Canyon Lake Blues, Part 6

NOTE TO READERS: This is a note to clarify any confusion. The storyline which deals with "James" & "Jeremy" is a flashback. The story of "Wyatt" & "Kelly" and their related parties takes place in a more current time setting. James and Wyatt are cousins and James influenced Wyatt into seeking relationships with other men, which is why he (Wyatt) and Kelly ended up together. The flashback sequences detail how James discovered he was gay. Hope that helps! Read on!

JEREMY & JAMES / DECEMBER 2000

Jeremy Anhalt was worried about James Kaplan. Ever since they'd dropped those pornos in the teacher's lounge, he'd been acting squirrely. He seemed like he was a million years away, at times. He spaced out often and his laughter rang hollow. Jeremy's best guess was that the hostility between the Kaplans had reached an all-time high, but that theory had been refuted two weeks ago when James' dad moved out of the house. James had even said that things were a lot better now because his parents seemed happier apart. So, if it wasn't that, then what was it? 

James was sitting on the couch, sipping a soda, half-watching television and half lost in his thoughts. He didn't notice that Jeremy was watching him closely, trying to read his mind. He was too busy thinking of what he'd seen in the teacher's lounge earlier in the fall. Those two guys...together...intimately...what would it feel like? Could he actually try it? Or worse - what would his friends do if they found out? 

"James." Jeremy's voice broke through the fog in his brain. "Are you all right? You've been a little off lately. Wanna talk about it?"

James couldn't bring himself to meet Jeremy's concerned gaze. He just shook his head and replied, "Nah, I'm cool."

"You sure? You've been acting wierd." When James simply repeated himself, Jeremy knew he had to pull out the heavy artillery. "You know, I'm not the only one whose noticed it. Everybody thinks you're a little out of it."

This time, James couldn't help but look at his friend. Jeremy's eyes only confirmed what he'd stated. James's face paled and he swallowed hard, wondering if he'd given himself away.

"Look, man, I know something's up and I want to know what it is. Whatever it is, I can help you through it."

James swallowed again, a lump rising in his throat. He couldn't tell Jeremy what he'd seen! If he told Jeremy that his uncle had gotten head from a guy, Jeremy would hate him! Then he'd probably tell his uncle who would deny the whole thing. James would lose it all.

"It's nothing. It's nothing...really," he finally replied.

Jeremy sighed and turned the t.v. off with the remote. "James, have I ever given you a reason to not trust me? Whatever is wrong, you can tell me. I'm your friend, and in our social standing, it's pretty rare to have an actual friend who will be there for you no matter how many girls you disappoint or how many fumbles you make. I like you for who you are - not your athletic ability and certainly not for your ability to score with girls. So, like I said, whatever it is, you can tell me. I want to know so I can help you."

James felt the lump in his throat grow as tears threatened to overwhelm him. No one had ever said anything like that to him before. And what Jeremy said about real friends being a rare thing for them, it was true. Popularity had its perks, but one thing he could do without was the loneliness. He never knew who liked simply because he was on the football team or who truly liked him for who he was. With Jeremy, he'd always felt more relaxed and comfortable than he did with anyone else. Maybe there was more to his friend than he'd initially thought. But, still, he couldn't bring himself to tell Jeremy about his uncle, and about how it had made him feel.

"I can't say, Jeremy. You wouldn't understand."

"Try me," his friend pressed. "You might be surprised."

James lept off the couch, pacing across the floor and wringing his hands. 

"You wouldn't understand, ok? You just wouldn't. I'll be okay. I just need some time."

"I wouldn't understand? Let me tell you what I don't understand. You barely speak, you hardly ever smile, and you haven't been on a date in weeks. That's what I don't understand.

"Now, James," he continued, "make me understand. I'm your friend, probably the only real friend you have, and I want- no, I need to know what's going on with you!" 

He got up from his seat on the couch and approached a red-faced James. He held his friend by the shoulders and finished, "James, tell me. Please!"

James sighed and went back over to couch, dropping down on to it wearily. He would tell Jeremy everything. He had no reason not to now. And Jeremy was right, it would feel good to get it all out in the open. Besides, as wierd as he was acting, it only be a matter of time before someone found out. He drew in a deep breath, and the words came pouring out of him; he couldn't stop himself. Before he knew it, he'd told Jeremy everything - about Mr. Winters and Principal Anhalt, how he'd been aroused, and how he no longer found himself attracted to girls. Since the incident, his attraction to the opposite had steadily waned and had all but died out completely. He wasn't excited by women at all anymore.

When he was finished, he fell silent, waiting for Jeremly to call him a liar, or a fag, or to kick him out of his house; but Jeremy didn't. What Jeremy did next shocked James to the core.

Still silent, Jeremy leaned forward, and pressed his lips against James's. James felt his whole body tense up and then relax as he settled into the unexpected kiss. He felt as if he'd been plugged into about ten thousand volts of electricity as Jeremy's lips remained on his. When Jeremy fi nally broke the smooch and pulled away, James was disappointed.

"Did you feel that?" asked Jeremy, a small smile playing upon his lips. 

"What?"

"I asked you if you felt that. You said that lately, you've felt nothing when you kissed girls, but since you might like guys, I wanted to know if you felt something when I kissed you. Did you?"

James's response? He lunged forward, his lips instantly connecting with Jeremy's. Jeremy, a little taken aback at first, recovered quickly and wrapped his arms around his friend in a tight embrace. He was thrilled! James was the first guy he had truly fallen for and he'd been wanting a chance with him since they'd met. Now, it seemed it was happening!

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Wyatt awoke from a fitful sleep, staring absentmindedly at the clock. Nine o'clock...man, they'd been asleep for a while! He yawned and stretched, mildly disturbing Kelly who lay haphazardly over him. He mumbled something inaudible and slid off Wyatt without waking up. Wyatt glanced down at the sleeping boy and found himself mesmerized by Kelly's beauty. His whole countenance was hauntingly enhanced by the glow of the moonlight. His light brown hair had become liquid gold, spilling over his shoulders and the sheets; his full, pink lips looked like lush rubies, slightly parted while he breathed deeply; his skin was smooth and flawless, unblemished. There was only one word to describe Kelly - "handsome" didn't apply, "good-looking" was a gross understatement, "cute" wasn't enough...Kelly Fiore was beautiful.

Wyatt felt his heart drop into his stomach. He wanted nothing more than to curl up once more with this living work of art, but there was something he had to do: damage-control! He had to find Adam and Zane and try his damndest to explain away his questionable actions that day.

Wyatt rose from the bed without a sound and hunted in the dark room for his clothes. Quietly, he dressed, being very careful not to wake Kelly, who slumbered on, completely oblivious. He opened the door slowly and was ready to leave when he thought of something - he shouldleave a note. If Kelly woke up to an empty bed and there was no explanation of why Wyatt had left, he would think Wyatt had played him and that would stamp out their chances of any initmate encounters in the future! He turned around and went over to Kelly's desk which sat on the other side of the room away from the bed. He spotted a notepad and a pen lying on top of the rubble that Kelly called a desk, and he proceeded to scribble out a hasty note to his new lover. 

"Kelly," he wrote. "Went to find the boys, be back soon. Stay sexy for me." He was about to write the word "love" before he signed his name, but caught himself, swearing silently under his breath. It was nothing to be worried about, right? Everyone wrote that on letters, even if they didn't mean it; it was just a formality. But Wyatt didn't want to take that chance. He signed his name quickly and tossed the note on the pillow on his side of the bed. Then, as quickly as he'd returned, he was gone.