Canti
By 11



Chapter 03



His lips were soft, just like the first time. He knotted his hand in the other boy's blonde hair as he nuzzled against his neck and heard a contented sigh from his partner.

His stomach was flat and smooth as he let his hand run along it. His partner wrapped his arms around him to pull him closer rubbing patterns into his back, his shirt having somehow disappeared a while ago. Lying here with him was in some ways the ultimate pleasure, but there was still the ache for more.

His hand drifted lower down to the rim of his partner's jeans and he gave a little tug.

"Go ahead,"

His partner encouraged in a low sultry whisper. His own hands coming to rest on the other's bottom, a single finger tracing near to the skin underneath the loose fitting jeans.

He smiled against him as he undid the other boy's pants and let a hand slip inside. He wasn't wearing boxers and neither was his partner as he gave a soft gasp as his hand found his semi hardened length and fondled it slightly as he pressed another kiss to his partner's throat.

"I want to touch you too,"

a small shiver went up his spine as his partner's hand dipped into his jeans and came around the front. He leaned forward onto him turning them over so he would be on top.

But when he was supposed to land on his back, he just kept falling.

***

Chris hit the floor with a soft thud. He blinked blearily at his surroundings and groaned when he realized where he actually was, alone in is room on his bed.

Well this is great� He thought sarcastically to himself.

I get my first kiss with the person I care about, am not exactly rejected and my hormones go all hyperactive on me.

It had been a good dream though. The day was Saturday, so he wouldn't have to see Raenef till Monday, though he wasn't sure if he was happy or unhappy of that.

One part of him wanted to delay the inevitable answer until the last possible moment if it as rejection. The other wanted to ask Raenef directly, get it out of the way and if the answer was positive, which it could have been; and if it was�

Chris shook his head to clear it, and got out of bed, glaring down at his sheets and pants. Either way he needed to clean himself off before he did much else.

***

"Hello, Darkeyes residence."

"Oh hi, Leeche," Raenef said recognizing his friends voice on the phone. "How are you?"

"Fine," Leeche replied. "Can you come over?"

"Now?" Raenef asked, somewhat surprised. "Sure, I could. Wanna tell me why?"

"" Leeche asked.

"Sure, I'll be right over," Raenef replied. "See you in a bit then, bye."

It didn't take him long to tell his sister where he was going and get out the door. The mall wasn't a long walk from their house and it was a good excuse to get out of the house. He didn't usually have things planned for Saturday usually Leeche or Chris would call him sometime and they'd arrange a meeting at a movie theater or wherever to do something. Usually it was either her or Chris that came up with the activity though.

"Hey Leeche," Raenef waved as he started over. The girl smiled in greeting and got up from where she was seated by the fountain. "So what is it? Is Chris here too?"

"No, I couldn't get through to him, Mr. Clerce said he hasn't been out of his room a lot so far today, odd huh?" Leeche shrugged. "But I was thinking maybe we could go shopping for a bit, maybe see about the arcade even."

"Okay, sound's good," Raenef agreed as they started of in the general direction Leeche led them in. Shopping with Leeche was never unbearable but it was never completely fun and exciting either. Leeche enjoyed collecting trinkets and they would pick out the flashiest one there, and with clothes Leeche just modeled and Raenef would tell her what image it mostly presented right off the bat.

Leeche never enjoyed bringing Chris for shopping since he always made fun of her and her 'female perusing ability that never seems to shut off'.

"Well that should last me for the rest of this year," Leeche said happily as they left the store, bag of clothes in hand.

Leeche led him over to a less occupied part of the mall where she sat down her bag on the bench and stood still a moment.

"Everything okay, Leeche?" Raenef asked approaching her after a moment. It wasn't very usual for her to just stop whatever she was doing and stay still for very long. Leeche had never been indecisive for as long as he'd known her.

"I've been wanting to do something with you for a while now, and I haven't had the chance," she said after a moment before turning and looking at him seriously. "But I want to do it now, if you don't mind."

"Sure, what is it?" Raenef asked.

Leeche put her hand to the side of his face in a soft touch as she leaned forward and closed her eyes, as she drew closer Raenef pulled away. Leeche looked up at him somewhat surprised. Her face pinked slightly. "I was going to kiss you that day too. Chris beat me to it with that stupid yell of his. Would you have pulled away from me then?"

Raenef looked at her a moment. Why did he shy away? This wasn't wrong, this was normal. This was his friend Leeche. He kissed his friend Chris. What made this so different? What made it feel so strange?

"Is it because of Chris?" she asked after a moment. Raenef looked up at her somewhat surprised. Chris wasn't here this time. What was she talking about?

"Because he kissed you?"

Did she know?

***

"Mister Ravenhold, it's Mister Ayerwip to see you, sir,"

"Send him in." Eclipse replied to his secretary. He had already almost completely finished his work for today and now Krayon was all he needed. He had wanted to speak to him before, but hadn't had the chance to as of yet.

"Hey," Krayon greeted as he opened the door and walked over to sit in front of Eclipse. "Hey, sorry about Friday night, I didn't know, and if it makes you feel any better it'll never happen again."

"Thank you, Krayon," Eclipse nodded, "I also need to apologize too. I was unnecessarily rude to you that night at the party. Having a child there wasn't the best idea to be sure, I was responsible for him and needed to get him home. But I am sorry for my coldness to you. It was not necessary."

"I understand, and it's all right," Krayon grinned at him, though after a moment he frowned somewhat and sighed. "I just never understood I guess. You never had any interest in me at all." "I know you don't have a problem with a guy and a guy," Krayon said ponderingly, "so I just wonder I guess."

"I'm sorry Krayon," Eclipse told him, "I do love you Krayon. But I love you as a friend, and I've never thought of you that way."

"Don't worry about it," he shook his head and smiled brightly. "If even a little bit, I think I can kind of understand that much."

Krayon stood up and walked over to him leaning down to give him a light kiss. "See ya, Eclipse," he said cheerily as he headed for the door.

He shut it behind him and kept smiling until he reached the outside. No one, not even Eclipse could know that despite his smile and cheerful exterior, inside him, it felt like something had died and left him hollow and empty.

***

"I'm not stupid, Raenef," Leeche stated simply. "What, with the way he's always so protective of you? I can't believe you never noticed."

"Oh." Raenef said suddenly feeling very stupid. He felt so dense. If Leeche could see it as plain as day why couldn't he have at least picked up something on it?

They were currently now on their way to Leeche's father's work office where he worked. He was going to be off in a few hours and Leeche was going to go home with him, Raenef had agreed to accompany her there.

"I guess I can't call myself your fiance or girlfriend anymore, either, huh?" she asked somewhat sadly as she smiled at him.

"I like you a lot, Leeche, you're a good friend to me, and I really appreciate you, but�" Raenef paused briefly to figure out the words he needed for this. "Being in a boyfriend/girlfriend thing, just maybe isn't the best thing for either of us right now. Even with Chris actually."

"I see." Leeche nodded. Her face was somewhat smiling but her voice did betray just a hint of hurt. "I completely understand. We're still friends though. Oh, and if you have any trouble with Chris or anyone else, heck, just love in general, come and talk to me, please!"

"Thanks Leeche," he said soflty, but just so that she could hear him.

"But," she started, somewhat playfully, "That doesn't mean I still can't get cuddly and kiss you on the cheek and crud."

"Right," Raenef said as they stopped and he looked up at the tall corporate building. "I'll see you later at school or whatever?"

"Of course you will," she said with a grin giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, as they walked inside and she paused to talk with the guy who guarded the main walkway into the upper tiers of the building. "See you later Raenef!"

"See ya, Leeche!" Raenef waved to her as she started off toward the elevators. He turned and started back for the door. Just as he was about to put his hand on it to push it open another person's arm knocked into his. "Sorry." He quickly apologized drawing back.

Looking up at the person they were wearing darkly shaded sunglasses but who it was, was unmistakable to either as blue eyes locked on the older and dark eyes on the younger.

Eclipse?

Raenef had not expected to see him again.

Raenef?

Eclipse had not thought he'd be seeing the youth until the next week, if he continued to tutor him, that is.

"Uh� hi." Raenef greeted quietly.

***

"Sorry Erutis, I just don't think it'll work, ya know?"

"Yeah, sure," Erutis shrugged.

"Thank's for understanding, here," her date handed her the money for the meal, "I gotta go now, but thanks for understanding about this."

"Sure thing," she said forcing a grin as he waved as he headed off.

Erutis paid for the food bill and left for the nearest bar. What number was this? What number of boyfriends had she had that had all wound up the same? Exactly like this?

What's wrong with me? She wondered as she ordered a scotch from the barkeep. Why is it I'm never able to hold onto a guy for more than four to five days? This is terrible!

"Am I just not pretty? Maybe that has something to do with it," she wondered aloud as her drink arrived and watched her reflection on the liquid.

"If it's just being pretty that gets you dumped I have to wonder."

Erutis looked over. She hadn't realized someone was sitting next to her. He had long dark almost blonde hair and green eyes, he had on a bit of glitter and had ordered a brandy. "You got dumped too?"

"My best friend," he nodded sadly swirling his drink slightly, "He never showed any interest in me anyway. I know now I should have given up a long time ago. It's just a little hard to let go of someone you really care about."

"Oh. So yours was a guy, you're gay?" Erutis asked, not really surprised or shocked, just sort of an offhand question.

"Not really gay, I'm bisexual really, but I guess gay does count for my first love," he shrugged taking a few gulps of his drink.

"Why do people lead you on if they're just going to dump you off later though? It doesn't make sense, it's not like I slept with any of them so�" Erutis trailed off.

"Who knows, maybe they weren't getting any with you and found another girl, or maybe they are actually being truthful about the whole not being able to or whatever, but that's not my first guess," he shrugged, "This girl, Bridget, did the same thing to me this one time."

"I'm sorry," Erutis said as she took a sip of her scotch.

"Me too, sorry about whatever guy dumped a cute redhead like you," he said taking a drink of his brandy again.

"Thanks," Erutis smiled lightly. He had probably just said that to cheer her up, calling her cute, but she was grateful for it anyways. "I'm Erutis. Erutis Darkeyes."

"Krayon," he introduced himself. "Krayon Ayerwip."

They spent their drinks talking to each other more or less, most of it was idle conversation topics, but it was nonetheless enjoyable for both to have someone to talk to after both having had painful encounters with people they cared about. They paid for their drinks and headed out into the street.

"You seen that movie?" Krayon asked poiting to the billboard featuring a new popular film that was in theaters.

"No. Why?" she asked looking up at the billboard and then at Krayon.

"Wanna go see it?" he asked.

Erutis smiled at him and nodded, "Sure."

***

�I'm surprised,� Raenef told him with a smile, �I didn�t expect to see you again, especially since you aren�t going to be tutoring me anymore.�

�Me too,� Eclipse returned, not exactly managing to smile in return; like he ever did.

�So what are you doing here?� Raenef asked amiably, �I was dropping off a friend. Her dad works here.�

�I was just getting off from work, myself, actually.� Eclipse stated.

�Wow! You work her too?� Raenef asked looking impressed, �But you�re still on college or something right? That�s so cool!�

As soon as Raenef had appeared that someone had turned up the thermostat. Glancing over at it, no one had tampered with it, and he had been wearing these clothes all day so it had nothing to do with the long pants and sleeves and coat he was wearing.

This happened before, but why does he always feel very warm around the younger boy. It was true that he �worked� here, but he also �owned� here.

He wondered if Raenef would call it �cool� again if he told him. They headed out from the building and somehow wandered their way to the mall a few blocks away. During this time the things they talked about he didn�t seem to be able to remember.

The only parts he did catch was centered around the school work they had previously gone over. Raenef had gone over the work again like he�d told him to, and that time he had gotten the same answers as in the answer book.

�I think it�s because I slowed down on the test to avoid the mistakes I made earlier.� Raenef explained as an afterthought.

�That�s a good plan.� Eclipse noted.

How did they wind up at the mall again?

�Oh, it�s Chris,� Raenef said looking up at someone else a ways away. �Hey, Chris!�

The boy looked over at them and looked slightly surprised as his eyes locked on Raenef. He had actually been following the two of them from a distance for a while. This is going to awkward� because of yesterday� of course it�ll be awkward! Were the thoughts that kept him from going over to them, which is why he was so startled that Raenef called him over. He doesn�t look mad or anything�

Chris walked over to the two and stopped in front of his friend looking up at his taller companion. �Hey, Raenef, who�s this?�

�This is Eclipse, he was my tutor until yesterday,� Raenef introduced them. �Eclipse this is my best friend, Chris.�

So then, this must be the boy who took Raenef�s first kiss� Eclipse mused as he looked over the young boy, short dark hair and blue eyes, about as tall as Raenef if not slightly taller.

When Raenef was drunk the day before because of the party his friend Krayon had dragged them off to he had told him that once he�d gotten him home. His sister, Erutis, of course, knew absolutely nothing about that though.

�Um, Raenef, can I talk to you, for a minute,� Chris asked turning back to the smiling blonde. �Alone? If possible.�

�Sure,� Raenef said before turning back to Eclipse, �Sorry, I don�t think it�ll take too long, is that okay?�

�Go ahead,� Eclipse nodded. Chris took Raenef�s wrist and led him off and around a corner, where no one in the mall could see them. Seeing what his topic for discussion was he was more than a little paranoid of anyone hearing or seeing them.

�This will be awkward,� Chris stated, �But if you�re just going to act normal and stuff, like nothing happened, then I�llhave to ask you outright. Because I really need to know.�

�Do you remember what happened yesterday?� Chris asked, as if not putting it past the blonde to forget something to important for him. �At my house?�

�I remember,� Raenef nodded, his goofy smile no longer there, replaced by a neutrally expressionless mask.

�And?� Chris asked licking his lips self-consciously.

Raenef was silent as he looked at his friend, he looked over at the bottom of the wall when he answered. �I�m not sure.�

�You aren�t sure�� Chris repeated blankly watching the blonde intently.

�But�� Raenef started slowly, as if unsure of the words he was using, that they were a foreign tongue he had just barely managed to memorize, blushing from what must have been embarrassment. �I kind of like it� I know that much� but I�m not really sure.�

�If it happened again, do you think you could decide?� Chris asked flushing slightly at where his thoughts were leading him.

Raenef didn�t answer again for a while, and when he did the reply was barely audible. �Maybe��

�Can I kiss you again?� Chris asked after a moment somewhat surprised by his own boldness as the red on his cheeks tinted darker.

Again Raenef stayed silent for a while, his blush darkening. �Ok.�

***

What on earth could they be talking about that would take this long? Eclipse wondered as he stood leaning against a wall watching the corner that the two had turned, waiting for their return. Maybe I should go check on them. He thought after a moment, and he pushed away from the wall and walked over to the corner looking around it.

Of all things he hadn�t exactly expected to see this. He had known that at the very least they had kissed but he hadn�t been aware they were already in a relationship possibility. What did he care about that anyway, but either way what he saw, he couldn�t take his eyes off right away.

The two boys were standing flush together, one of Chris� arms around Raenef�s waist, the other tangled in his hair, Raenef�s arms around Chris� other side it a tight hug that seemed to want to pull the other boy closer.

Their faces were flushed and their eyes shut as their lips were pressed to each others, and based on just the tiniest bit of movement in the mouth area he guessed that their kiss had tongue to it. The same feeling he had a night ago hit him like a train loaded with lead bricks.

His face felt hot and all he could hear was the sound of his heart thudding painfully loud in his ears. It felt so warm, worse than the feverishness he had felt before. It was so warm, and somewhere it also hurt.

A tiny prick of a needle or a stab in the chest, as he watched the two. He wasn�t sure how long he watched them, though it must have been a relatively short time, when he managed to look away once the two parted for air, he headed straight to his home and into his room.

Like the last time he fell to the floor and gripped himself, the images wouldn�t go away. But all of them were edited by his mind�s eye. Raenef�s flushed face, or his arched neck as he took a breath after that heated kiss.

The one he had been kissing had been Chris; he knew that. But in every image, in Chris� place he clearly saw himself enjoying the company of the blonde.

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