"So what the hell happened today?" Matt asked quietly as He and Jacob made their way along the side yard to the pool.

Jacob gave a slight jolt of his shoulders trying to think what to say.

"You don't even know him that well and you bolted over a table to kick his ass." Matt's voice had a hint of awe to it.

"Mind if I swim in my boxers?" Jacob asked as his fingers fumbled with the buckle of his belt.

"Its your pool dude." Matt replied trying to get his eyes on any other place but Jacob's hands.

Jacob's wrist gave a sharp flick causing the button fly to peel open effortlessly. He slightly spread his knees to support the jeans that hung agape as he pulled the shirt over his head. With the shirt peeled off Matt's eyes caught the mottled purple, blue fierce looking bruise.

"Christ!" Matt gasped as his hand darted out for the discolored patch of skin, stopping just before he made contact with it.

Jacob glanced down at the fist-sized bruise at the base of his ribcage.

"That Henderson is an asshole he doesn't need to go around treating you or anyone like that." He said ignoring the wound as he began kicking his feet in an effort to shuck his pants.

"Are you ok?" Matt questioned his eyes still transfixed on the mark any care he had for reasons abated as he only felt anger at Jay for marring his friend in such a way.

"Yeah just a lil' sore." Jacob's breath lowered to a horse whisper as he watched Matt's gaze slide along the ridge of hips.

Jacob knew he had to break the tension that was building. If only for the fact that it wasn't the only thing building and he was sure the thin cotton would aptly hide what was happening. The thin fabric veil gave an ever so slight nudge causing Matt's cheeks to flush visibly.

Jacob scooped Matt up in a relentless hold and barreled towards the pool. Jacob let out a whimpering yell as his hands clung to Jacobs bottom half, dragging Jacobs boxers dangerously low on his hips. In a matter of seconds the world around him had been replaced with a splash of swirling water.

Matt not to be out done as they untangled themselves in the cool surround of the water gave Jacob's boxers a healthy yank. They failed to release from Jacobs figure, but not even the water could suppress the ripping sound as the elastic waistband gave way.

Matt rushed to the edge of the pool as fast he could and pulled himself up to sit on the ledge. Jacob stayed in the middle of the water his fist balling up the tattered waistband of his boxers. His eyes locked with Matt's as Matt broke out in heavy laughter.

"Asshole" Jacob said as he slowly swam up to him and pulled himself out joining Matt on the pool edge.

Matt's laughter dwindled to a slight chuckle as tension swirled around them like the water around their lower legs. The silence between them was pervasive and accentuating by a bird giving song somewhere in the neighborhood. A car could be heard as it made it's way down the street out front. Jacob looked at Matt, Matt looked at Jacob. Neither of them fought what was happening as Jacob slowly leaned in his lips at first hesitant then accepting as they slowly caressed Matt's.

It seemed forever but in the face of pleasure time is relative. Jacob slowly pulled back and broke the kiss as his tongue slipped out and tasted Matt on his own lips.

"What was that for?" Matt whispered heavily.

He longed for an answer but not at this second, maybe never, as he watched Jacobs lips move to form a response he knew what he wanted. He had suppressed it for four long months and couldn't hold it back any longer.

He stole the answer from Jacob's mouth with his own as he made their faces collide again, this time accentuated with passion. Jacob's hand slipped from the grip on the front of his boxers as he leaned into Matt's mouth. As his hand fell away it was replaced with one that wasn't his own. One that cradled and cupped the growing mass the loose boxers barely hid.

Jacob emitted an animalistic moaning grunt, as the pressure on his groin became more intense. He broke the kiss gasping for air. Matt didn't mind the respite as his kisses fell to Jacob's collarbone. His lips easily soaking up the chlorine tainted flesh.

"I think, maybe this should go inside." Jacob gasped as Matt's hand squeezed his erection through the wet fabric.

Matt pulled back his eyes wide with fear as the euphoria of want eroded. His fingers released their clutch on Jacob's dick. His mind raced, had he gone to far? Was this all there was to be? Only a slight sample nothing more? He pulled back averting his eyes as his chin lowered in shame.

"No, no, no." Jacob cooed as he cradled Matt's face in the palms of his hands.

He gently eased Matt's attention back to his. Their noses nudged and rubbed each other as Jacob placed another innocent kiss on his lips. Jacob wrapped Matt in his arms and pulled him into a perfect hug, which was neither to light nor crushing.

"C'mon" Jacob whispered into Matt's ear as he broke the embraced and pulled himself to his feet.

The kiss still fresh in his mind, he had forgotten to grab hold of his ruined boxers. He caught them just in time as the slid over the hump of his hips on their decent to the cement patio below. The expression on Jacobs as he balled his fist up in the stretched waistband face caused Matt to emit a slight giggle.

Jacob led the way to his room through the kitchen sliding door.

"Hello boys." Joanne muttered. Not actually seeing them, only hearing the sound of the sliding door.

She was on her knees doubled over, a paintbrush in one hand, the other bracing herself on the wood planked floor. Her hair pulled back and covered by a blue bandanna. She had a streak of the hunter green paint down her right check.

"You guys want anything to drink?" she questioned the sound of wet footprints.

"No Ma'." Her sons voice answered urgently.

The way he answered piqued her curiosity causing her head to turn the direction they headed in. All she caught were two pairs of dripping legs as they rushed out of the kitchen. She shrugged her shoulders and went back to painting the trim.

Jacob closed his door as he showed Jacob in. He didn't bother to lock it not having any intention of doing anything serious and his mother respected his privacy.

"Nice room." Matt commented as he looked around, turning his back towards Jacob.

"Its alright" He sighed, "but its missing something." Jacob spoke as he slid his body against Matt's. Enclosing him in a hug from behind.

The words forming on Matts' lips were dissolved as he was enveloped in the warm embrace of Jacob. Willfully letting himself be guided closer to the queen size bed, his neck instinctually curved into the small light pecks of Jacobs' lips.

Matt reveled in the feel of Jacob encompassing him. A simple pleasure by anyone's standard, but one that was completely alien to Matt. His parents didn't convey a sense of caring by touch. It may always have been implied. Hugs just weren't their style outside of his fathers campaign pictures.

His annoyance flared as the gentle caress of kisses ceased and he was turned around. His closed eyes opened to be met with Jacobs simple reassuring smile.

"You alright?" Jacob asked in a hushed whisper.

Matt could only nod his head as he threw his arms around Jacob, crushing the breath out of him. Jacob did nothing to fight the death grip that Matt had initiated on him. His hands traced their way leisurely up and down the length of Matts' spine.

"What was that for?" Jacob asked using the same hushed voice from before. "Not that I'm complaining."

Matt could on shrug meekly at the question. "Just felt right."

He lied, it felt more then just right; it felt as if a vacuum had imploded inside of him.

"Well, does this feel right?" He asked as he placed a light kiss on Matts lips. "And this?" He gently ran his hand the length of Matts arm and curled it around the small of his back pulling their bodies together. "Or even this?" He questioned as he mashed his pelvis into Matts groin crushing the cold wet fabric between them.

Matt let out a yelp that graduated into a low moan as Jacob slowly began to rub his crotch against Matts. Jacob continued his unabashed dry humping for several minutes before he separated their bodies and let his stretched wet boxers fall to the hardwood floor below.

Matt stared in awe momentarily, before his hand deftly reached out and grasped the object he had so openly fondled through wet fabric by the pool. The heat was intense, even though Jacobs' skin was cool to the touch.

Jacobs' hands snaked their way under the elastic waistband of Matt's swimsuit. His palms filled with the rounds of Matts' firm rear. Jacob again mashed their groins together trapping Matts' hand between them.

Jacob removed his right hand from Matts' posterior. Maneuvering it around to his front side and dislodging his hand. He gave Matt a devilish smile as his fingers pushed the waistband of Matts suit down. Jacobs hand expertly encircled the newly exposed erection.

Matts' gaze followed Jacobs' hand as he exposed the girth that was concealed by his swimsuit. As his eyes traveled back up the expanse of Jacobs stomach to the devilish twinkle that existed just beyond the bright façade of those hazel eyes, he noticed that his cheeks had a slight puff to them as if he was hording a mouthful of mouthwash.

Jacobs eyes gave a bright flash before he pursed his lips and let a stream of spit fall between them and cascade onto their mated erections.

Matt gave a sighing groan as he physically surrendered to his friend's easy manipulations…

7:30, the muted green numbers grew ever more luminous in the fading twilight of the day. The numbers however bore little significance to the two people who lay nude in the cherry panel bed. Over the past few hours' hands had explored, lips had kissed; futures were wasted until a comfortable silence filled the room.

"Draw me a picture." Jacob whispered sleepily into Matt's ear.

"Hmm?" Matt questioned not wanting to move his lips, or open his eyes for that matter.

"Draw me a picture, its what's missing."

Matt gave up; opening his eyes he tilted his head to the side and stared at Jacob.

"On the wall, a big mural like, cover the whole thing."

"What?"

"That way when you become a rich and famous artist I can say I knew you when, and boy what we did when."

"Shud'up!" Matt laughed as he playfully socked Jacob in the arm.

The two of them lay there sharing an easy laughter for a several moments. An ease that could only be eroded by worries and doubt.

"Jacob?" Matt whispered after the laughter had died into a still quiet. "You wouldn't tell anyone about this right?"

Jacob laid silent for what seemed an impossible eternity, when in reality it could only have been a few seconds. His mind chewing the question, and the hushed, pleading tones it was asked in. He wondered if he had crossed that invisible line in the sand. If the simple act the two had shared, could have changed who they where. He hoped it hadn't. He hoped the answer he gave would hold Matt's fears at bay.

"Its nobodies business." He whispered. "Besides its not like we live under a microscope nobodies' watching, nobody cares."

Matt turned his head to face Jacob.

"Nobody would understand, there's a difference. Somebody is always watching, People always care. Especially about something like this." Matt's hand reached Jacob's jawbone and slowly slid down the length.

"Then Ill never talk about it, no where but where its just you."

Matt smiled.

"I gotta run. My dad should be going fairly ballistic right about now." Matt said as he moved to get dressed.

Jacob moved to join him in the search for each others clothes.

"Don't, you looked comfortable. I can show myself out."

"Are you sure?" Jacob asked

"One hundred and fifty percent."

"Alright" Jacob said as he slowly sat back down on the bed resigned to Matt's wishes.

"I'll catch ya' tomorrow after school." Matt said as he unlocked the door and slipped his body out.

Jacob rushed to his window and peered down at the street below. In a few seconds he could see Matt dashing across the asphalt to his house. He smiled easily to himself as he stepped back and collapsed on his bed. Leaving his own hands as the phantoms of Matt's mimicking his earlier touch as his mind raced with what had happened.

His dad would be going ballistic, past eight on a school night. He was devising a plan though. He had been invited for a swim, and then dinner. So he would go to bed hungry that night. It was a small price to pay for the evening he had enjoyed.

Different events were playing out not even three streets away. The jilted girl lay in her frilly canopy bed with only mute teddy bears as her companions. Her mouth spewing such things into the phone receiver that would have made her walls blush had they not already been a pale pink.

"Of course they're faggots." The words seemed so unnatural coming from her angelic lips. "Why else would have Jacob jumped Jay. It was right after Jay told the two of them to get a room."

The voice on the other end babbled incoherently, but sounded as if it was trying to fight the notion.

"Please! No other guys would have done that for their friend. You could ask all of them. If Jay was joking or not, no straight guy would jump him after he said that out of sheer fear of being labeled gay." She paused listening to the other end.

"I have nothing against gay people. I love Will & Grace, it's a funny show. But I don't actually picture any of those gay guys doing anything. Matt and Jacob on the other hand. The places they must touch each other. Just knowing where they put their mouths. It's, it's just disgusting. They are filthy faggots." She paused to listen.

"I never liked Matt!" She sounded incredulous. "I always knew. He was too pretty to be normal! It's just a shame is all."

Her poison spread quickly through the usual suspects, and by dawn it would be quickly working its way through the student body of Grove High School. Based in truth or not such vicious things could only be the gospel if they came from the right sources. Jackie knew the game all too well as she said goodnight to the girl on the other end.

Barely letting the receiver rest for a second before she had it in her fingers ready to dial the next person.

The dawn broke bright and early over the quaint town. No one could see the dark cloud looming over the High School, especially Matt. His day started great enough, even though his stomach asserted its right to complain about the lack of last nights dinner. The rumbling hollow feeling there couldn't fade the grin on his face.

It could have been the only thing he wore to school that day, it wouldn't have mattered. That was until the stares followed his movements through campus. The stares were followed by hushed whispers and words that couldn't clearly be heard that were said under their bearer's breath.

The unease his surrounds gave him quickly melted the 'world could care' smile from his face. As the whispers and out the way taunts became louder he clearly understood that they knew. He didn't know how they knew, but they did.

"Hey," Valerie commented as she snuck up on him.

She couldn't help it, even though she didn't believe a word of what Jackie was saying about him last night. But it had a lot of staying power. They way Matt seemed to either viciously fight off, or just completely ignore any girls advances at him. He never seemed to make advances of his own. He only stayed to himself quiet and always doodling in his sketchbook.

Was it any surprise the rumor had come? No, She didn't think so. What she found surprising was that part of her actually found it credible. As much as she wanted to deny it to the death, She couldn't say that Matt didn't act totally different when he was around Jacob. Perhaps he was a little too happy to see him, a sparkle too much in his eye when they meet Jacobs. Something she couldn't push off to a frantic search for the satisfaction of a rumor.

"Oh, hey Val hows' it goin?" Matt asked spinning around mildly surprised.

Seeing her face had threatened to bring the grin of this morning back. It was the promise of a safe harbor in the storm he had felt since arriving at school.

He smiled as he looked into her eyes.

She took the opportunity to examine the front of her shirt.

The smile melted away as he painfully understood. She didn't have to witness what had happened. She didn't have to scream 'YOU FUCKING FAGGOTS' and turn to run. All she had to do was break what they could always do.

"Hey, I gotta run." He spoke in a wavering voice.

Matt offered little else as he began to quickly walk past her. Hoping to God that if he got far enough away it wouldn't hurt anymore.

"Matt wait!" she shouted, but didn't try to run after him. It was all too much to deal with.

Jacob sat back in the supple leather chair idly playing with the keyboard before he figured on surprising Matt by meeting him at the end of classes. It would be fun going to school when he didn't have to be there. And the fact of seeing Matt Surprised far out weighed the possibility of getting into more trouble.

Matt stood outside his locker, glad that this day from hell was over. He did regret running from Val, and wished desperately that she would show up.

"Hey Matt." A voice called.

Matt pulled his head out of his locker to see Ryan Neilson one of the guys he hung out with in PE approaching.

"Whats this story with you and the Keats guy?" Ryan asked rather menacingly

"What story?" Matt asked bracing for the worst as he shut his locker door.

"The story that has the two of you being queer for eachother?"

There it was, confirmed. They knew. How the hell was he going to sort this out.

"What?" He asked astonished.

"GAY! You and Keats."

"Who the fuck said that? Jay?"

"Nope" Ryan answered

"Are you sure, cause Jacob kicked his ass yeterday." Matt informed Ryan.

"I know and they say it was because of you."

"What?" matt questioned even more shocked.

"They say."

"I heard you the first time, but why 'they' whoever in the hell they are, would say that is ridiculous."

Matt continued to talk and affirm his sexuality, as he did he didn't notice the figure walking up quietly behind him.

"Jacobs a cool guy and all, Maybe if he had tits and a puss Id mess around with him. Other than that nothing."

Ryan and the two boys just accepted the explanation. Not that Matt figured they wouldn't. More or less they were the type of guys that would congratulate you on having sex, any kind of sex with anything or anyone. As long as you shared the story with them and fueled their jerk off fantasies.

Jacob however didn't like the explanation. He wasn't big on telling the school via the morning announcements. But to be written off as the new kid that was barely known? He didn't know what came over him but the thought of still being the new stranger coursed anger through his blood stream.

The hallway resounded with a loud metallic thud. The noise scared half of the life out of Matt who had thought he was now alone. He turned just in time to see Jacobs face contort with anger and pain as he clutched a angry red looking fist close to his abdomen.

Matt's face went white as he wondered how long Jacob had been standing there. He couldn't say anything as Jacob backed away, a single tear running down his cheek, before he turned and ran from the school.