Love On The Links Chapter 11

This story is a work of erotic fiction involving teenage boys. All the usual rules apply. If you shouldn't be reading this now then don't continue on. Copyright Notice - Please, this story is Copyright © by NCDuffer and the author retains all rights. You may distribute, copy, print, staple or spindle this story however you like, provided this copyright notice remains intact and you do not change the story in any way. Also you may not charge any fee to anyone to distribute or access this story. Comments and constructive criticisms are always welcomed! Send them to ncduffer@hotmail.com.

"Coming," he said as he effortlessly slid MY boxers on. What was he doing!? Trying to get caught? I dove under the covers and did my dead level best to pretend like I was part of the mattress. Jack opened the door, and his mother stood in the doorway.

"Dinner is in 10 minutes, sweetheart," Mrs. Stewart said.

"Thanks mom, I'll be down in a minute," Jack answered.

"And tell Will he is more than welcome to stay for dinner, but Jackson, honey, please promise me that y'all will put on some more clothes before you come to the table." With that, she closed the door and promptly went downstairs.

I flipped the covers off of me in one dramatic swoop and just stared dumbfounded at Jack. His eyes were dancing as he smiled at me. He stood over me and lifted my chin up with his forefinger.

"I couldn't wait to tell you, baby," Jack said as he planted an angel kiss on my still agape mouth. "Mom and dad know, and they're thrilled." I flew off the bed and wrapped myself into him. I couldn't help the tears that were now freely flowing; I didn't want them to stop. The feeling of sheer overwhelming happiness that coursed through my veins at that point is something of which I had rarely, if ever, experienced.

"When?" I asked. Basically, my neurons were firing so quickly that only monosyllabic fragments would have enough time to form as statements.

"While you were in Charleston," he answered. "I was really missing you something awful, and mom and dad were afraid I was slipping back into the Florida kind of mood..." he trailed off. I squeezed his hand and he quickly regained his focus and his smile. "Anyway, get THIS! Apparently they've like, known for awhile now about me, but they were shocked as hell about you. Hehehehe, apparently, if this golf thing doesn't work out for you, they said you should try your hand at acting." We both started laughing, and soon uncontrollable fits of giggles were wracking us. Soon, we had laughed ourselves out and just lay there still, soaking up the silence.

"We should probably get dressed and go downstairs," Jack said.

"Yeah," I replied with a pensive sigh. "Jack, I am so happy. I love you with all my heart." I closed my eyes, wrapped my arms around his neck, and gave him a delicate, heartfelt kiss. "Let's go downstairs," I whispered. "And Jack..."

"Yeah, babe?" he answered.

"Would you hold my hand?" I asked.

His eyes sparkled as he gladly answered, "You bet! It would be my pleasure!"

As I walked down those steps to the dining room, I felt like I was walking down the aisle, almost. It was almost like a marriage was taking place in my mind; this was a public confession of my undying devotion for Jack. As we walked into the dining room, Mr. Stewart stood up and met us halfway to the table.

"Will," he started, "do you remember what I said to you after the father/son golf tournament?"

"Yes, sir," I responded.

"Well, I meant it," he stated. "I felt like you were a part of this household before, but now, it's even more. You've got the heart of my only son in your hands, I just pray you always appreciate the treasure you've been given." With that, he reached out towards me. I instinctively flinched, but he grabbed me and locked me up in a big hug. I soon warmed up to him and embraced him while a silent tear glided down my cheek.

Dinner that night was relatively uneventful after that, it was as if nothing were different than any other time I'd had dinner there. Though much had changed, to witness it, a casual observer would fail to notice any discernable difference in the dynamics between the Stewart family and myself. Even Haley seemed to understand what was going on and was ok with it. She was definitely a precociously sensitive girl, so I wasn't really that surprised. After dinner, Mr. Stewart asked us to meet him in his study. We walked in as he was just lighting his cigar.

"I would offer you boys a drink, but I think that's going to have to wait a few years," he said as he poured himself a mint julep. "It's time I had 'the talk' with you boys, I reckon," he started. "I know how it is at this age, and I also realize that you boys are going to be intimate with each other regardless of whether I give the official ok or not. I think we would all agree that it would be a lot safer for you to do that kind of stuff in your bedroom, Jackson, than out in some random dark corner. Basically, I am telling you right now, as long as you two are mindful and polite of our right not to be disturbed by your, ahem, actions, you are not only welcomed, but explicitly limited, to this house for that kind of behavior. One other thing, boys, I don't really know much about the mechanics of the whole process, so I want you two to promise me that you'll look up information about risks and associated problems. As long as you boys are careful, I don't see any reason why we all can't get along within these guidelines. That's about all I have, boys, do y'all have any questions," he asked as he took a long sip from his cocktail.

"I have one, dad," Jack said. God, my stomach flipped, I had no idea what he was going to say, but I hoped it wasn't embarrassing. "Are you going to give Haley this same conversation and permission when she gets a boyfriend?"

"Hell no, boy," Mr. Stewart bellowed with a full belly laugh. "If I even hear tell about somebody laying a finger on my little girl, I'll strangle him sure as I'm standing here." We all laughed at that and Jack and I excused ourselves to go upstairs.

Broken. Absolutely shattered. The tears that fell from my eyes did nothing to sway the consternation from my mother's face as I told her about the girl with whom I was in love. How she made me feel like I was the most special person on Earth, her whole reason for getting up every morning. How seeing her made my day, and being with her made me feel like a man, a man with a purpose. My gentle assertions were brutally maligned as soon as they left my mouth, however, and my mother managed to shoot down every point I managed to raise. I was ardently persistent in the fact that I loved Shante, and she me, but it was all to no avail. My mother cleaved my heart in two with a single precise blow.

"Well, I absolutely forbid either of my sons to denigrate themselves or this family name by consorting with the likes of people like her." My mother's words stung me like arrows, each deftly finding their mark with their poisoned tips. The tears were flowing freely now; I was powerless to stop them. In fact, I felt powerless to do anything; my mother knew my weaknesses. She only used her knowledge to exploit the situation, however, and I was too scared to fight back. She was my mom, couldn't she see what she was doing to me?

"Besides," She continued, "you're only 13, you don't even know what love is yet. James, honey, you don't want to go and ruin your name this early by associating with someone so beneath you. I know this hurts right now, son, but believe me, in the long run, you will absolutely count yourself fortunate that your father and I are looking out for your wellbeing so stridently."

Why did it seem like all the feelings that felt right to me seemed so wrong to everyone else? I mean, everybody always says listen to your heart, but I was listening, and apparently my heart was leading me astray. I could honestly care less, though, because the only path I wanted to take was the one that led me back to Shante. The feelings of isolation and solitude were overwhelming, and I would give anything to talk to somebody who might even slightly understand what I was going through.

She gave me a soft hug, which I was too stunned to receive fully, and left the room. Silence hovered in her wake, and although embittered by the whole event, I knew what I had to do.

The next day at school, I was flying high. Jack and I spent the rest of the night just watching television and cuddling on his bed. Honestly, even though I thoroughly enjoy making love to Jack with wild passionate abandon, it's the quiet times where we just rest against each other that I treasure. Feeling each other's sighs, reading each other's thoughts, just being together. As I walked down the hallway, I could just feel the permanent smile that was etched into my face. I walked up to my locker, spun the combination, and opened it up to retrieve my books for first period. School would be so much fun, I thought, if it weren't for these damn classes.

It was the first day back from break, so naturally classes consisted mainly of people telling each other what they did while not in the clutches of the evil education system. While I told everyone about spending the week in Charleston, I neglected to mention the true intent for the entire trip. A lot of people wouldn't understand why my family insists on following such an antiquated custom. Even though I will always fight like hell against it for myself, I whole-heartedly believed in the underlying principle behind it. I honestly don't know if it's like this in other regions of the country, but in the South, we place a very strict reverence on all things familial and historical. Tradition and roots mean everything, and to resist the practices of tradition ingrained in you since birth is a dishonor to those who came before you. So even though I completely disagree with some of the things my parents may do, I ardently believe and respect the principles for which they do them.

"What's up, y'all?" I said to Jack and Robert who were walking together towards me in the hall. Classes had ended for the day and we were all making our way outside to catch rides home.

"Not much, man," Robert said. "Just talking with your boy about my girlfriend's evil plot to get him together with Cara."

"Oh, brother," I said as I rolled my eyes. "Well, I don't blame her, I mean, he IS the best looking guy in school." I winked at Jack as I said this and he blushed profusely. Robert just laughed and shook his head.

"Alright, you two," Robert joked, "cut that shit out in front of me. And don't get too smug, Will, you're next on Stacey's hit list. I'm off to practice, y'all have a good one," he said as he headed outside.

"Come on," I whispered to Jack with a smile, "Let's get to your house as fast as possible, I've been horny all day and I don't think I can hold back much longer." He noticed the rather obvious bulge in my khakis that I didn't bother hiding from him. I liked letting him look me over in public; it's almost like I could feel his eyes on me and it felt so sexy.

"Let's go," he said, "mom should be waiting for us outside."

Whenever practice was finished, Robert headed to the shower. He spent a lot of time today working on his deep passing routes, and his throwing arm was starting to stiffen up. The hot water from the shower was gonna feel great on his sore muscles. He was draggin ass off the field, and was one of the last guys to make it to the locker room. When he walked into the shower room, there was an animated conversation taking place. He was too tired to really focus in on what was being said until he heard something that immediately made his stomach shoot up into his throat.

"Yeah, I heard they caught them making out in the street," Bobby Taylor, our starting defensive end said. "Who would've thought we had any gay people at our school."

"What!?" He asked, butting into the conversation.

"Yeah," Bobby said, "apparently two drama fags were caught making out in the street in front of one of their houses." Robert felt relief; it was not Will and Jack. "Those guys are in for a rough road ahead of them," Bobby said with a toothy grin that made Robert sick to his stomach.

"Why, Bobby," he said, his conviction and opposition arising from nowhere. "Because they're gay? That is so, like, closed minded, dude."

"Robert, why are you taking up for a couple of queers?" Bobby asked.

"Well," he answered, choosing his words carefully, "I mean, I don't even know the guys, but I just think it's stupid to beat the shit out of somebody for something like that. Just look at it this way, now there's two less guys who are out to fuck your girlfriend." That got a round of laughter from the guys, because Bobby was notoriously overprotective of his girlfriend. Any guy that made the mistake of talking to her clearly did so at his own risk.

"It just ain't right, man..." Bobby trailed off as he shut off his shower and left the room.

It's almost funny, I actually could picture my heart breaking in two as I dialed the last few digits of her phone number. Although my passion for her ran deeper than anything I've ever felt, my dependence on my parents' approval far outweighed any other factor. That's what compelled me to make the most difficult phone call of my entire life.

"Hello?" the sweet voice answered at the other end of the line.

"Hey babe," I answered. "It's me."

"Oh, hey," Shante replied, "two phone calls in one day, this must be my lucky day!"

I gave a sad little laugh of irony. "Well, I would say it probably won't go down as the best day in your life."

"Why, James?" she implored. God, this is so difficult.

"Well, it seems like I can't love you anymore," I choked out between tears.

"Why not?" she asked.

"Well, my mom heard me talking to you on the phone, and I tried to explain everything, and well, she just exploded, and told me she didn't want me talking to you, and that I couldn't see you anymore, and it hurts so much..." I trailed off into the receiver. I could hear the muffled sounds of crying coming from her end of the phone.

"Didn't you tell her?" she asked. "Didn't you show her how much we love each other?"

"I tried, baby, oh God, believe me, I tried," I replied. "She just wouldn't listen to me. She kept telling me I was ruining myself, and that I had no regard for my future, or our stupid family name."

"So," she asked quietly, "is this goodbye?"

"I'm so sorry," I cried into the phone. "One day I'll be strong enough to stand up to them. I promise I will be. I'm so sorry I'm not strong enough now. I love you, Shante, and nothing will ever change that. But we just can't continue, that much I know." I hung up the phone crying harder than I had ever cried in my life. I was weak; I couldn't fight for the only thing I'd ever really valued in my entire life.

When I got home from Jack's after school, I went to check my email. There was an email from Hillary, with the subject "Wish List." I smiled to myself as I opened it.

My dearest William,

How are you, sweetheart? I want you to know that this past week was one of the most enjoyable I have spent in a while. I was telling my best friend all about it, (well, not ALL about it) and we got the biggest kick out of it. She really wants to meet my beau, and you have to promise to say only nice things about me. Speaking of introductions, when do I receive the pleasure of meeting your beau Jackson? I think mother said something about perhaps taking a week off sometime soon and traveling to see some family in Virginia. I will try to convince her to stop off for a day so I can see my precious Will, over whom I have absolutely been pining! It will probably be an easy sell; they really want this to work. I have attached my wish list, but our address has changed. We've closed the summer home on Kiawah, and we're moving back downtown. You know, South of Broad, oh boy! Sorry to be so sarcastic, you know I love all my dear society friends, such sincere souls.

Very Truly,

Hillary Wow, was all I could think after reading that letter. Hillary is coming to see me, she wants to meet Jack, Jack doesn't even know she exists, and that was only their SUMMER home!? Well, she didn't give me an exact date, but it sounds like I've at least got a month before she arrives. I scanned over her wish list; nothing on here I couldn't cajole mom into ordering. Especially since she got the pleasure of addressing it to a house South of Broad Street in Charleston. Basically, anyone who was anyone in Charleston had a house located in the battery area near the waterfront. The dividing line was Broad Street, and it was more than just a street; it was a divider between worlds. I printed out the list and started downstairs to give it to mom. As I was passing James' room, I heard muffled crying through the door. I knocked quietly.

James cleared his throat and tried his best to give a normal, "Come in."

I stuck my head in the door and asked him, "everything ok, beau?"

"Yeah," he said, his eyes sullen and downcast.

"Ok," I answered facetiously, "because you look perfectly happy, especially the swollen bloodshot eyes. Bullshit, little man, I can tell something's got you really upset. Spill it."

"It's mom," he answered. "She's such a...such a...bitch!" he sobbed into his pillow. I sat down beside him on the bed and gently rubbed his back as he cried a little more. He tried to compose himself as quickly as possible.

"She found out about Shante and me, and she made me break it off with her," James stated, more off into space than to me. "I just hate her, Will, and I don't even know why. It's just like I have to do everything she says, and even though I know it's wrong sometimes, I just can't stand up to her." More sobbing. Good lord, I thought, I know exactly what this poor kid is going through, and I may in fact be right where he is someday if mom and dad ever find out about my relationship with Jack. But I would be strong enough to stand up to them, wouldn't I?

Soon the weekend was rolling around, and I was really looking forward to spending it with Jack. We made plans to go see a movie and then spend the night at his house on Friday. I couldn't wait for 8:00 to roll around on Friday, and spent extra time getting ready. I quickly showered, did a little light shaving, and started getting dressed. I bought these cool, brown, boot-cut cords from the GAP the other day, and I was dying to break them in. I picked out a light blue polo button up that I thought looked good on me and put it on. I threw on my gray newbies, splashed on a little "Woods" cologne, and headed out the door towards Jack's house. Soon, I was walking up the steps to his front door and rang the doorbell. His little sister answered the door and let me inside. I walked upstairs to his room and gave a quick little knock as I opened the door.

"Hey babe, I..." I gasped at the site of Jack wearing only a towel.

"Sorry, I'm running a little late," he said. I was blushing profusely as I stared directly at that towel. I was trying my best to use ESP to make it fall off; it didn't work, though. Jack just gave me a cocky little half smile and walked over to me. He took my hands and placed them on his hips, right above the towel. I slid my fingers inside the towel and just rested them on his hipbone. He put his arms around my neck and drew me in for a close quiet kiss.

"Mmm," he sighed, "you smell so good." I could feel his hardness pushing through the towel against my leg.

"Well," I answered, "you look so damned sexy. I don't even want to go to the movies, now, let's just stay here and you can have your way with me." I smiled as I said this, and Jack just smiled back at me.

"Well, I already told mom and dad we were going," he said, "and I think Haley's meeting some friends there, so we're kind of locked into the movie thing."

"Oh well," I responded, "we've still got the rest of the night."

"What do you want to see?" Jack asked me as he dropped his towel and walked over towards his dresser to get his boxers.

"Well," I answered, kind of breathlessly, staring at his firm body teasing me, "there's this movie that just came out called 'Get Real.' It's supposed to be really good, but, um..." I trailed off.

"What, babe?" Jack asked, "What is it?"

"Well," I replied, "it's about two boys that fall in love with each other. I was just thinking that two guys who go together to see a movie about two guys in love might just look a little suspicious."

"You know what?" Jack asked.

"What?" I replied.

"I'm getting to the point where I don't care anymore," he said. Ever since Jack had come out to his family, he was becoming less and less fearful of coming out to everybody. Frankly, that scared the hell out of me. I was no where NEAR ready to even tell ANYONE about our love and relationship together. I think the reason that this really troubles me is because Jack was getting more and more comfortable with his sexuality. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that he's able to finally feel comfortable in his own skin; I just think he's moving too quickly for me. Even with his experiences in Florida and the nightmare he experienced because of his unfortunate "outing," he seems like he is almost ready to risk going through that again. That is what frightens me the most, and what also makes me feel guilty; I am holding him back from expressing something that I could obviously tell is about to make him burst. It seems whereas I saw being gay as something you had to keep quietly locked away from everyone, Jack saw it as something to not only accept, but to celebrate. It's like sometimes I got the impression he really ENJOYED being gay, if that makes any sense. As, if given the choice, there's no other way he'd rather be. This concept was completely alien to me, as I had previously viewed my orientation as something to be endured, rather than embraced.

"Well, some of us don't have the luxury of understanding parents like you do," I responded. "I've got to be extra careful, now, because mom and dad already busted my little brother for dating somebody they don't 'approve' of."

"Really?" Jack asked. "How's he taking it?"

"Umm, not well at all, I'm afraid. He cries all the time, and has kinda spaced out lately."

"And your parents don't see how much this is killing him?" Jack asked incredulously.

"Well, the way they figure, it may hurt like hell in the short run," I explained, "but they're doing him a favor in the long run."

"That's the most fucked up logic I've ever heard," Jack said.

"Hey, welcome to my world!" I yelled. "Now come on, sexy, you've got to finish dressing, or we're gonna be late for the movie."

"Are we gonna see the gay movie??" Jack pleaded, "pleeeeeeeeeeease!?"

"Ok," I caved, "but we have to act cool about it until we get in there. No gay acting."

"Dude, do we ever?" he asked. He did have a point.

"Well, no," I answered, "but I just don't want to get busted, man. Paranoia sucks." We both laughed as he finished buttoning up his shirt and put on some shoes. Soon Jack's mom was driving us all to the cineplex. We got there just in time; the previews had just started for "Get Real," and we found our seats near the middle of the theatre. I looked around, and almost laughed; the audience was nearly all gay couples. It was a mix of young and old people, but there was no getting passed it, this was definitely a gay audience.

We watched the movie, and it felt so good just holding Jack's hand, laughing out loud at the jokes, and just being near him. The movie was so good, but I wanted to get out of there as soon as it was over. I didn't want to take a risk on somebody seeing us there if the lights came up. We almost made it to the back of the theatre, when I heard somebody whisper my name. It wasn't Jack, and I was frozen in my tracks. I looked down the aisle of seats to my left and saw them. I didn't know their names, but I definitely recognized their faces. Two guys that went to our school, but weren't exactly in the same social sphere to which Jack and I belonged. But they definitely went to our school, and they definitely saw Jack and I together at a gay movie.

"Oh shit..." I said under my breath.