” James said cheerfully as he took the hand Jared offered and shook it firmly. “I hope you told anyone who might expect you that you’d be late tonight. I got a great evening planned.”
“Oh really?” Jared said. He suspected that he now knew what a girl must feel like on her first date, and he had to admit it felt good to be sought, desired, courted. “What’ve you got planned?”
“I just want to have a great time with a great guy tonight,” James said as they hopped in the Corvette.
“In that case we might as well get an early start,” Jared said with a grin. “Have you ever driven a Corvette?”
“Are you kidding?” James said. “I’ve never even sat in a ‘Vette until the other day.”
“Then why don’t you drive?” Jared suggested.

Jared and James changed places, then they put the top down and roared out of the parking lot. They drove up and down Lakeshore Boulevard, then off on a side road where James got to put the ‘Vette through its paces. “This is incredible!” he exclaimed. “I had no idea these things handled so well.”
“Yeah, I love this car,” Jared agreed. “I kinda bought it on an impulse, but I’ve never been sorry.”
“But I was supposed to be showing you a good time,” James protested. “So far all we’ve done is drive around and burn up your gas.”
“What’s a little gas between friends?” Jared commented. “Besides, you’re driving. So if you’ve got some plans, then let’s go!”

James did indeed have plans. He wanted to take Jared to a nice restaurant, but finances were such that he couldn’t afford it. He apologized to Jared, saying that they would have to settle for fast food because his budget simply wouldn’t allow the type of place he had in mind. “I’m just hoping I get some points for at least wanting to take you some place nice,” he said with a grin.
“Then how’s about I treat?” Jared offered. “I could use a nice meal with good company myself. Then after that, there’s a basketball game I’d like to go to, if you don’t mind.”
“Basketball?” James inquired. “I didn’t think the season had started yet.”
“This is High School basketball,” Jared said. “I’ve got two really good friends on opposing teams, and I’d kinda like to go see them play. It’s always interesting to see them play against each other.”

Of course Jared had no idea that Terry wasn’t playing, nor the reason for it. He had no problems talking James into going to the game because James never turned down the opportunity to watch young men play basketball. “You just hit two of my favorite passtimes in one motion,” he said with a grin, “watching boys and watching basketball.” Tonight he might even get to meet two of the players, a thought that was not at all unappealing to James.

*********************************

“I don’t want to go, Tim,” Terry said forcefully. “What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand? I just don’t want to go to a basketball game tonight!”
“I understand what you’re saying,” Tim said patiently. “I even understand why. In your place I wouldn’t want to go either, but tonight you don’t have a choice. Your teammates are all expecting you, and I promised I’d get you there if I had to drag you.”
“Please, Terry?” Laura pleaded. “For me?” If there was one person on the earth who could turn Terry’s will to mush, it was Laura. Tonight was no exception. She didn’t ask for much in their relationship, made very few demands; so when she did express a strong desire Terry had very little defense. Finally he reluctantly consented to go to the game, but that didn’t stop him from grumbling.

“I don’t see what’s so all-important about going to a freakin’ basketball game,” Terry moaned as they drove to the pizza joint. Tim had already dropped Nate off at the gym because his coach wanted to get in one more practice before the game.
“What’s important is for you to know your entire team is behind you,” Tim lectured. “They’re already trying to get Coach Sweet out of there and you back in, so the least you can do is show your support for their efforts.”
“How are they gonna get Sweet outta there?” Terry inquired.
“I’m not supposed to tell you,” Tim answered.
“So you know? You know what they’re up to?”
“I know the ultimate goal,” Tim admitted. “But they asked me very specifically not to tell you. They understand your problem and they want you completely out of it for now. I have a feeling all hell might break loose and they don’t want you involved. With your flair for conflict and your volatile personality you could wind up in the middle of it, and you know where that might lead. You’ll understand later. Right now we’ve gotta gulp down this pizza so we won’t be late for the game.”

******************************

“I wanted to talk to you guys without the coach before the game,” Nate said when he had the entire Lincoln High team in the locker room, sans coach.
“What’s going on, Seymore?” one of the seniors demanded. “You’re acting like you just robbed a bank or something.”
“Actually what I did was probably worse, at least in some people’s views,” Nate replied. “But if you guys will just be patient I’ll explain what’s goin’ on. We gotta hurry though ‘cause the coach will be here any time now.”

Nate explained that it was already determined that they would win tonight, that Midwestern High were planning on throwing the game, and why. He explained what they were trying to do, and that he and his team could help if they showed Midwestern no mercy. It was their coach’s policy to go easier on a team when they were obviously off their game. Naturally he didn’t carry that practice so far that there was a risk of losing a game, but he saw no point in totally humiliating an opponent who had injuries or sickness or some other problem. But tonight, Nate told them, the worse Midwestern was embarrassed, the better the plan would work.

There were lots of questions, particularly inquiring how Nate knew so much. “That’s a stupid question,” Nate replied. “You all know that one of my best friends is Terry Chandler, so when he didn’t make the cut this year I got involved. Their coach is no coach at all as far as basketball is concerned, and they’re trying to get rid of him. I just thought I could help.”

Nate refused to explain things any further, saying that no one knew who didn’t have a need to know. “I think it’ll become very obvious as things go on,” he told his teammates. “All we really have to do is wipe up the floor with them tonight, and I suggest we all enjoy it because if our plan works, we might never get another chance.”
“So you think they can beat us with Chandler playing?” another teammate questioned.
“I dunno,” Nate answered. “All I know is it’s gonna be a piece of cake tonight, and we all know that’s not normal for Midwestern. If their plan works, Terry will be back on the team and there’ll be no more game throwing. We’ll earn every point we get after that.”

********************************

Coach Sweet was late getting to the game. He wasn’t that familiar with the neighborhood and he was deep in thought anyway, so when he made a wrong turn he didn’t even notice until he was 3 or 4 miles out of his way. He was thinking about the things he’d overheard today in school, trying to figure out exactly what it all meant, if anything.

Sweet had been sitting in his office, his door open, as classes changed. He had got up from his desk to close the door, was standing right by it, when he recognized the voices of two of his basketball players talking right outside his door. “Did you see Agnew’s prick yesterday after practice?” one voice said to the other. Sweet paused and moved slightly behind the door so he wouldn’t be seen.
“Oh sure,” the other voice said sarcastically, “I always check out all the guys in the shower.”
“No, I’m serious,” the first voice said. “Man, it’s no wonder he’s been off his game lately. I’m honestly amazed he can even walk, to say nothing of playing basketball.”
“So whadda ya think is wrong?” the other voice inquired. Sweet strained his ears to hear above the din of changing classes. The two boys started to move off, continuing to discuss the matter as they went. Sweet heard no more.

That had been in the morning. Then at lunch, he was sitting in the cafeteria, alone as usual, when two of his team sat at the very next table, their backs to his back. He was pretty sure they didn’t know he was there, and to confirm it he heard them make a rather insulting remark about him, then laugh. “You think we’ve got a chance against Lincoln tonight?” one boy said to the other. That got Sweet’s attention instantly. Even if the boys didn’t believe it, Sweet cared a lot whether his team won or lost, albeit for somewhat selfish reasons. True, he didn’t know anything about basketball, but nonetheless the teams’s success or failure reflected directly on him.
“Not a hope,” the other boy said with authority. “With Sweet’s lousy coaching, and that problem Ben Agnew and Marty Evans have, we’re doomed. Actually I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Ben and Marty don’t even show up. You know that’s gotta hurt like hell!”
“What d’ya mean?” the other one asked.”
“Shit, man, haven’t you seen their dongs?” the first one said.
“Well, no,” the other replied, “I haven’t.”
“Jeez, Mark, I thought everyone knew. Check ‘em out tonight if they show up. You’ll see what I mean.”

Sweet was seriously considering interrupting, asking what the problem was, but he decided he might learn more by just listening discreetly, so he kept quiet. “Actually I been thinking of quitting the team,” the first boy said. “I’m kinda scared that whatever’s wrong with them might be contagious.”
“Really? D’ya think Sweet would let ‘em play if they had something we could catch?”
“I don’t think he knows,” the first boy replied. “Actually with his attitude I doubt that he cares.”

If the proper people had heard the two conversations that Sweet had heard, plus two others of a similar nature, the boys involved would very likely have been nominated for an Academy Award. They had done precisely what they had agreed to do: they had talked a lot, apparently oblivious to the fact that they had an audience, but they really hadn’t said anything at all. They had made vague references to a “Problem” with two of their teammates’ genitals, but nothing definite. As they had hoped, they had said enough to pique Sweet’s curiosity; enough in fact to make him late for the pre-game warmup, which meant he didn’t get to peek in on the boys as they were dressing as he had planned.

The two teams were both on the floor warming up when Jared and James arrived. Jared led his date to where he knew Tim and Laura would be sitting, and he was somewhat surprised to see Terry sitting with them. After introductions were made, Jared asked the obvious question. “You’re obviously not playing, Terry,” Jared remarked. “I hope you haven’t got an injury already?”
“Nope, I didn’t make the cut,” Terry answered somewhat sullenly.
“You? But I thought...”
“It’s a long story,” Tim said, knowing it was difficult for his brother to talk about. “I think it’ll become obvious before this game is over.”

“Wait a sec,” James said. “Terry Chandler. Yeah, I thought you looked familiar. You’re...
“You two know each other?” Jared questioned.
“Not exactly,” James said. “I worked for city Recreation all summer. I refereed the inner city league. Terry, you were really something! I can’t believe you’re not playing in the school league.”
“Like my brother said, it’s a very long story,” Terry said.
“You know basketball?” Tim inquired of James.
“Matter of opinion,” James answered. “I thought I was pretty good in high school and I was hoping for a scholarship, but it didn’t happen. I’m still hoping to get on the team but in the meantime I do coaching and refereeing whenever I can to help make ends meet.”
“Hold that thought,” Tim said pensively. “I think I have an idea.”

The sudden hush of the spectators drew everyone’s attention to the playing floor. Coach Sweet had just arrived and taken his place on the bench, and his team had positioned themselves in a single line directly in front of Terry, and were now facing him, looking directly at him. The first player in the line, Ben Agnew, raised a basketball over his head and gave a signal - a signal that Terry knew well. He threw the ball to Terry, who stood and caught it, then threw it back to him. He passed the ball to the boy behind him who repeated the process. It was their way of saluting one of their own who was not with them on the team. The coach yelled at them to get back to the bench so the game could start, but they ignored him. The Lincoln High team stood patiently waiting, having been forewarned by Nate that this was going to happen. By the time the fourth player had thrown him the ball, there were tears in Terry’s eyes. Tim saw those tears and stood beside his brother, putting a hand on his sturdy shoulder. “They love you, brother,” he whispered, “But not nearly as much as I do.”

It was only after the entire team had exchanged the ball with Terry and the game had started that Terry noticed something strange. Two of his team’s best players, Ben and Marty, appeared to be moving very strangely. There was no question they were not playing their best, but the entire team was screwing up badly and everyone knew it. But there was something else - something in the way those two boys were moving. It was extremely difficult to explain or even describe, but their movements, their body English, were not the fluid motions that Terry was used to. What Terry didn’t know, in fact no one did who hadn’t been in the locker room, was that under their shorts Ben and Marty were wearing seven pair of briefs, with the two pair closest to their skin being several sizes too small. It was almost impossible to detect under the loose basketball shorts, but it had a drastic effect on their movement.

When they ran from one end of the court to the other, the movement was more of a leisurely lope than a run except that their pace seemed labored. On six different occasions Lincoln was able to steal possession of the ball, then run to the other end and sink the undefended basket while Ben and Marty trailed behind, unable to get into position in time to block the shot. Even when they were in position their movements were slow and sluggish, so that the game was so horribly one-sided it could almost be called no game at all.

To say that Midwestern High was humiliated that night would be the understatement of the century. The final score was 103 - 27. Both coaches were livid at the result: Sweet of course because his team had done so badly. The Lincoln coach was equally angry because he had told his team repeatedly to ease off, that they had an ample margin to win the game and that’s all that was required, but the Lincoln kids continued to do their best, to take advantage of every opportunity, and there were no shortage of those.

“Agnew and Evans, I want to see you in my office, right now!” Sweet growled as the team began to undress. He could have tried to get a glimpse of them in the shower to see if he could determine the problem, but that was not the way Sweet worked. If he had been a little more observant he might have seen the smirks that were being exchanged throughout the locker room. As it was, Sweet had only one thing on his mind. “I’m kinda scared that whatever’s wrong with them might be contagious,” the boy had said at lunch. The last thing Sweet needed was the entire team, perhaps the entire male student body, coming down with some horrible disease. He had to get to the bottom of this before it turned into a real disaster.

***************************

Terry sat in the crowded spartan bleachers of the school gym, appalled at his former team’s ineptness on the court. He knew it had to be an act because his friends were simply not that bad, but it was a complete mystery to him why they would do such a thing. It was obvious to him that Ben and Marty were hurting big time but Tim, who was very involved with Jared as they caught up on each other’s lives, refused to let him in on what was going on. “You’ll find out soon enough,” Tim promised, then went back to his conversation with Jared and James.

After the game, Terry was determined to go to the dressing room to console his friends, but Tim was equally determined that he would not. “You’ll ruin everything,” he warned. “Just let the guys handle it. It might happen tonight and it might not, but it’s far better if you are totally out of the picture until after things are all settled.”
“That’s just the point,” Terry protested. “After what’s settled? Are Ben and Marty hurt or what?”
“They’re fine,” Tim assured him. “I think they should be arrested for overacting, but it’s their show now.”

James was anxious to get away from there, and Jared was none too eager to stay either. Tim had briefed him on the problem, why Terry wasn’t playing, but he had refused to explain what was going on at the game. Jared and Tim agreed to meet on Saturday afternoon, and Jared made a hasty exit with his new boyfriend. “That was interesting,” James quipped when they were back in the Corvette. “I think I’ve now reached a new level as far as bad games I’ve seen.”
“They threw the game,” Jared explained.”
“No kidding!” James laughed. “I think they tossed it out the window and then stamped on it. What in the world’s going on?”
“I dunno exactly,” Jared admitted. “Evidently their coach is really bad and they’re trying to get rid of him, but that’s all I know.”

“So what do you want to do now?” James asked, eager to change the subject.
“I don’t really know,” Jared replied nervously. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well, if you like we could go to my place,” James suggested. “I’ve got a really great stereo that I built myself. Would you like to hear it?”
“I... I’m not so sure about this, James,” Jared said doubtfully. “I dunno if I’m ready...”
“Just for an hour or two,” James pleaded. “It’s no big deal. We could order a pizza and have a beer or two, and listen to some tunes. C’mon, Jared, it’s Friday night! No class tomorrow.”

There was no arguing the last point. It was indeed Friday night and Jared wasn’t planning to work tomorrow. He had worked for the Chandler’s computer store all summer, but the work had trailed off to the point where there was no need to go in unless called. Jared wanted to go with James to spend what was left of the evening, perhaps even the entire night, but he knew how James was expecting the night to end, and Jared couldn’t accommodate what he knew James wanted. Nevertheless this was the first time Jared had ever felt attracted to anyone and hormones or not, he wanted to follow through. “Ok,” he said softly, “I guess I can go over for an hour or two.”

Jared found James’ apartment to be modest at best. He had chosen to live off campus because he couldn’t afford the dorm room and meal tickets, but living on his own had proved to be less than desirable. He wasn’t eating well and he often had no heat in the winter; but his lifestyle did have its advantages. He had a place where he could discreetly bring potential lovers, and he had fond hopes that Jared would be his first.

Once settled in the tiny apartment, Jared declined on the pizza. “I wouldn’t mind something to drink though,” he said.
“I don’t have much,” James said. “I’ve got a few cans of beer and some cokes. Which would you rather?”
“Beer will be fine,” Jared said nervously. He was determined to tell James the facts of life as they applied to him, and he thought a few mouthfuls of beer would provide the much needed resolve to do that.

James popped the top on two beers and handed one to Jared, then he sat down next to him. “I gotta tell you,” he said with a smile, “that was without a doubt the worst basketball game I have ever seen including the games I used to play in elementary school, but I enjoyed it anyway because you were there.” He leaned in and kissed Jared, and Jared responded warmly. “It just occurred to me,” James said as he pulled away, “I never did get the basics out of the way. You are gay, aren’t you?”
“I’m... to be truthful James, I’m not much of anything,” Jared said haltingly. “There’s something I’ve gotta tell you, James. I’m afraid I shoulda told you before we ever went out tonight, but I guess I’ve been selfish. I’ve really enjoyed being with you.”
“You sound like you’re saying good-bye,” James observed. “Is there... like... is there someone else or something?”
“No one else,” Jared said as he gulped down half the can of beer. “But yeah, there’s... something.”

Now it was James’ turn to get nervous. He knew that Jared had to be much better off financially than he, what with the ‘Vette, the nice clothes, the superb manners. And he had paid the restaurant bill with a Platinum card, and how many second year students have a platinum card? James began to wonder if he’d got in over his head with this guy. Perhaps he had parents who were watching his every move, or maybe he even got his money by being some sort of informer, or perhaps he wasn’t gay at all. “What, Jared?” he asked. “What ‘something’? Surely you’re not gonna tell me you’ve never had sex before?”
“Almost,” Jared answered. “I’ve only had sex once in my life, and that was the night before my surgery.”
“Surgery? What surgery?” James wanted to know.

Ok, now was his chance and he wasn’t going to pass it up. Jared knew now that he would never get fortified enough by the beer in his hand to tell his secret until he was so drunk he couldn’t tell anyone anything, so he took the only course of action that seemed right for the situation. “Instead of telling you, why don’t I just show you?” he said. Before the astonished James could answer, he set his beer on the wooden box that served as a coffee table, then he stood and hooked his thumbs under his jeans and boxers and pushed them to the floor. “This is what I’ve been trying to tell you,” he said as he moved his legs slightly apart and stood facing James, who was now gasping desperately for breath.

“You...” James gasped, “You... you’ve got no... no...”
“I’ve got no anything,” Jared filled in for him. “I had it all cut off last spring, James.”
“But... but why? Did you have some sorta disease or something?”
“No, I didn’t have a disease,” Jared answered, the disgust obvious in his voice. He was suddenly very defensive, frustrated, angry. “Why does everyone take it for granted that I had some sort of disease? I just thought I would be happier, better off, if I was sexless. And before you even ask I’m not planning to have sex change surgery. I have no desire to be a woman, I just didn’t want to be a man in the sexual sense. I’m sorry for ruining your evening, James. I guess it’s time I was going home.”

“Please don’t go,” James said so quietly Jared could hardly hear him.
“I’m sorry?” Jared said.
“I said please don’t go,” James repeated. “I’m sorry if I offended you but you gotta admit you gave me a bit of a shock. But I really do want you to stay, Jared. Please?”
“But I thought...” Jared protested.
“You thought I wanted a quick romp in the sack, and now that I find you don’t have the equipment I’m not interested any more, right?”
“Well, yeah, something right that. I just thought... I mean, I was feeling guilty for... well, you know, I knew from the start that...”
“Why don’t you just shut up?” James suggested with a nervous grin. “You keep digging your hole deeper and deeper. You obviously wanted to spend time with me, so why don’t you just give me a chance to show you that I can spend time with you too, sex or no sex? Let’s just see how it goes, ok?”

*****************************

“Ok, you guys, what the hell’s going on?” Coach Sweet demanded when he had Ben and Marty in his office with the door closed.
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about,” Ben answered. “We had a kinda bad night, that’s all.”
“That’s it? You expect me to believe we had a bad night, and that’s all there is to it? How stupid do you think I am? I want to know what’s going on and I want to know NOW!”
“I told you, there’s nothing going on,” Ben replied.
“What do you think’s going on?” Marty asked.

“I know you think I’m no good as a basketball coach,” Sweet said as he got more frustrated. “You just need to know it’s not written anywhere I know of that a team has to love their coach and cuddle up to him on cold nights. But you’re not gonna ruin my career by screwing up the whole team. Now for the last time, what’s wrong with your pricks, you two?”
“Nothing,” the two teens answered in unison. The angelic expression on their faces could easily have qualified them for another Academy Award.
“Don’t give me that shit,” Sweet ordered. “You guys pranced around the gym all evening like you had a load in your pants, and all those rumors I heard...”
“Rumors?” Ben inquired. “What rumors?”
“It doesn’t matter what rumors,” Coach Sweet roared, suddenly realizing that he had almost revealed that he’d been evesdropping. “Just drop your pants. NOW! Both of you!”
“But... but coach, we already told you, there’s nothing wrong. We’re fine.”
“Just shut up and drop your shorts, and whatever you’ve got under them. I wanna see two cocks staring back at me, and RIGHT NOW!”

Ben and Marty began to slowly push down their shorts. They had rushed to the locker room right after the game and removed all their extra underwear so that now they had only three layers: their shorts, the athletic boxer briefs that all basketball players wear, and their jocks. They slowly, teasingly pushed down the outer shorts, then the athletic briefs. “Please, Mr. Sweet,” Marty pleaded, “Don’t make us do this.”
“I said take ‘em down, and hurry up about it.” he growled. Two jockstraps began to slowly descend, revealing two half hard teenage cocks. Mr. Sweet wasn’t the least interested in these boys’ bodies for sexual purposes, but even so he found himself staring at the beautiful bodies that were now totally exposed from the waist down. The boys were now standing upright, their shorts and under garments around their ankles in a crumpled heap.

“They look fine to me,” Sweet said as he rose from his desk and approached the boys. “What the hell’s wrong with them anyway?”
“We told you, nothing’s wrong,” the boys chorused.
“Bullshit! They’ve gotta be sore the way you two were moving around the court tonight, and all that talk I heard.” He knelt down to get a closer look, then reached out a hand and grasped Ben’s cock and gave it a squeeze. Ben gasped. “Please, Coach Sweet, don’t do that!” he exclaimed loudly enough that the boys listening at the door heard. At that point the door to the office burst open, there was a flash of light, then the door closed again before Sweet could see who had been wielding the camera. “What the fuck...” Sweet exclaimed as he got to his feet, his eyes still dazzled by the blinding flash.

*****************************

Jared decided to spend the night with James. At James’ request he had not put his clothes back on. “Your body’s beautiful,” he exclaimed. “I guess I have to admit I would have liked it more with the missing parts still there, but on the other hand I suspect it wouldn’t be as smooth and immature looking if you still had your balls.”
“I don’t think my balls were working right anyway,” Jared observed. “I’ve had guys tell me I look more like 14 then 18, and that’s before the surgery was done.”
“I’ve gotta ask,” James said as they sat and talked. “Did your father do this to you? I mean was it some kinda ritual or something?”
“No, James, my father doesn’t even know. I went to Mexico last spring and had it done all on my own. I wanted everything gone, no ritual or religious beliefs or anything. I wanted it for me, period.”

James didn’t ask the big WHY question. He was curious, but he was also infatuated by his new friend, his new BOY friend. He had certainly been disappointed when he saw Jared’s nullified crotch, but to his total surprise the sight had not resulted in his losing interest. He found himself intrigued by what he saw and he was anxious to explore every square inch of the beautiful slender body. But it was more than that. He liked Jared, a lot. He hoped that Jared liked him too. He found himself thinking, to his own amazement and shock, that he would be willing to make whatever body or attitude adjustments necessary to build a life with this boy, should that opportunity present itself. But that was pushing things and James knew it. Right now he would just enjoy the moment, do what he could to make Jared and himself as comfortable as he could, both physically and emotionally.

“You wanna go to bed?” James suggested after they’d listened to the stereo for a while, then watched a TV movie. They were both naked now, and each had savored the other’s nakedness by exploring, touching, admiring.
“That sounds like a plan,” Jared agreed. He rose and began gathering his clothes to fold them while James sat on the couch and watched him, his erection aching for release, doing more drooling than James had ever seen. “I’ll have to take care of that after we get in bed,” Jared remarked as he pointed to the throbbing manhood.
“You... you don’t have to,” James offered.
“Maybe I want to,” Jared countered. He did want to, very much indeed. For the first time in his young life he was filled with desire for intimate activity with another human being. Even his evening with Carlos, as pleasant and enjoyable as it was, had been initiated by Carlos. Jared had gone along because he was curious about what he was going to lose forever and felt that he owed it to himself to have the experience at least once. But tonight, for the first time, hormones or no hormones, Jared wanted that gorgeous male member that was now dribbling a substantial stream of precum.

Jared wasted no time getting down to business once they were in James’ single bed. His hands, his lips and tongue, his entire consciousness were everywhere on James’ body while James explored Jared in the same way. Jared had never performed fellatio before, had never even dreamed he would ever do such a thing, but tonight it was as natural as breathing. “You... Unhhhh... You don’t have to do that,” James grunted as Jared took him in his mouth.
“Mmm-hmmm,” Jared tried to say without giving up his prize. Fearing he had not been understood he nodded his head slightly, then finally he managed to release his mouthful long enough to say “Just tell me if I hurt you. I’ve never done this before.”
“You’re... Unhhh... doing... fine,” James grunted as he felt his loins boil.

*******************************

“I hope you enjoyed your little feel because that’s the last time you’re gonna molest anyone in this school,” Ben announced triumphantly as he and Marty pulled their shorts up.
“Molest?” Coach Sweet questioned. “What the hell are you talking about? I’ve never molested anyone. You guys have...” There was a knock on the door, then it opened without waiting for an invitation. The entire team entered the tiny office.

“We have a very interesting picture of you,” Even announced. “We borrowed a very high-tech digital camera from a benefactor who shall remain nameless. Would you like a copy when we get it printed?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sweet said defensively. “All I was doing...”
“All you were doing was kneeling in front of two underage boys with their pants down,” Evan interrupted. “The picture doesn’t really show exactly what you were doing, but it does show your arm in a very interesting position and the bare butts of two boys, with the numbers on their jerseys clearly visible to identify them as players on your team. Whether you choose to believe it or not we’re not interested in ruining your career, but we don’t want our lives ruined by your lousy coaching either. So if your letter of resignation is on the Principal’s desk Monday morning we’ll print one copy of that picture and give it to you. Otherwise we’ll be printing several copies. One will go to the principal, one to each of Ben’s and Marty’s parents, and one will be published in the school paper. You can figure out for yourself how long it will take for the police to get involved. It’s up to you, Mr. Sweet.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong and you know it,” Sweet said emphatically. “What kinda trumped up mess is this anyway? You think you can make your bogus charges stick?”
“Mr. Sweet, we don’t want it to go that far,” Ben said calmly. “You know as well as I do that with this kind of accusation it really doesn’t matter if the charges stick or not. As soon as word gets out there’ll be a lot of parents ready to lynch you, and you’ll certainly never work as a High School coach again. We don’t want to do that to you, as bad as you are. But we will if we have to, so I suggest you go home and think about it over the weekend. If your resignation is not on the principal’s desk Monday morning, a copy of that picture will be there in the afternoon. And just in case you didn’t hear me I’ll say again: we have no desire to ruin your life, but we’ll do what we have to do. It’s your decision.”

Tim gained a whole new perspective on the importance of school athletics, thanks to Terry’s troubles with Mr. Sweet. At first he had thought their motives were simply to get their star player back on the team, but it went far deeper than that. He realized as he watched them work together that they had a comradery, a unity that was very rare, and that every single member of the team was committed to the welfare of the team as a whole. That welfare meant that their goals went further than getting their friend back; they also had to get a better coach, improve the morale of the team, and give a better chance to those who were contenders for a scholarship. Coach Sweet sensed that same unity and he knew that he couldn’t fight the entire team, their parents, the school board and media, so he wrote his resignation, effective immediately, and placed it on the principal’s desk as directed. But the Midwestern Trojans were not finished yet. They still had to find another coach.

***************************

There can be no doubt that Jared was enjoying his night with James. Perhaps he wasn’t enjoying it quite as much as James was as he writhed and moaned on the bed, but once he got his mind around what he was doing he found it rather enjoyable. He also had to get his mind around the thought that he would never get into it as James seemed to be, nor would he ever enjoy the pleasures he was now giving James, and that was going to take a little longer. For the first time since long before his surgery, Jared was painfully aware of just what he had done to himself. Nevertheless he put those thoughts aside for the moment and concentrated on experiencing, learning what he hoped would become a regular occurrence.

“You’re not gonna convince me you never did that before,” James said after his climax had subsided.
“That’s what I’m telling you,” Jared answered as he snuggled close in to James’ muscular chest. “To be honest I’ve never wanted to do it before, and I honestly thought I never would want to.”
“Is that why you had everything cut off?”
“Pretty well. I just didn’t see the need for sex in my life because I thought I would never love anyone that much. Boy was I wrong!”
Jared, I don’t know... I mean this is only the second time we’ve been together, and maybe it’s too soon to think...”
“You’re afraid you can’t love someone with no genitals, right?” Jared accused.
“To be very honest, a week ago I’d have said there’s no way I could be with anyone like you. But it’s not that, Jared. Honest, I love being with you and I hope it works out. I just don’t know...”

“Tell me what you don’t know,” Jared challenged. “If you like to be with me, and I can make you happy, what else is there?”
“Jared, I don’t want to hurt you...”
“Go ahead, hurt me,” Jared said as he sat bolt upright in bed. “You’ll find I’m a lot tougher than you think. So if you want to hurt me you go right ahead. Maybe that’s all you think I’m good for. But when you start hurting just remember who asked me to stay when I wanted to go home. But I’ve gotta ask, what is it about me that isn’t good enough for you?”
“Jared, it isn’t that,” James defended. “I’m sorry, Jared, it’s just...”
“Just what?” Jared demanded. “I told you it was my first blow job, and you told me I did ok. So what? What the hell’s wrong with me?”
“Jared, nothing’s wrong with you,” James answered. “You’re the answer to so many of my dreams, and I’m not talking about sex at all. It’s me that’s wrong, not you. I should never have asked you to go with me the other night, and I certainly shouldn’t have asked you to stay tonight. It was selfish of me, and I’m... I just don’t know how to explain it.”

“So you want me to go?” Jared asked. He was deathly afraid of the answer, but he had to know how much of a fool he’d made of himself.
“I dunno what I want, Jared,” James said. “I certainly don’t want you to leave me, ever. But... I just don’t think it’ll work. I just don’t think...”
“You don’t think you can love someone with no cock,” Jared offered.
“NO!” James practically screamed. “That has absolutely nothing to do with it. But you... you’re so... so...”
“So what?” Jared demanded. “I’m so what?”
“So fuckin’ RICH!” James finally blurted out. “I’m sorry, Jared, but there it is. I haven’t got five dimes to rub together most of the time, and you... you must be worth... or at least your family... your dad must be worth 5, maybe 10 million. How can I...”
“Actually to be honest I have no earthly idea what my dad is worth,” Jared said. “I have my own money and frankly I don’t even know if I’m in my dad’s will. But what’s that got to do with us?”
“Even so,” James persisted, “I bet you’re worth a couple million anyway. We’re from completely different worlds, Jared. There’s no way you can look me in the eye and tell me you’re not worth at least a million or two.”
“Actually I can,” Jared replied. “I’m not worth even close to a million or two. At last count it was more like about 63 million.”

James choked and sputtered. “My ears are playin’ tricks on me,” he said with a silly grin. “I thought you said you were worth 63 million.”
“That’s what I said,” Jared answered. “Actually that’s not quite true because most of it is tied up in various investments, but if I were to liquidate everything that’s about what it would be. I hate it, but that’s how it is. If I could I would just give it all away, but I can’t. But surely you’re not rejecting me just because I’m rich.”
“You hate living the dream I’ve always had,” James said somewhat bitterly. “If it’s such a pain in the tail, why don’t you go ahead and give it all away? I’m sure there’s no shortage of people who would take it, and if you didn’t have all that money we’d be more equal.”
“I can’t,” Jared said wistfully. “It’s my legacy. My grandfather worked very hard to build his empire and he left it all to me. It’s kinda a requirement for me to carry on and build it if I can. I’m trying my very best not to put on airs or throw my money around, but it’s hard when you’ve been brought up that way. I suppose that Corvette down on the street is a result of one of my weak moments.”

James thought long and hard about what he had just learned, about the relationship he’d just got himself into. He found himself not envying Jared, but pitying him. It was as if he was some sort of royalty - perhaps a prince or something. His life was not his own in spite of his valiant efforts to be an individual. There was always a part of him that was tied to that family heritage, that fortune that demanded that he give it attention and make it grow even though there was more than enough to sustain him for life. The more he thought about it the more he realized that Jared was indeed from royal blood: American royalty. He understood it, and the sight wasn’t nearly as pretty as he had thought it would be.

*************************

“Got it covered,” Tim told the team when they had gathered in the school parking lot. Laura had already spirited Terry away, much to his dismay, so there was no way he could be associated with the goings-on. The team had just expressed their concerns that perhaps they shouldn’t have acted so hastily because now they had no coach, and presumably no team. “I’ve been talking to my uncle and he has his resume all prepared. He is a qualified EMT, he has renewed his teaching license and he has a degree in Pys Ed. He admits that most of you all probably know more about basketball than he does so you’re still gonna be very much on your own as far as playing strategy is concerned, but I’m hoping that I might get Jared’s new friend involved to help. The only problem there is how to do that.”
“How can we help?” Ben asked.
“Just show up at my house tomorrow afternoon at 2,” Tim instructed. “I’ll have Uncle Jason and James there, so we can all work out the details of what happens next.”

The Saturday afternoon meeting proved more fruitful than anyone could have hoped. Tim introduced Uncle Jason, who was quite enthusiastic about his new job. He was still taking courses to get his nursing degree, but his job as EMT had disappeared as a result of financial cutbacks. He immediately warmed to the teens as they did to him, so he promised to submit his resume to the principal as soon as Sweet’s resignation was in place. But the best news of all, for everyone concerned, was that James had been hired as a “consultant” by Jared, and his first assignment would be as assistant coach for Midwestern High. They all knew he would be welcomed as a teacher intern by the principal because he was a student working on his Education degree with a major in Phys Ed, plus the fact that it was almost like getting another teacher at no cost to the school. The entire team went home elated after their meeting. It seemed that finally their team would come back together in a way that they could all live with.

Tim got another surprise Sunday morning. Nate had slept over because his mother was going to be away all weekend, but as usual the boys had been so exhausted they had crawled into bed and gone right to sleep, cuddled so closely together that their bodies almost became one. They found themselves being shaken awake by Tim’s mother at 7 AM. “Come on, boys, I have a big favor to ask,” she said as they opened their foggy eyes. “Your dad and I have been invited to the Walkers’ for the day. They just bought a big boat and they want us to go out with them. We won’t be back until sometime this evening. Terry has gone with Laura to some sort of family function, so I’d like you two to take care of Timmy today, if you would.”
“Us?” Tim questioned. “You mean Nate and me? Alone? All day?”
“I don’t see anyone else, Tim,” Virginia said. “You didn’t have plans I hope?”
“Well, no, nothing special. But Mom, Nate and I... I mean, are you really ok with that?”
“Whatever on earth do you mean?” Virginia asked. “Why wouldn’t I be ok with it? You have both shown yourselves to be very attentive to Timmy and he adores you both. Why wouldn’t I be ok with it?”
“Well, I dunno... But Mom, we’re... Nate and I... I mean, alone with Timmy all day... Are you forgetting that we’re...”

Virginia Chandler regarded her son carefully, trying to figure out exactly what he was saying when it finally struck her what the problem was. “Are you referring to your relationship with Nathan?” she asked.
“Well, yeah Mom, I am. I mean, Timmy’s a little boy, and we’re gay. I just thought...”
“Timothy Chandler! Are you telling me that your baby brother is in danger if I leave him alone with you?”
“No, Mom,” Tim exclaimed. “First of all he’s not my baby brother. But even if he was, there’s a lot of people who think because we’re gay we shouldn’t be left alone with little boys. So I just assumed...”
“I’m not ‘most people,’ Tim, I’m your mother, and I hope I know you better than that. The way I understand it being gay and being a pedophile are two entirely different things. Now don’t talk so crazy! So can you two take care of Timmy or not?”
“Of course we can,” Nate said brightly. He knew Tim couldn’t answer because Tim was in tears. Tim knew now, from his mother’s simple act of trust, that she had truly accepted him as gay, but not some sort of monster. “Thanks, Mom,” He managed as she turned to leave the room.
“Just get your tails out of bed,” she said with a grin. “Timmy’s gonna be awake soon and then you’re really gonna have your hands full.”

Minutes after they heard the family car leave, the boys heard a faint cry from Timmy’s room. “Guess that’s the end of our taking it easy,” Tim said as he pulled on a pair of shorts. “I’ll go get him out of his wet night diaper if you’ll go start his breakfast.”
“It’ll be ready when he is,” Nate answered.

Several minutes later Nate came back upstairs to see what was keeping the two Tim’s. He found Tim standing by Timmy’s changing table, staring in some sort of trance at the baby who was lying naked on the table. The baby was giggling and “talking,” making strange baby noises that he seemed to understand perfectly but no one else did. “Breakfast is ready,” Nate announced. “What’re you doing, Tim?”
“He’s... he’s just so beautiful, Nate,” Tim remarked, still obviously on some higher plane. “He had a little hardon when I took his diaper off. How could we have been so foolish? Just look at that little thing! We had one like that once, and now...” Tim looked up at his lover, tears streaming down his face.
“Tim, what’s done is done,” Nate said as he kissed him. “Crying over it isn’t gonna change anything, but maybe we can use our experience to prevent someone else from doing something like that. But it’ll be all right, man. You’re still you and I’m still me, and little Timmy here doesn’t deserve to have someone staring at him and crying. So let’s get a diaper on him and get some breakkie into him.”

Tim did, but he didn’t snap out of his melancholy right away. They took the little boy downstairs, still clad only in a diaper, and fed him his breakfast. By the time his little belly was filled to overflowing, Timmy had both his caregivers laughing at his antics. “C’mon,” Tim said suddenly, “let’s get him cleaned up and take him for a walk in the park. Mom says he loves the park, and it’ll soon be too cold to take him.”

By the end of November the Midwestern basketball team had been rebuilt into a force to be reckoned with, thanks to the humanitarian efforts of Uncle Jason and the basketball skills of James. The latter had moved into the luxurious apartment that Jared had called home most of his life, having been invited there by Jared’s father to the total astonishment of Jared, who would never have believed his father could be so open minded. He had expected a huge scene and had already packed to move out after he made his announcement that he and James were lovers, but his father simply said “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just happy that you’ve changed your mind and aren’t alone all the time.” Don the chauffeur was somewhat miffed in a good-natured way, making no secret of the fact that he would have made a play himself if he’d realized that there was any possibility Jared would be receptive.

Terry and Nate had resumed their little hugging ceremony following their games, but on the court they became fierce, mortal enemies. Both aspects of their relationship were encouraged by both coaches now, they having realized that it was beneficial to both players and fans to see such a display of sportsmanship. Tim and Nate, Terry and Laura, and even Jared and James had all seemed to mature in their relationships to the point that Tim believed there were simply no issues they couldn’t handle. He would be proved very wrong when he answered the ringing phone one Sunday afternoon.

Next: XXXII Larry’s Return