Chapter 2 Dinner was another trial.  Mom had that pleasant, slightly buzzed expression that said, be careful.  Justin knew from long experience that she could go either way.  Warm and sweet or a raging harridan.  And he didn't want to be the one to push her in the wrong direction.  It was JC instead. "I got an A on my paper in Constitutional Law," he began.  It seemed innocent enough.  Paul nodded and went back to the paper.  But Lynn frowned and  Justin felt his stomach tighten, knowing what was coming.  JC looked at his face, the younger boy's distress clearly evident.  Before practice, Justin had mentioned the B+ and how worried he was about Lynn's reaction, so it was obvious what was on his mind. "What was your grade, Justin?" she asked. "B+." Her face darkened. "What?  Let me see it," she demanded.  Justin knew it was useless to argue so he retrieved the paper, handed it to her, and sat down, trying to prepare himself for the tirade. "`Careless research'.  Why?" Her tones were clipped as she questioned him. "I....I... uh...didn't leave enough time..." "Why?" "I don't know," he said, "I swear it won't happen again." His voice was cracking, trying to head her off before she could launch into some hurtful diatribe. Too late. He ducked his head as the words flew, angry and mean, tearing him into little pieces. "What were you thinking of?  Don't you want to get into a good school?  All you care about is basketball and having fun.  Honestly, Justin, I'm not sure why I ever wanted a child.  You are such a disappointment sometimes....." Even when he tried not to listen, he heard the feelings and they clawed their way in to his heart.  He knew it was the alcohol, but still— where did it come from?  He was determined not to cry, not in front of Paul and JC and it took every ounce of self control he had.  She finally wound down, finishing with "Do you understand?" He nodded, knowing from past experience that he was grounded for tonight at least or until she sobered up and forgot what the punishment was. Paul, as if nothing had happened, turned to JC, "So, how was practice?" Justin panicked.  He had to get out of there, now, before Paul attacked him as well. "May I be excused?" "You are doing the dishes tonight," his mother snapped. "I know.  I'll be back when you're done.  I have a lot of work to do." He knew that would cinch it.  She waved him away and he lost no time in disappearing down the hall.  JC stared after him, disappointed that he couldn't get Justin slammed for a second time.  He had relished all of the hurt that had flitted across his stepbrother's face.  Good, golden boy. Justin raced for the phone and dialed Lance's number.  When Lance answered, he hesitated, remembering that Lance was angry with him.  "Hey." "Are you calling to tell me that you broke the date with Britney?  `Cause that's all I want to hear." The tears did come now.  He knew Lance could hear them on the other end, but he remained silent. "Lance, please, not now." The tone softened, "What's wrong, baby?" "My mom— she said so many mean things and the coach is going to make me #1 and JC #2 and you're mad at me and I made a date with Brit and I'm grounded tonight.  Want more?" It came out in a tumble of hitched breaths and run together words. "Shit.  What did she say?" "I don't know.  Probably what she always says— I'm no good, not the hot item I think I am, and so on.  God, Lance, it hurts, just the voice.  And all because of a B+ instead of an A+." "You are good.  You're *my* hot item," Lance said quietly.  He heard Justin sniffling at the other end. "Uh-huh," Justin said.  He abruptly changed the subject and talked about practice and the dilemma there and how Paul would be pissed when JC lost the number one position.  Lance listened, injecting soothing words into the conversation where he could.  Then they got to the next obstacle. "Britney, babe, what are you gonna do about your `date'?" The soothing tone was gone, replaced with a steely edge that Justin recognized. "I'll call her later," Justin answered, "I'll break the date.  OK?" The begging tone didn't go unnoticed. "Call me after you talk to her, "Lance said, knowing Justin's ability to avoid unpleasant tasks. Justin heard his name called from the other room, "Gotta go.  Later." "Later." And the phone went dead.  Justin took a deep breath and prepared to go back out, not sure of what to expect. Paul was still there, only there was no newspaper, just angry eyes that bored into Justin.  Justin started to clear the table, avoiding eye contact.  "Justin," Paul said, the malice apparent.  If he had the nerve to raise his eyes, Justin would have seen the smirk before JC covered it.  Yes— this was definitely not Justin's day. "Yes?" Justin still kept his eyes averted, anxious about what Paul wanted.  His mother was gone, probably to make herself another drink— her after dinner drink, she called it. "Look at me, you little shit," the older man snarled. Justin obeyed, suppressing another sigh.  "What did you say to the coach?" Justin was genuinely confused, "Say?  When?" "After practice— when you went in to see him," Paul said. Justin was speechless.  Long seconds passed in silence. "Leave him alone, Dad, please?" JC said.  Justin's shocked look was comical and JC had all he could do not to laugh out loud. Paul stared at him and started to say something, then thought better of it and pushed back from the table.  "You two are both losers." When he was gone, Justin smiled gratefully at his older brother, "Thanks, man." He bit his lip, "You know that what I said to the coach wasn't bad, don't you?" "Sure, Jus," JC said, keeping the anger and hate out of his voice and eyes.  He got up and strolled out, feeling the younger boy's relief.  Good, the better you feel now, the farther down you go, boy. Justin was humming as he cleaned up, thinking maybe the bad day had ended.  He still had the call to Britney but he could deal with that.  And then he could talk to Lance and everything would be okay. It didn't go exactly like that.  When he called, she ended up pissed and no amount of charm was going to unpiss her — at least not tonight.  But he was off the hook for Saturday and at least Lance would be happy.  But when he called to say that he had broken the date, Lance said that he had to go to a family party Saturday and he guessed it would be okay if Justin wanted to go out with Britney after all. Justin threw up his hands and slammed into his bedroom to study.  Lost in his books, he didn't hear JC come in until he spoke.  "Hey, feeling better?" Justin was like a puppy, practically sitting up and begging.  He smiled, that sweet smile that everyone fell for.  "Yeah, a little.  But an hour ago I had two plans for Saturday.  Now I have none." "Want to do something?" JC asked, as if he hadn't eavesdropped on Justin's two conversations. "Sure," Justin replied, not caring what it was as long as he got to spend time with JC. "OK, it's a date." JC started out of the room. "JC?" Justin said shyly, "Thanks." Lynn didn't forget her punishment and Justin was stuck in for the rest of the week.  In some ways, he was secretly relieved.  He could study and get ahead so that he could have time for Lance without falling behind.  Lynn had calmed down and he had gotten an A on his last English test, so peace reigned for the moment. "Hey, babe, when are we going to be able to get together?  I'm horny as hell and my right hand is getting played out," Lance said on Friday when they met up in the few minutes before class started. "How about we skip lunch and go find a closet or something?" Justin suggested, grinning at the thought. Lance cocked his head, "Sure." He thought maybe Justin had been kidding but he was up for anything.  His mind raced through the possibilities.  "Meet me on the bridge at lunch." At noon, Justin was waiting and let Lance lead him to a deserted area in the large school, the room where all the extra instruments for the music classes were stored.  "No one comes here," Lance said and as Justin eyed the layers of dust, he figured it was probably true. Lance pushed the younger boy up against the wall and kissed him hard, anxious to make up for lost time.  Justin's lips parted and tongues met in a wild duel, as they reacquainted themselves with flavors they had missed.  Lance's hips ground against Justin, their erections rubbing against one another despite the confines of the material between them.  Justin moaned into his lover's mouth and gripped Lance's arms, pulling him closer.  Lance pulled back, taking in the dazed look Justin had, the long lashes, the swollen lips.  He gasped as he felt the desire that Justin always aroused in him, his dick almost painful.  Justin's eyes flew open in fear, "What? Did I do something wrong?" "No, baby, you just look so fucking hot, standing there like that...." Lance dropped to his knees and unbuttoned Justin's jeans, easing both pants and boxers down on his hips, allowing his erection to spring free.  He took it into his mouth hungrily, swirling his tongue over the tip and then down the length, tasting Justin.  Justin moaned again, grabbing Lance's hair, pulling on the gelled spikes as he fought to remain standing.  Lance began a rhythm that felt wonderful and within minutes, Justin reached the peak, bursting in a shower of pleasure, releasing into Lance's mouth.  Lance swallowed and then licked delicately, smiling at the sated expression on Justin's face as he slid down the wall, ready to return the favor.  Lance kissed him, letting him taste himself, murmuring love. And then Lance was on his back on the dusty floor and Justin was sucking, creating a pull that made Lance whimper.  He moved up and down, Lance running his fingers through Justin's curls, gripping them when he felt the pleasure shoot through him, back arched and his release imminent. When he came, Justin grinned and swallowed, happy that he could satisfy his boy. He laid down next to Lance and they cuddled for a few minutes until Justin looked at his watch.  How had the time gone so quickly? They scrambled up, smoothing hair, straightening clothing, brushing the dust off, leaving the empty room and wishing they could stay there all afternoon. JC saw them return to the cafeteria, that just sexed look all over them. How the hell did people not see it? He eyed Lance greedily, taking in the lazy green eyes, the pinked lips that announced kisses and the body that just wouldn't quit. "Turn around, Lance," he whispered, hoping the boy would give him a view of that round ass he wanted to grab. It would happen, too, once he got Justin out of the way. Justin saw him and waved. JC forced himself to smile, to nod. The two came over, smiling, barely able to keep their hands to themselves. "JC, a ride tonight?" "Yeah, sure, later," he said as he strolled away, Justin too focused on Lance to notice the disgusted tone. Lance looked a little surprised, but threw it off to JC's mood. "Hey, Lance, what do you say we ditch lunch every day?" "No way. Right now I am ready to jump your bones again right here. Not too cool. I like it *much* better when we can take our time and cuddle when we're finished." "Yeah, I miss the cuddling part," Justin replied. He craved being stroked, touched gently. He had this dreamy look that Lance loved, when he knew Justin was thinking about him. "OK," Lance laughed, "We gotta go." The rest of the day passed quietly. These were the days that lulled Justin into believing they were a normal family, loving and supportive, rather than the screwed up amalgam that they actually were. The normalcy spilled into Saturday. The "date" with JC expanded to include Britney when she finally calmed down enough to listen. They went to the movies, arguing over comedy versus romance. JC sided with Britney on the romance just for the pleasure of watching Justin's discomfort, especially when Britney reached over and *accidentally* trailed her fingers across Justin's crotch. Frowning, he draped his own hands in a protective tent, wishing he was here with Lance and that those had been Lance's fingers. She was nothing if not persistent. No matter how little satisfaction she got, she never stopped trying, planting small, airy kisses on his neck, on the sensitive skin behind his ear, stopping only when he hissed, "Cut it out, Brit, " loud enough for several other patrons to look their way. She sank down in her seat, pouting. She forgave him though when they stopped for burgers at the diner and talked about their futures. JC's love was music and he wanted to major in music production wherever he went. Justin wanted to study business and he joked that they could go in to something together. Britney, who had no desire to attend college, volunteered to be their office manager. Justin wondered what job Lance could have in this imaginary plan. JC nodded indulgently, but he really wanted to scream that he wouldn't be caught dead with these losers once the dust of Orlando was off his feet. He was amazed that Justin was so into the whole idea, spinning it out into branch offices, overseas as well as here. It was pathetic. JC couldn't take any more. "Let's go, " he said, the minute that the waitress delivered the check. The other two looked startled but got up to go. After they dropped Britney, Justin asked, "Where you applying?" JC's teeth were clenched but he forced them apart to answer, " Florida and Florida State." Justin was silent. "No Ivies for me, bro. Dear old Dad ain't that interested in footing the bill and I don't got a momma pushing me every step of the way." Justin's cheeks stung with embarrassment. He hated that that's the way JC saw him, a momma's boy who was only successful because he was pushed hard. "Hey. Sorry if I hurt your feelings,"JC lied. "It's okay," he said quietly and then fell back into the silence that filled the car. All of Justin's good feelings about the evening and his growing relationship with JC fled out into the night. He thanked his older brother when they got home and slipped into the house. JC stared after him, marveling at how easily the knife slipped in.  It amazed him that the successful golden boy that everyone else saw was just a puddle of insecurities, just waiting to be brought down. continue menu