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Nathan B...'s Schooldays

by N Fourbois

Year 10

The first day of the Autumn term was almost becoming routine. Nathan walked over to his friend Tom's house for his mother to take the two boys to the station. They would then walk onto the platform with one intent - to spy out the talent among the newbugs. Of course, since they were now Year 10 boys, school lore demanded that they should ignore new boys. Year 7 was too far beneath them socially, but then they had an ulterior motive, probably succinctly covered by the word lust. As they walked through the barrier Nathan stopped in his tracks, his mouth open.
"Oh my god, Tom, tell me I'm not dreaming." Facing them in a brand new school uniform was a boy they hadn't seen before and from his height and build he obviously wasn't in Year 7. It was not his wiry fair hair that first attracted Nathan, nor his slim upright figure, nor his package - his eyes hadn't reached that far - but his beautiful face, its slightly evenly suntanned complexion and above all his eyes with their long fair eyelashes, not grey, more on the blue and less on the sparkling blue side. The strange thing this time was that it wasn't Nathan's dick that reacted to such an Adonis, but his heart, and consequently his pulse, and his stomach which were all aflutter. "Tom, hold me back. I've got to speak to him."
"I'm not holding you back."
"Then come and give some moral support." The two boys walked up to the newcomer.
"Hi! You're new aren't you? I'm Nathan B... ..."
"... And I'm Tom H...." The new boy betrayed a little surprise that a couple of old hands had come up to speak to him.
"Hi, I'm Martin W.... I'm going to be in the fourth form - Year 10, I guess."
"We're in Year 10 as well," said Tom.
"Would you like to travel up with us?" Nathan added quickly. When Natt shook hands with Martin, he felt a dry, but tender hand with a firm handshake. He also felt a jolt of electricity flow up his arm. Our boys then took Martin along to meet their travelling companions.

In the train Nathan sat opposite Martin so that he could drink in the awe-inspiring beauty. When they arrived at school they took him to Reception and went off to find where their new form room was.
"Tom, is he gay or is he gay?"
"I'm the one who's supposed to have the gaydar."
"That's why I'm asking you."
"He's gay."
"I thought so the moment I laid eyes on him."
"The moment you laid eyes on him you went into a hormone storm. I've never seen you get so excited so quickly before... even with me."
"You're not jealous are you?"
"Moi? Jealous? Huh!" and Tom grinned to show that he was only joking for like a true best friend he saw that such was the intensity of Nathan's emotions that it was not really the time to fool around with them. "You know, Natt, I believe you're in love." Nathan thought for a moment and replied
"You know, Tom," he sighed "I think I am."

At morning break Nathan with Tom following looked in all the likely places to see if he could find Martin. It was a good job there had been no lessons so far for Nathan wouldn't have been able to concentrate on a single thing. He had seen Martin on the opposite side of the room at house meeting. So as they were in the same house it would be possible to take him into lunch and get a seat next to him. Nathan and Tom were having no luck when they heard the first bell for the end of break.
"I think I'd better have a slash," said Nathan.
"Me too," answered Tom. As they walked into the toilets, they noticed that they had been refurbished, Gone were the old cracked porcelain urinals which had been replaced by a gleaming new stainless steel trough along one of the walls. While they stood there seeing who could aim higher as they peed Tom said
"These shining new troughs are okay, but the reflections half make your dick look shabby." Nathan nearly lost control and wet his trousers as he burst out with an involuntary laugh.
"Mind you, they're not bad for checking out the guy next to you." They washed their hands and were about to leave when Martin came in by himself. Tom nudged Natt who said "Hi, Martin. How's it going?"
"All right so far. Just about beginning to find my way around."
"If you like, we'll pick you up here just before lunch and give you a guiding hand," said Natt.
"Okay, thanks. See you later," replied Martin. When our two were outside Tom said
"You slut, Nathan B...! Was that cottaging or was that cottaging?" Natt gave his friend a friendly punch on the arm and laughing they were about to go off to their form room for more admin period when they were stopped by the objectionable Michael J... who glowered at them and shouted out
"What are you two fairies giggling about? Just been pulling each other's wire, I'll bet."
"Piss off, J..., you great perv," said Natt.
"At least we've got someone our own age to do it with," continued Tom. "We don't have to drag some poor little unsuspecting kid four years younger into the bogs." J... gave them another filthy look and went off swearing under his foul breath.
"I knew there was something missing in the holidays," said Nathan.
"I'd hate to be like him," said Tom.
"I wouldn't mind being hung like him," said Nathan.
"Not if that's the price," answered Tom. "Anyway, I am already."
"In your dreams," and the two boys went merrily on their way laughing their heads off.

School proper resumed with the last scheduled lesson of the morning. After that Nathan and Tom hurried out to meet the new arrival and take him off to lunch so that they could get three seats together on the same table. All being well that would be their set places for the whole year. They tried to find out why Martin had joined their school, but they didn't believe he was giving them the whole answer and nor did they feel they could probe. He had been a boarder at his last school, but wasn't getting on very well and his work was suffering.
"You weren't expelled, were you?" asked Natt in that direct manner of his.
"Oh no," Martin replied "not even asked to leave." Those last few words stuck in Nathan's mind. The 'not even' was significant as if something had happened that at another school or under different circumstances might have caused him to be 'asked to leave'. He hung on Martin's every word and only when Tom, who had sat opposite, mentioned it afterwards did he realise that he had been sitting extraordinarily close to his new friend. Everything about him made Natt's body tingle and stimulated his mind, not only Martin's body, but his voice, the way he spoke - he found everything he said either witty or interesting or both - even the smell of his body. He put it down to the soap that he used, he knew nothing about pheromones or any of the theory about how people became attracted to one another. He was just a walking example of everything beautiful and masculine in the world. After lunch the three went walking round the fields together and they arranged to meet to go off to the station after school.

Martin got off the train at H... with them. Evidently he lived only ten minutes' walk from the station. His parents had a large town house there. In the car Nathan was silent. Mrs H... asked how the first day of term had gone, but it was Tom that did all the talking.
"Do you feel all right, Nathan?" enquired Mrs H....
"Mm? Yes, sorry, Mrs H.... I was miles away."
"It's okay, Mum," said Tom. "Natt's in love," but even that did not evoke any reaction from him.
"Not with you, Tom?" interjected Mrs H..., trying to liven the atmosphere up a little. When they got near to where they lived, Tom decided to take control. Normally they would do their homework together, but they didn't have any on the first night.
"Mum, can Natt come in for a cup of tea?"
"Why of course, dear. You don't usually ask."
"Oh, no, sorry, I don't. I suppose I ought to really."
"You two are certainly in a strange mood tonight. All those adolescent hormones surging through your bodies, I suppose."
"Mum, please! We don't talk about PMT or the menopause."
"Thomas H...! What do you know about such things? Okay, sorry. I see the point you're making. I expect Angela talks to you about them anyway."

Arriving at Tom's house they all got out of the car. He asked his mother if they could take the tea up to his room. Nathan slumped down into a chair while Tom lay on his bed.
"You're smitten, aren't you, Natt?"
"Mmm, I suppose I am, really. I feel so odd. I've never felt this way before, not even with Jack. I don't know why, my whole body feels like a coiled spring."
"I'll tell you what. Tomorrow after lunch I'll disappear and you and Martin can walk round the fields together and you can tell me all about it tomorrow night."
"You don't mind? It looks as if I'm dumping you."
"I've told you before I don't mind. That what best mates is about. If we were boyfriends it would be different. After all you've told me about the four or so boys you've had and I haven't objected. I've told you about my boys and you haven't objected." Nathan got up out of the chair, lay on the bed next to Tom and gave him a big hug.

The games arrangements for Year 10 were different and in many ways suited Nathan better. It was still rugby in the Autumn term, but no longer in classes. The whole year group had games on a Thursday afternoon, but were divided into ability groups. Naturally he was in the bottom group while Tom was in the squad from which the School U15 team would be selected. He was still lumbered with playing in the second row, try as did to change. As his previous term's report noted he was now almost 5 feet 6 inches tall. He had had his growth spurt in Year 9 and was as yet not to know that he only had another two inches to go until he was fully grown and that would take him until he was twenty-one. However, there was still the Wednesday to come before the delights of games.

The next day ran as planned. After lunch Tom made the excuse that he had to see someone about rugby and disappeared, leaving Nathan and Martin to walk out onto the fields by themselves. It was one of those typically balmy September days when the morning started cool and misty and as the sun reached its zenith it cleared the air and hung warm and low in a clear sky. The boys talked about this and that, nothing important though Natt was yearning to hear something about his background. They sat on a bench at the far end of the fields looking back towards the school. In the distance they could see some of their classmates still playing cricket. Even out in the fresh air he was still breathing in the perfume of Martin's body. It was odd. He could not describe his feeling as anything else but horny. Yet the horniness was no way manifested in its usual manner. His dick though warm and swollen, was not in the least stiff; his body, however, was a combination of butterflies in the stomach and a swarm of ants in his bloodstream. As they were talking, staring into each other's eyes, he had a flash of inspiration. He remembered that Martin had been wearing a rather nice watch. He broke the gaze, looked down at his wrist, gently took hold of his hand and admired this watch. Instead of drawing away, Martin allowed his hand to mould into Nathan's which he held tenderly. Without any further thought he used his middle finger, his 'courting finger', to stroke the palm of Martin's hand and to his amazement found Martin softly stroking his in reciprocation. Martin looked into Natt's eyes and said
"Where did you learn that?" Nathan immediately blushed, pulled away and mumbled
"It's nothing." What he did find was that Martin's attitude, never anti, never unfriendly, softened towards him and he opened up. He had discovered a true friend at his new school. Unfortunately the spell was broken by the ringing of the first bell in the distance. They saw the cricketers gathering up their belongings and as they walked back Nathan was sorely tempted to hold Martin's hand. Their hands brushed together, once, twice and then a third time and neither made an attempt to withdraw his. On the fourth occasion Martin tenderly took hold of Natt's and gently gave it a squeeze lasting for some ten seconds. Now they were too close to the school buildings for any more.

The train journey home passed without further action or comment. Martin said goodbye when they left H... station. Mrs H... dropped both boys off at the B...s' house so that they could get on with their homework. Homework over, Tom turned to Nathan.
"Come on, Natt. You've told me absolutely nothing."
"There's nothing to tell you really. We just talked... and he is gay."
"Did he tell you that?"
"No, not exactly, but... but we held hands... briefly... not for more than a minute, say, and I gave him the 'queers' handshake' and he returned it and then it was then time for lessons. But I'm ninety... no, ninety-nine percent positive he is."
"You're going to have to ask him out on a date. What about this weekend?"
"No, it's too soon. I need that other one percent. I've got to hear him say it."
"Have you ever thought of saying it first?"
"No! What if..."
"He's going to find out sooner or later. Everyone else in the school knows you're... sorry, we're gay."
"I know. But everybody else in the school thinks we're boyfriends... and that might put him off."
"You'll have to sleep on it."
"Sleep on it? That's just what I can't do. Last night I kept on waking up, each time wanting to toss myself off with all the fantasies I was having. All day I've had that funny feeling you get in the tip of your cock... you know, the ache you can't tell whether it's pain or pleasure."
"You'll have to stop that if you do date him or you won't be able to perform."
"Tom, you're disgusting."
"What, me disgusting? I'm not the one jerking himself off every ten minutes."
"Yeah, I suppose you're right and I can't chat him up tomorrow after lunch because we've got games."
"That's true, but what you and I can do is take him to the changing rooms and make sure he gets changed inbetween us."
Nathan's face lit up. "... and that he gets showered with us." added Natt.
"You won't have anything to look forward to on your first date if we do that."
"I can hack that... hey, what do you mean, first date? I don't even know that I'm going to ask him out yet."
"You will, Natt, you will. I'll bet you a packet of fruit-flavoured jonnies you will."
"I don't bet..."
"You see! Anyway, I've got a pair of old boxing gloves at home I can lend you."
"Old boxing gloves? What for?"
"You wear them in bed and you just try wanking in them."
"You cheeky sod, you've tried, I suppose," and they both burst out laughing.
"Still I'd better get going or Mum'll start ringing up to nag me... I mean to see where I am. See you tomorrow." The boys stood up and hugged. "You see, Natt, you've already got a stiffy just from thinking about him."
"Trust you to notice." Bruce who'd been quietly asleep in the corner of Nathan's room got up with a wag of his stumpy tail to see Tom off.

Nathan was restless all evening. He quickly grew impatient with the television and thought of going to bed early, but after the previous night that was the last thing he wanted to do. He tried to do some extra reading for school, but found that he couldn't settle to that. If it had been purely physical he would have considered himself consumed with lust. He had after all experienced that before. No, this was different. He wanted to be with Martin, talk to him, more important listen to him, hold him, look into his captivating face; he wanted to discover more about him, find out why he had changed schools, the things that interested him and after today whether Martin was interested in him. Nathan imagined him dressed in different clothes. Did he wear briefs or boxers? What did he wear in bed? Eventually he went to bed, still with these things on his mind, but fortunately, suffering from the lack of sleep the night before, he soon fell asleep, almost oversleeping. In the morning his mother had to call him twice.
"Hurry up, Nathan, or you'll miss the train and make Tom late too." She knew something was wrong, but had no idea what it was going through his head. When he had finally finished showering, Nathan came to a decision that he must get a grip. 'Pretend you're a pair of curtains, Natt,' he said to himself 'and pull yourself together.' At least his glans wasn't aching any more this morning. When he reached Tom's house, running, Tom and Mrs H... were already in the car with the engine idling over. His heart took a leap when he walked onto the platform and found no sign of Martin, but it was just the irony of a late start leading to an early arrival at the station. Martin sauntered onto the platform two minutes before the train was due. He did after all only have to walk to the station and by this third morning of term he had the timing sussed out. Natt wanted to hug him, but remembered time and place and controlled his urges. The morning dragged on, the lessons seemed interminable. They met at morning break. Tom subtly found something else to do. More long lessons with little attention paid. Lunch at last. Tom stood by him as his accomplice in the plot.

The two boys took Martin off to the changing room and enacted the plan. He was lured to a bench and placed between Tom and Nathan who deliberately took their time changing. First of all they arranged all their kit on the bench in front of them. Then they stripped off entirely before putting anything on, hoping that Martin would follow suit. He did and Nathan gasped. He didn't worry about the fact that his dick was beginning to stand at attention. He was too enthralled with what he saw standing next to him, a slim body, slightly muscular, but not bursting with muscles, dark brown nipples erect, a neat tuft of pubic hair only above the groin and no body hair anywhere else, but what impressed him most was the obvious overall summer tan and the distinct absence of any tan lines! Martin's body exuded good health and as he slipped on his jockstrap it glowed whiter than white against his suntan. Martin knew he was under scrutiny, not only by Nathan and Tom, but by the rest of his fellows in Year 10 and was determined to make a showing. His social standing might depend on it. Eventually he put on his brand new rugby top in the school colours, followed by a well washed and worn-in pair of blue shorts which emphasised the shape of his buns, but then the short legs flared out in a most attractive manner giving his thighs freedom of movement and from a favourable angle revealing the straps, shape and ultra-white of the jockstrap beneath them. Nathan's heart was beating fast.

The boys were summoned outside to learn which group they were in. Our three were split up into separate groups. At the end of the afternoon Tom arrived first back to the changing room, Nathan next, and the boys dawdled until Martin finally joined them. He was full of smiles.
"Hey, guys, I'm going to be promoted to the top group next week." Tom and Nathan congratulated him and Tom thought 'I shall look forward to that. I can keep an eye on him for Natt and see that he doesn't get into bad company.' The fact that Martin had played scrum half for his previous school he kept to himself as he considered it wiser to ease his way in rather than barge in and get up other people's noses. Our two boys took their timing in changing from Martin so that they would end up in the shower together. It was in the shower that Nathan's greatest fear became a reality. He popped a boner in front of all those there. It was no use trying to hide it, especially as it appeared to him bigger and harder than it had ever been before. There was a sudden hush followed by an almighty cheer as naked showering fourteen and fifteen year olds moved back to the walls leaving Natt beleaguered in the middle of the shower room. More important there was a big huddle blocking the door just in case a member of staff came along to find out what the noise was about. Nathan's brain worked at top speed to figure out how he was going to deal with the situation and he decided that attack was the most effective form of defence. He would be the first one to say anything.
"Okay, guys, so I'm gay and this is the effect you meaty hunks have on me. Anyone of you can take me if you're man enough." That was enough to take the wind out of their sails for most of them. Phil E... shouted out
"I'll see you down by the boiler room afterwards." Another loud cheer went up, but it took the spotlight off Nathan sufficiently for things to return to normal. For twenty-four hours Natt would be the talk of the school, a folk hero to many, a simple fact of life to others and an object of disgust, or more likely guilty consciences, to a small minority. As they were getting dressed Martin whispered in his ear
"I know how you feel. That happened to me last season and it could easily happen again." Nathan turned to him, looked into those wonderful pastel blue eyes with the long fair eyelashes which looked up at him in the sexiest manner possible and said in a low voice
"I'm gay. Are you telling me that you're gay too?"
"Is the Chief Rabbi Jewish? Of course I'm gay, gayer than the rainbow itself. That's why I had to change schools. But I'll tell you more about that tomorrow."

Once he was back at Tom's house Nathan was bursting to talk to him about what he had already witnessed that afternoon.
"I've got this odd feeling about him. I don't want sex with him, yet I do. I want to kiss him and him to kiss me. I want to... to, er... make love to him, slowly, all night. I want to feel myself inside him, and him inside me. It's that close I want to be to him." He paused. "Tom, why have we never wanted to do that?"
"Do you want me to answer that?"
"Mmm, go on."
"As we have so often said, we're not boyfriends. We're best mates who happen to be gay and mess around together. You have fallen for Martin. Angela's told me you always know when you fall in love with someone. It's different. You have a problem now. Has he fallen in love with you? Will he fall in love with you? Has he ever messed around with another boy? And from what he has said I would guess yes. But then, does he want sex, with you or anybody else? You've got to find the answers and perhaps you will even have to woo him so that he doesn't want sex with you, but wants to make love instead. The fact that you were the first person at our school that he came out to must tell you something. As your best friend, and... what's that word they taught us in English lit? I know - confidant, that's it, I would say go for it. If he's not up for it, or ready, you'll soon find out." Nathan lay back in his chair and pondered. Tom got on with his homework.

Nathan eventually managed to get his homework done, but he had to do some at home while Tom had finished his. He couldn't eat his tea which sent Mrs B... rushing for the thermometer. Nathan knew what was wrong. He just couldn't bring himself to tell his mother. The words went round in his head: «'Mum, you know I'm gay and you've accepted that. Well, now I've fallen head over heels in love with a boy.' 'Is it Tom?' 'No, of course not. It's a drop dead gorgeous boy with pastel blue eyes and long fair eyelashes that look up at you in the most appealing way called Martin W.... He's a new boy in our year at school. And he's gay, too.'» That conversation just wasn't going to take place. The thermometer showed normal. Later that evening when he was in bed his mother said to his father
"You know, Peter, if I didn't know better, I would say our Nathan's in love. But gay children don't fall in love, do they?"
"I don't know, dear. There weren't any gay children when we were kids. We've got a lot to learn yet and I doubt if we can go down to the library and take out a book on it."
"That's a point. Just where do we seek advice?"

Next day Nathan was eager to get to school. Hadn't Martin promised to tell him what his being gay had to do with changing schools? Overnight he realised that he was not going to gain his goal by mooning around, that if he went on like this his schoolwork would start to suffer and the consequences of that could mean being deprived of contact with Tom and Martin and that would be dire. 'Work hard, play hard' came to his mind. 'Come to think of it, I do most of the time,' he thought with a wry smile. As the first week of term hadn't ended, his moodiness wouldn't have made a bad impression on his work yet. As he put his heart and soul into it, he realised how quickly time passed and soon they were leaving lunch and Tom was doing his disappearing trick. Martin and Nathan walked down to 'their' bench at the far end of the school fields in sight of the Year 10 boys ignoring the season and continuing their cricket, and sat down facing one another.
"So, Martin, you were going to tell me why you changed schools."

"I told you I was a boarder at L... College, didn't I? There we had two-bed studies. I got on with Keith my room mate okay, but we were different. How will become clear if it's not already obvious. My best friend at school Charlie L... was like me. By that I naturally mean gay, and when we thought it was safe, that is when our room mates were safely out of the way, such as out on a Saturday evening cinema exeat, we would hang out together and do stuff. One Saturday evening we were sure that Keith was at the cinema. He wasn't. He walked into our study and found Charlie and me... well... at it. I won't go into details. In some ways now I wish he had reported it. We'd have been in trouble, certainly, and I don't know what the consequences would have been, possibly expulsion, that's a guess, perhaps just a warning followed by perpetual surveillance. I just don't know. Anyway by Sunday morning chapel it was not only all round the house, but round the whole school as well, and our lives were made a misery. Even more so if we sat together or were seen together. There was a strong antigay ethos, gay-bashing even. It came from the staff and trickled down the hierarchy to the prefects and throughout to all of the boys. If we were together we got slagged off, yet no one else wanted to be seen with us or sit with us and made it very clear. It was almost as if being gay were contagious. What made things worse was that on the following Sunday the school chaplain devoted his whole sermon to what he called the 'evils of homosexuality'. We never found out whether that was coincidence or whether the story had gone further. We were always encouraged to 'share our worries' with the school chaplain and someone obviously had. It certainly wasn't me. Keith requested a move of study-bedroom and got it. They wouldn't let Charlie share with me and naturally our schoolwork suffered. Because we were never formally disciplined our pa rents weren't told about the 'incident', but towards the end of term they were called in to 'discuss our schoolwork'. The upshot of that interview was that we were 'advised' it might be better if we left and went to local schools as dayboys. The School would be 'supportive' in helping us to find new schools. My parents know I'm gay and there's no problem there. Charlie's didn't and still don't know about him. Mine also heard from friends that this was a very 'tolerant' school - no one ever said 'gay-tolerant', but that's what was implied. And so here I am. And the cherry on the icing on the cake was that I met you and Tom even before I got to school. Not only that. I knew you two were gay straightaway from the way you were checking me out, especially you. Now tell me about you."
"Have you got three hours?"

In the distance the first bell for afternoon school rang. The two teenagers broke their gaze and wandered back. Natt blushed and, unusually for him, stammered
"Martin, would like to go out somewhere with me? See a film, say?"
"Are you asking me out on a date?"
"Yes... yeah, I suppose I am."
"Isn't Tom your boyfriend?"
"Oh no. Best friend, yes. And we do do stuff together, but we always agreed that's how it's going to remain and he's done stuff with other boys and I have too."
"I can't do anything tomorrow because we have a family thing on, but I'll ask about the following Saturday and tell you tomorrow if it's okay." Natt imperceptibly squeezed Martin's hand before they rejoined the mainstream jostling their way to different classes.

Nathan and Tom went into their English class and sat down next to each other.
"Come on, Natt. Spill the beans. How did you get on?"
"Oh, all right, actually," smiled Nathan.
"Yes, but..." At that moment Mr C... came in and the class stood up.
"No time now," whispered Nathan. "Tell you later." Tom had his answer when the lesson was over and Nathan was obviously proud that he'd plucked up the courage to ask Martin out on a date. The next morning at the station Martin told Nathan he had got the all clear from his mother and that she had suggested that instead of going home that late after the cinema he should sleep over. Nathan thought that his birthday, Christmas and Easter had all come at the same time. He was sure his parents would agree. The following week the lunchtime routine had largely changed. Tom joined the group of winter cricketers and Nathan and Martin found somewhere to go out on the school fields. On the Monday Nathan did tell him his life story, but the great thing was that with a little certainty behind him he could now concentrate better on his work.

The day of the first date arrived more quickly than could be expected. On the Saturday morning Nathan took his overnight bag with him, stowed it in a left-luggage locker at the station and travelled up to school with his usual group. Ian C..., Stuart McA... and Grahame N... took it in their stride that three of their travelling companions were gay and apart from the occasional friendly teasing, which could work both ways, there was scarcely a mention of the matter when they were all together. After school Tom had to stay behind for a rugby match and the others had things to do and so it was just Martin and Nathan travelling back together. Natt took the opportunity to unpin Martin's house colour badge and pin it on his right lapel. Arriving at H... they alighted, retrieved Nathan's overnight bag and walked to Martin's house. On arrival there Natt took little notice of the outside. To him it was just an ordinary house in the town, just as his was an ordinary house on the edge of the countryside. He was introduced to Mr and Mrs W.... Mrs W... told the boys to wash their hands straightaway as lunch was about ready. They could show Nathan where to put his bag afterwards. Mrs W... held sway at the lunch table, telling Nathan about Martin's older brother and sister who had left home and saying what a lot she had heard about him and his friend - 'Tom was it?' - who had helped Martin so much to settle into his new school and how much happier he was there. His father owned a business in the town, and so on, as mothers do. From the kitchen where they were having lunch Nathan could see that the house had been extended and despite that still led out to a huge garden. He found it hard to believe that there was space for such a large house, but there was an even bigger surprise in store for him. When they had finished their meal Mrs W... said to Martin
"You had better show Nathan where he's sleeping." Natt was expecting to be shown upstairs, but instead Martin opened a a door under the staircase, switched on a light and took him down into the basement. In the basement were three large rooms in addition to a bathroom and toilet. The first room he was shown had been made into an entertainment centre with a huge television set complete with Dolby® surround sound, DVD and cassette players and a separate hi-fi music system. It was furnished with two sofas and four armchairs and the lights were controlled by dimmer switches. The next room was Martin's bedroom which, apart from the small window, was a typical teenager's room. Then next to it was what was now a guest room with a huge bed, comfortable chairs and a portable television set.
"When I was small my brother and sister used to sleep down here, but when my sister married I moved down here and now my brother has moved out as well. So his room became a guest room." Natt didn't know what to say, he was so impressed. "My parents sleep upstairs, so within reason we can make as much noise we want. The idea originally was that us kids could squabble as much as we liked among ourselves without getting on their nerves. Once you're settled in they won't disturb us any more." Nathan got changed into a tee shirt, cargoes and trainers while Martin got out of his school uniform as well, changing into American basketball shorts and a singlet. Nathan could simply not take his eyes off him. "Do you like the kit, Natt?"
"Sure, cool, but I like what's in it more," and they both giggled.
"Mr Golden Tongue," said Martin and smiled that coy smile of his with the pastel blue eyes and the long fair eyelashes looking tartily up into his face.

The boys collected their kit and walked to the leisure centre to go swimming. This was a new concept to Nathan, the fact that you could simply go out of the front door and walk to any of the amenities you required. He either had to get on his bike, or a bus or be driven by car. They spent an hour or so swimming, larking around, diving or using the water slides before they sat on the side of the pool dangling their feet in the water and admiring the local talent. Nathan bemoaned the fact that so many boys these days wear swimming shorts, but both he and Martin were leading by example and wearing speedos. At one stage it looked as if there could have been an incident as one kid shouted in a surly tone
"Whatchya looking at?"
Martin used his charming smile and said "Sorry. It's your fault for being so good-looking," and amazingly he got away with it. The boy concerned looked as if no one had ever said anything nice to him before in his life and he was so astounded that he didn't know how to handle it. "Time to go, I think," said Martin and they went off to the changing rooms and showered the chlorinated water off themselves. "I don't want you smelling of swimming pool later tonight, Natt." Nathan, oblivious to the obvious, kept wondering what Martin meant by that. When they arrived home, they went downstairs and played computer games. After tea they said goodbye to Mr and Mrs W... and made their way to the multiplex. The choice narrowed down to watching either Wallace and Gromit or Get Real. Get Real won and luckily for them it was being shown in one of the smaller, cosier cinemas. There were not many people in there and our boys easily managed to find two seats at the back that weren't near anyone else. They could hold hands without attracting attention to themselves and once the actual film started they shifted in their seats and put their arms round each other's shoulders. Just as Steve Carter was about to have his first kiss, Nathan and Martin took the hint, turned looked into each other's eyes and had their own first kiss. Martin took Natt's free hand and placed it on his crotch. He could feel the throbbing warmth inside Martin's jogpants.

As they left the multiplex Martin said
"What did you think of the film?"
"I loved the funny bits like when Steve's fag hag dealt with Kevin Granger and later on when she got her own back on her driving instructor." Meanwhile they had reach Burger Star. As they sat over their double cheese and bacon whoppers with fries, drinking their Pepsis, Nathan said "How did you like it?"
"I adored Steve, but how could anyone fall for that great pudding John Dixon? He was enough to turn you str8 for the rest of your life."
"What I didn't get was how he could be the school's top athlete in serious training and yet he smoked. It just doesn't work that way."
"I think my favourite bit was when they had that first failed attempt at a kiss."
"I noticed that. That's when you put my hand in your lap."
"You know you nearly made me wet my jogpants?"
"I do now." When they had finished, they got up, tidied away their trays and started on the walk home. With the brightly lit town centre behind them, there were no longer any crowds and they were alone as they walked along the residential streets. Since no one was looking, they held hands which was enough to give Nathan a bulge in his pants. A few minutes before reaching home Martin pulled Natt into an alleyway, held him against the wall and gave him a French kiss, as they ground their crotches against one another. Nathan was in heaven. When they came up for air, Martin, breathing heavily, said
"We'll finish that off at home."

When they reached Martin's house, the door was opened by Mrs W....
"Hallo, boys, you're home early."
"Yes, Mum, we decided not to watch Wallace and Gromit."
"What did you see?"
"Get Real."
"Isn't that a '15'?"
"Yes, Mum, but we are fifteen now. Remember?"
"Of course, silly me. You boys grow up so quickly." The boys sat in the living room with Martin's parents, chatting and enjoying cocoa and biscuits. At the appropriate time Martin said
"We're off to bed now. It's been a tiring week."
"Since when did fifteen year old boys go to bed at ten o'clock? On Saturday night, and on a sleep over?" said his father.
Martin grinned and said "Since tonight."
"I know all about that," his mother chimed in. "Just don't spend too long on those computer games. You'll get black rings under your eyes."
"Okay, we won't. Promise. Good night, Mum, good night, Dad," and he gave them both a kiss.
"Burger Star on the way home?" said Mrs W.... Martin nodded.
"I thought so. Greasy lips."
"Good night, Mrs W..., good night, Mr W...," said Nathan.
"Good night, boys. Sleep tight."

Nathan and Martin weren't in the least bit tired. Martin took Natt to the door that led down to the basement and switched on the lights. Once downstairs they went into the television room and Martin put the Jurassic Park DVD into the player, dimmed the lights and the boys sat on the sofa watching the first five minutes. They were too concerned with one another to watch any more of the film. Finally Martin switched the television set off as both boys retired to Natt's room. They stripped off their clothes and decided to spend the night naked in the king-size bed together.

It was eight o'clock when Nathan awoke. In the limited light which came through the small window which was just about at ground level he could see as well as feel how Martin had spooned himself into him. He also felt his stiff cock hot against the crevice of Martin's butt and it throbbed even stiffer when he wondered what it might feel like to slide it inside him. He wanted to get up and relieve himself, but Martin was asleep still and so comfortable that he didn't want to disturb him. He put his hand under Martin's arm, felt for his nipple and gently stroked it with his finger. He felt it stiffen and stand erect. Slowly he slid his hand down his sleeping body smoothing over his abdominal muscles, briefly playing with his innie of a navel before stroking his pubic hair, taking great care not to touch his equally stiff dick.
"You can touch it if you like," came a sleepy voice.
"Oh, you're awake."
"Mmm, I just pretended to be asleep still 'cause I was enjoying what you were doing." Nathan kissed his cheek and climbed out of bed. "Where are you going?"
"I've just got to get rid of all that Pepsi I drank last night."
"Don't pee long. I want you back in this warm bed with your warm body against mine." Martin followed him and they had a sword fight in the bowl. When they climbed back under the duvet their bodies were chilled and they cuddled to get warm again. Another long and deep kiss brought them back to their aroused state. When they came up for air, Martin looked into Nathan's eyes and said "You know when we were lying there and you had you cock pressed against my bum? I really felt that I wanted it inside me." Nathan's heart leapt. "Have you ever done that to anybody?" Nathan shook his head.
"Have you, Martin?"
"No, it's something I've always been nervous about because they say if you don't do it properly it hurts a lot."
"Would you like to do it with me?"
"Definitely, but not now. When we've found out more about it. There must be something on the internet cos I don't know anyone we can ask. Have you ever had a massage?"
"No."
"Now that's something I can do. I learnt to do this at my last school."

Martin leapt out of bed, disappeared off to the bathroom and returned with a pile of towels.
"You need plenty of towels so that you don't get the oil on the bedclothes. Can be a bit embarrassing to explain."
"What about wank stains then?"
"Oh, that can be an accident, but not baby oil - and I can put the towels straight into the washing machine. Anyway, I always try to keep my bed clean. Saves awkward questions. My brother taught me that. Lay the towels out and lie down on them face down." Martin then went off to his own bedroom and returned with a plastic bottle of Boots' Baby Skin Oil. He positioned Nathan so that could kneel over him, but remain within easy reach of the bedside cabinet. He squeezed a little oil onto his hands and rubbed them together. He then poured more onto his palms and started to knead Natt's shoulders. From the first rub Natt was in heaven and it got better as Martin worked his way down his body. He had to trust him as he couldn't see what he was doing. Inbetween rubs Martin also anointed his own extremely hard dick. Finally he reached Nathan's buttocks and he loved it as he felt the cool oil run into his crack.
"Don't just let it run in there. Rub it in." He felt Martin probe, first with one, then with two fingers, along the crack and then finally up into his hole. He felt something warm probing at his hole. He knew it wasn't a finger because there was no fingernail. Martin was gently probing his hole with his stiffened dick, sliding it in until it met some resistance, then sliding it out. "If you keep on doing that, Martin, I'm going to come off... Aagh! It's too late," Nathan panted.
"That's another reason for the towel. Did you enjoy that?"
"More than I can tell you," said Nathan catching his breath.
"Now there's one more thing left to do. Rub some oil into the palms of your hands and then massage my dick till I come off." Nathan oiled his hands while Martin lay on the bed, then oiled up Martin's dick even more. "Now just gently slide your hands over the tip." Martin was in a combination of agony and ecstasy and it was less than a minute before with an involuntary cry his love juices spurted into Nathan's hand.

After lying together for half an hour or so a very oily Nathan and a not quite so oily Martin finally got up and showered together. After dressing they climbed the stairs up into the main part of the house just as Mrs W... was cooking a full fried breakfast. Midmorning Mr B... arrived the take Nathan home. He introduce his father and they all sat around in the kitchen having elevenses before Mr B... whisked his son off back home. Mr and Mrs W... said how much they had enjoyed having Nathan and perhaps he might like to come and stay again. Martin also said he had greatly enjoyed having Nathan... which was after all the truth. After lunch he and Bruce met Tom for their customary Sunday afternoon walk and he told Tom all (yes, all) about the weekend at Martin's.

The following Monday Nathan felt far more settled at school and got down to concentrating in his lessons. He and Martin could even bring themselves to join in with the winter cricketers after lunch and along with Tom they formed a very happy threesome. One of these days Natt was going to attempt to give Tom a massage. Later in the week Nathan arrived on the station very excited.
"Hi, Martin, I've found out on the net how to do it."
"Do what?" said Martin rather confused as some days had passed since this particular conversation.
"You know. Do it... do it with you." Martin's face showed not the least sign of enlightenment and Tom had wandered up the platform to join their other friends. Nathan lowered his voice. "Shagging... butt-fucking. There's a site on the internet written for people our age and especially for first timers." The penny dropped for Martin.
"Oooh, I'm with you now."
"Yeah, I'll tell you about it later. I've written down the address for you," and the two boys caught up with their other friends just as the arrival of their train was announced.

Nathan and Martin were planning to spend the following weekend together, but that Thursday while changing after games Martin was all bouncy until Natt finally got him to calm down and found out the reason. He had been asked to substitute at Saturday's rugby match. That meant that he would play for at least some of the game and it was the next step to gaining a permanent place in the team. Nathan was both pleased and sad, pleased that his boyfriend had made such progress since joining a new school and sad that he wouldn't be seeing him for their date on Saturday because it was an away game and he wouldn't be back until late. However, his disappointment was later assuaged to some extent. He had been rereading the website on anal intercourse for beginners and with all the preparations required he was beginning to chicken out and think he wouldn't be able to go through with it. There was a difference between being all worked up with the body and stimulation of his boyfriend, especially during the massage, and the cold instruction about the need for 'inner cleanliness' and the pain of preparing the sphincter to open. And was he a top or was he a bottom? He had originally wanted to be both. He was confused. He just didn't know. Perhaps he wasn't ready for all this after all. Then disaster struck.

Saturday Nathan came home at the usual time for Saturday. He had to catch the bus as Tom was playing rugby too. He felt down, but just thought it was a combination of a long week and being fed up at no longer having a date with Martin. On the Sunday he felt a lot worse - tired, headache and listless. His mother telephoned the H...s and cancelled Bruce's walkies. Monday he was little better, but for some reason he couldn't fathom, his father insisted he went to school under the impression he was trying to skive. The injustice of it was that he had never tried to skive school in his life. He pulled himself together enough to put on his school uniform and go to school. All day he sat at his desk often slumped over it with his head resting on his arms, so awful he felt. The odd thing was that his teachers didn't even question this. When he finally got home he slumped down in an armchair without even changing out of his school uniform. He didn't eat any tea, he didn't even do his homework. Finally he went to bed early and fell straight to sleep. When he woke in the morning, he felt very much better, but he was covered from head to toe in itchy red spots. His mother called the doctor who diagnosed chicken pox. Three weeks off school. Any other boy might have shown some gratitude for a sudden three weeks away from school. Not Nathan. He loved school and he met all his friends there. No Tom, no Martin for three weeks, and one of the ironies of chicken pox is that as soon as the spots come out you feel all right in yourself. Okay, they itch like hell, you mustn't scratch them for risk of ending up pockmarked and they were contagious to those who hadn't already had chicken pox. The doctor said that he had to remain indoors until the spots started to heal up and become dry. Then he could go out as long as he didn't mix with people. When he reached that stage, Bruce benefited with a lot of extra walks, but Natt missed his friends, particularly Martin and Tom. At leas t they would phone and e-mail. Eventually the three weeks were over and after his enforced rest Nathan returned to school for a week before they broke up for half term. He caught up with all the gossip and news, not least of which was just that Martin was now the Colts scrum-half, much to the displeasure of the boy he had displaced and that not only had he and his parents arranged for Charlie, his best friend from his old school, to come and stay for most of the holiday week, but that Tom and he had been invited for a long weekend sleepover.
"I'm sure you two are going like Charlie when you meet him and I think a weekend with four of us could be quite fun."

On the Friday when school broke up, Nathan and Tom returned home at about a quarter to five. They had an hour to change and pack their bags before Mrs B... whisked them off to the W...s' house in town for six o'clock. Martin's friend Charlie was already there and straightaway both Nathan and Tom took to him. They knew his background, but immediately put him to the test by stroking his palm when they shook hands and gained the expected response. Friday evening was time for settling in. Mrs W... said
"I hope you boys don't mind sharing rooms, but I thought it better if you all slept downstairs in the basement rather than some upstairs and some down and Martin assured me it would be all right." Martin gave his friends a knowing look. Nathan was to share with Martin while Tom and Charlie were put in the spare bedroom... nominally. To begin with the W...s invited the boys to sit down to a family meal. Mrs W... had views on the matter and on the civilising effect of eating together round one table and without the distractions of a television set and it gave Charlie, Nathan and Tom a chance to get to know one another. This went on until gone nine when, following Martin's example, they said good night to Mr and Mrs W... before disappearing downstairs for the rest of the night.
"I'll let you all sleep in in the morning. Come up for breakfast when you're ready. If we're not here, we shall only be doing the shopping. All the food will be left out or in the fridge. All you need to do is get it yourself and if you're not sure how to cook, Martin will show you. He's quite a good little cook," Martin blushed and said
"Aw, Mum, you'll be telling them next that I do knitting and crochet."
"We know that already," chimed in Charlie.
"And you wear lipstick, Charlie," he continued.
"That was supposed to be our secret," Charlie grinned.
"I can see you two boys haven't changed much since you left L... College." It became obvious that whatever bond had previously existed between the two boys it was now re-establishing itself in the repartee that flowed between them.

Once downstairs the four boys sat in the entertainment suite and watched an old James Bond film, Nathan and Martin on one sofa with their arms round each other, and Tom and Charlie on the other, not yet with their arms round each other. It had gone twelve by the time they decided to go to bed. They had a busy day ahead planned. They all said good night and went off to their allotted rooms.
"By the way, Tom, I always sleep in the nude," said Charlie. "I always get so hot in bed."
"Oh, that's okay, I'll cope. I get rather too warm as well."
"No, Tom. You misunderstood me. I get hot in bed... and it's got nothing to do with the temperature." Tom blushed for being so thick. He stripped off all of his clothes.
"Which side of the bed do want, Charlie?"
"You choose. I'm ambidextrous in bed."
"I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous," retorted Tom. They each went off to the bathroom before getting into bed. Tom closed the door behind him and Charlie went across and locked it.
"It'll stop any dawn raids," he said with a grin. They left one bedside light on. "I hope you're going to give me a goodnight kiss before you go to sleep," said Charlie. They snuggled under the duvet together and Tom gave him his goodnight kiss.

At half past nine the following morning Martin knocked on Tom and Charlie's door.
"Breakfast at ten, okay?"
"Okay," they shouted back in unison. They had both in fact been awake for some time. When they were showered and dressed, they went upstairs to find Martin cooking bacon, eggs and sausages.
"Sunnyside up, please," said Tom. Nathan was stirring the beans. They didn't eat too much as they were going swimming later that morning. When they'd finished, they cleared up, went to fetch their swimming togs and left the house. They'd just stepped onto the pavement when Charlie said
"Shit, I've forgotten my goggles."
"Wait there," said Martin. "We won't be a minute." Left on the pavement together Tom said in a low voice
"Hey, Natt, Charlie did me last night."
"What, conned you?"
"No, you dork. Did me, had me, stole my cherry, shagged me, fucked me."
"What?"
"Here they come. I'll tell you all about it later." Nathan was full of curiosity, but nothing could be done about it until he could talk with Tom in private. The lads spent the rest of the morning at the swimming baths thoroughly enjoying themselves, but for Nathan the time was dragging and Tom was teasing him by refusing to be dragged into any conversation that even approached the subject of last night. After swimming they sat by the pool side on boy watch.
"Hey, Natt," shouted out Charlie "you're supposed to be checking out the talent in the pool, not me. You can check me out in the changing room." Natt started and blushed. Yes, he had been checking Charlie out. After all, Tom had spent the night with him and didn't need to, nor did Martin. However, it was unconscious since his mind was elsewhere dwelling on what Tom had whispered to him outside the W...s' house. The boys showered, dried themselves off and got dressed. Charlie was as good as his word - definitely a show-er, though his balls seemed too small to match his prick. Still that was merely academic as far as Nathan was concerned. They walked back to Martin's house and arrived just in time for lunch. Mrs W... deliberately stretched it out so that the boys would at least have some opportunity to calm down and digest their food properly before going out in the afternoon. Inwardly though Nathan's curiosity was growing more and more and he was relieved when finally they set out for the bowling alley. They queued to pay and get their shoes, but fortunately Martin's mother had had the foresight to phone in advance and book a lane for them. So they just had to sit it out until it was time.
"I'm going to take a slash," announced Nathan with an air of authority. The people near him looked round. "Are you coming, Tom?"
"I thought it was only girls that had to go to the loo in pairs," said Martin. Tom realised that there was an ulterior motive and said
"Yeah, I'm bursting."

Fortunately it was quite a trek past the snack bar to the loos and so they were out of sight of the other two.
"Go on, Tom, I've been dying to know what happened last night."
"Well, it just seemed to happen. Charlie said he slept in the buff. So I did too. We played around and snogged for a while and suddenly he asked if I'd had proper sex before. I said no and then he asked me if I was up for it. 'Doesn't it hurt?' I asked. 'Not if you do it properly,' he replied. 'Okay,' I said. By now he had well and truly got me in the mood... was seducing me, I suppose. 'Trust me,' he said and I did. He fetched some stuff out of his suitcase and told me to bend over the bed. He lubed up my hole with K-Y gel, gradually working on the sphincter. 'Given time I could get my whole hand up there,' he said. I blanched at the thought. When he finished he said 'Cos I've done this before with other boys I've got to use a condom. Will you put it on for me. My hands are too slippery.' I carefully squeezed the condom out of the foil. Remember those lessons we had with the banana? 'Careful not to snag it on with your fingernails.'" He was imitating the teacher's repeated warnings. "It was an extra strength one. Charlie said they were better for gay sex. He lay back on the bed and I unrolled it over his prick. Just doing that nearly made me come off. Anyway, he got me to lie on my back with my legs over his shoulders, he then went down on me and with a bit of help I felt him slip in. It hurt for about two seconds and then it felt good, really good, so good it eventually made me come off as well without me having to do anything to myself. The only trouble was when he pulled out. You see, he couldn't grip the condom and it stayed up my butt and he had to pull it out separately which made it a bit messy. 'That's another reason for using extra-strength condoms,' he said. Hey, Natt, we'd better have a pee and get back."

Nathan's imagination was running riot. He was envious, not jealous, but definitely envious. His curiosity had finally been satisfied, at least for the time being. When they returned to Martin and Charlie it was time for them to start their game. Strangely it was Nathan, the least co-ordinated of them all, who won. After that they wandered into town, had their obligatory snack at Burger Star and made their way off to the early evening show at the cinema. This time they did watch Wallace and Gromit. It was getting on for nine by the time they got home. As they passed the alley of Nathan's first sleepover his heart beat a little faster, but pass it they did. He nearly had a heart attack when the evening silence was destroyed with a tinny mini rendition of Bach's Toccata in D minor. It was Charlie's mobile.
"Hi, Mum... Yeah, I'm having a great time... Yeah, made some new friends..." Charlie stopped talking and they could hear his mother talking at some length without being able to make out what was being said.
"Mum, I don't want a date with the daughter of some friend of yours at work. I am gay. Read my lips: G - A - Y. Get it, Mum?... Yeah, okay, Mum... Yes, I'll tell her. See you Friday... Yes, I think of I've got enough money. I've got my bank card anyway... Bye, Mum... Good night. Love you too." «click» "Phew, women! Don't they go on!"
"Who was that then?" asked Natt sarkily. On arrival back home Mrs W... organised the boys into the kitchen for cocoa and biscuits and she and Martin's father sat with them talking about what they had been doing during the day. Afterwards the boys said goodnight and received the statutory warning about not going to bed too late. At first they just sat around with the television on drinking Pepsis until Martin suggested they had a game of cards. They decided upon seven-card whist. Then Charlie came up with the idea of making it strip whist, so they adjourned to the guest room with its kingsize bed and decided to sit around on that to play cards. The game went on for some time as there was no obvious loser, but finally it was Tom who lost his knickers while the other three were still in just their undies. Martin announced
"I'm tired. Let's go to bed." After such a busy day the others were too. Charlie suggested that they made up a foursome and all slept in the big bed together and the other three readily agreed. They got themselves ready, took off their remaining item of clothing, those that had one, and dived under the duvet. After a lot of giggling and wriggling around at first all four of them were ten minutes later sound asleep.

About three o'clock Tom woke up. He felt cold and stretched out for someone to cuddle up to. When they went to sleep he was one of those in the middle, but as he reached out to his right there was no one there. The moon was shining through the small window that brought limited light and ventilation from near ground level into the basement room. As his eyes became accustomed to it he could see that there was only one other in the bed, and that one other was Natt. He spooned into Natt and fell asleep.

Tom moved and as he did he woke up Nathan. It was light.
"What time is it, Natt?" He stretched his arm out to pick up his watch from the bedside table and said
"Eight o'clock. Hey, wait a minute. The clock on the VCR says seven o'clock. Aah, of course, it's half term, isn't it? The clocks go back. We've got an extra hour. And where are the others?"
"At a guess I would say they've gone to sleep in Martin's room." Natt turned over to face Tom. "What do you want to do, Natt?"
"Do you know what I'd really like to do?"
"No?"
"I'd like to make love the way you and Charlie did yesterday."
"What about Martin?"
"What about him?"
"Well, aren't you supposed to be boyfriends?"
"Were, by the looks of it. It appears he's dumped me and gone back to Charlie."
"You don't seem very angry."
"Oddly I don't feel very angry. You know I said I thought I was in love with him?"
"Yees?"
"Well, I noticed that after our first sleepover I'd done whatever I wanted to do with him. I suppose it was lust really. I'm very fond of him. Don't think I'm not, but I felt different afterwards. I realised this particularly when I had chicken pox and had a lot of time for thinking. So will you have me back, Tom?"
"We've never left one another, silly. Remember. We're best friends, not boyfriends."
"That's right," said Nathan in a disappointed tone of voice.
"But after what we're going to do that could alter," added Tom and he gave Nathan a deep kiss on the lips. "I'm just going to the bathroom... to freshen up as they say."

After they had both 'freshened up', Tom locked the door and they both went back to bed.
"Top or bottom, Natt?"
"You choose. You're the expert and you've got to tell me what to do."
"Okay, then. You go top. I should be able to take you all right after yesterday. And look. Charlie's left his K-Y gel behind."

Nathan and Tom lay in each other's arms in a glow of post-coïtal pleasure. They heard the other two stirring.
"Do you think we ought to get up yet?" asked Tom.
"Let them get up first. I feel so happy here as we are. And whatever happened there's going to have to be some explaining to do over breakfast." Finally Nathan and Tom appeared for breakfast at about half past nine and there was definitely an atmosphere in the kitchen. Martin blushed and didn't know where to put his face. He could only just about mumble a good morning. His parents had gone to church and so there was no one to interrupt or lighten the atmosphere. Tom cooked breakfast for himself and Nathan. They ate in near silence. When they'd finished Tom said
"Come on, Charlie. I think we need to clear up our rooms downstairs." Charlie took the hint and the two boys disappeared. Martin looked up at Nathan with those appealing pastel blue eyes and the long fair eyelashes. Even under these circumstances Nathan found that Martin's sweet face could melt even the stoniest of hearts. He spoke first.
"Natt, I suppose you think I'm a bit of a shit or some sort of slut."
"I'm so confused I don't really know what to think." This was true. He had spent a good part of an hour discussing the split with Tom who had the good sense to point out that they had only returned to their original partners and that after making love with Tom he was not exactly an innocent party himself. "But you might have told me," continued Natt "instead of sneaking off in the middle of the night."
"It wasn't like that. It wasn't premeditated or anything. It just happened on the spur of the moment." In silence Martin got up and started to stack the plates and cutlery in the dishwasher. While Nathan admitted partial culpability to himself, he was not prepared to admit it to Martin. He felt he had the psychological advantage and wanted to keep it. Was he cruel enough to press it home? It would depend on whether Martin gave him that look or not. He sat in silence while Martin carried on stacking the dishes and thought. Had he been in love with Martin, or was it lust? He certainly wanted his body and yet, when he had got it, he strangely felt that that was enough. He could in fact cast him off like a used condom. With Tom it was different. Despite having Martin he had missed Tom and needed to return to him. Sex, though thoroughly enjoyable with Tom, was not the be all and end all. That's really all he'd had with Martin. He liked Tom for being Tom. That morning they had had sex together, proper sex, sex for the first time, but it wouldn't have mattered if they hadn't. It wasn't just sex; it was more. Was he finally, after more than two years, in love with Tom? Had he been in love with him all the time and not realised it? Nathan was close to tears, not tears of sadness, but tears of frustration, even tears of anger, the anger he felt with himself for not realising what a treasure he had in Tom. Did Tom feel the same way about him? After long minutes of silence and deliberation, a silence eventually broken by the whirr and splash of the dishwasher, Nathan stood up.
"Martin, are you in love with him?"
"Who?"
"Charlie." Martin said nothing, but Nathan could see he was obviously considering his answer.
"If you're in love with someone, do you ever completely stop loving him if circumstances make you split up?" He waited for Nathan's answer and when none came he went on. "I think I was looking for a replacement love when we became..." He hesitated. "... er... boyfriends, but now I'm reunited with Charlie I was just pushed over the edge and I realised that we were still in love all the time... And I mean we. Neither of us had lost our passion for one another." Nathan thought. He wasn't thinking about Martin and Charlie. He was thinking about himself and Tom. "Natt, can you ever forgive me if we split and I go back to Charlie?" He had that appealing look on his face again. It was melting Nathan's heart. He took hold of Martin's hand and drew him close into him. He put his arms round his waist and stroked his bottom.
"Is that what you really want?" Martin slowly nodded. "Okay, but can we remain friends?" Martin nodded again. "Will you give me a kiss to seal it?" They kissed on the lips and released each other just as there was the sound of a car drawing up in the drive.
"Come on," said Martin. "I think we'd better disappear downstairs."

Tom and Charlie were watching television. When Nathan and Martin came into the room they turned and stared in anticipation. Charlie zapped the sound, then through some telepathic understanding he got up and took Martin into his bedroom. Nathan sat down next to Tom on the settee. Tom zapped the picture. He automatically took hold of Nathan's hand, but said nothing, allowing Nathan to speak if he wanted to. He told Tom almost word for word what he and Martin had discussed in the kitchen, but for the moment Tom kept his thoughts to himself.
"Tom, I want to say something to you. I hope you won't think it silly." Tom kept quiet. "This is what guided me. When I had sex with Martin I don't deny I enjoyed it, but that's all it was, sex and fun. When us two made love this morning all that was different. I felt different. I don't know if you did, but I felt fulfilled. Yes, the physical thrill was there, but so was something else, something emotional I can't describe. What I'm trying to say is that after all this time, more than two years, two years of denying it to myself, I think it's you that I'm in love with." Tom put his arm round Nathan's shoulders and pulled him in towards himself. Their eyes closed and they fell into a long kiss, a passionate kiss, a lovers' kiss.
"Natt, if you want me, I'm yours. For two years I thought this moment would never come. I never wanted to push you. My sister always used to say that love comes naturally and it never works out if one partner pushes it. If you push it you can spoil it. Now that moment has come I'm yours if you want me," and they sealed it with a kiss. "We'll make love tonight," said Tom. "I promise. And tomorrow morning; and all week if you want to." There was a knock at the door. It was Charlie.
"Anyone for football?" But Nathan had left one thing unsaid, one thing that would play on his conscience until he brought it out in the open with Tom.

The four lads went out into the garden and kicked a football around while Mrs W... was busy preparing Sunday lunch. Diplomatically the teams consisted of Tom and Martin playing against Nathan and Charlie. In the afternoon the four went off, as previously arranged, to the ice rink in the leisure centre. Any atmosphere that had existed existed no longer. They had worked out their passions playing football before lunch and any feelings that might have survived into the afternoon were soon forgotten during the exertions and concentration need for ice-skating. Here was a group of four normal teenage boys who were just enjoying themselves in each other's company. When they arrived back at Martin's house, all aglow from physical exercise, Mrs W... said diplomatically
"I think you boys have just got time for a quick shower before tea." Sunday tea in the W... house was taken sat round the table in the kitchen. It consisted of freshly baked scones with a choice of butter or clotted cream and strawberry jam, followed by a selection of home made cake. This was not just for the benefit of visitors. This was Sunday tea at the W...s'. Everyone took their time and it was yet another occasion for family conversation. Mr W... kept the boys entertained with accounts of the odder clients he had met over the years through his business. Mrs W... on the other hand was more interested in school: firstly wanting to know how Martin had settled in, how they got on - 'they' in this context being subtext for the gay community at school, but the boys were astute enough to steer round that, although Nathan did make it very clear that they probably felt no different from the str8 guys - and then she went on to ask Charlie about his school. L... College received a summary dismissal. When all had had their fill the boys offered to stack the dishwasher and disappeared downstairs afterwards. They played computer games and listened to CDs, but after the labours of the day decided on an early night. There were bridges to be built, fences to be mended. Charlie gathered all his belongings together and took them into Martin's room. Nathan made the reverse journey with his. He and Tom had two years to make up for. Although Martin and Charlie had a whole week together, it would be Christmas before they would see each other again.

Monday morning at ten Mrs B... arrived to take Nathan and Tom home. They had protested that they could manage on the bus, - after all they (sometimes) did on schooldays - but in vain. Tom was going to remain at Nathan's until his mother got home from work. Mrs W... entertained Mrs B... to coffee and biscuits while the boys got their things together. For security reasons and under Martin's guidance they put their bed linen into the washing machine.
"Oh, there was no need to do that, boys," protested Mrs W... after the event, but how was she to know?
"We just couldn't leave without doing it," said Tom. The ulterior motive was lost on Mrs W.... Thank goodness, thought the boys. Amid a mixture of thank yous and you-must-come-stay-agains the W...s and Charlie waved the B...s and Tom goodbye.

Nathan and Tom still had Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of half term to themselves. Saturday and Sunday were normal weekend days with both families at home. Nathan took advantage of the lighter mornings to get up earlier. After breakfast he would cycle across to Tom's since his parents were out at work - his mother would return at about one - and his sister's school had had the previous week for half term. Tom answered the door dressed only in shorts. Now they had discovered how to make love properly there was no turning back. In the afternoon they would cycle into town and hang out or take Bruce for a walk, whatever came into their heads. They even met Martin and Charlie at Burger Star one afternoon. However, first there was the Tuesday to get through and Nathan was fully conscious of the fact he still had one thing to discuss with Tom if they were to be boyfriends. That afternoon Bruce was taken for a long walk in the woods. After an intense morning on and in Tom's bed Nathan felt that he could speak more objectively, less influenced by a view of his world as observed through the hole in his prick. He had had plenty of time alone over the past twenty-four hours to mull over what he had to say.

The boys were ten minutes into the woods. Bruce had been let off the lead and was running around sniffing all the smells the countryside had to offer. They did not worry too much about him. He knew the path they would follow just as well as they did. He wouldn't let them far out of his sight.
"Tom."
"Natt."
"You know what we were talking about on Sunday? You know... about being boyfriends?"
"Yeah."
"Well, there's one thing we didn't talk about and I've been thinking about it."
"What's that?"
"I've always been very fond of you... from the first time I saw you until all those months later and we finally spoke to one another and now after we've been friends all this time I've grown to like you even more... to er... love you... like a sort of brother, I mean," he added quickly. "You're the best mate a kid could have."
"Mmm. What are you trying to say, Natt?"
"It's just that during all that time I've still continued to look at other boys and... like in the case of Martin and Jack, and Raoul's brother Lucien, I've done stuff with them. But you see, if we're boyfriends all that's supposed to stop and I don't think it will. I don't think I can. It's just the way I'm made. In the same way that I've been made queer. For one thing, looking back at the weekend, I feel I missed out by not doing anything with Charlie. I bet you did."
Tom nodded. "And he was good."
"Tom!..."
"You see, Natt, we've just proved the point."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you see? We're an item. We have been, believe it or not, for over two years, and yet we're both capable of looking at other boys. Not only looking at them, but going further with them, but we've always been honest with each other. We might be boyfriends, but that doesn't necessarily mean that we going to act the same as boyfriend and girlfriend - or even got to act the same. They're two different kinds of relationship and the mindset is different. It's not only that society accepts the boy/girl relationship and then imposes rules on it. Our relationship is not accepted and so the only rule is 'it just does not happen'. Yet for all that it does." Nathan walked along in silence thinking about what Tom had said. Any outsider might have been amazed that two fifteen year old boys could think so deeply on such matters. Finally Nathan spoke.
"So if I took Charlie behind the bicycled sheds and gave him a BJ you wouldn't mind?"
"If you are honest and open about it and not doing it when you would otherwise be with me I think the answer's no. And I'm not giving up boyspotting at the beach or in the swimming baths just because we're an item." Nathan lapsed into silence for some minutes, then suddenly shouted
"Bollocks! That blasted dog's in the stream. Now I've got to hose him down when we get home."

* * *

Year 10 is probably the most difficult one for boys in the process of growing up. The rapid pace of their collective growth spurt means that society no longer views them as children, but finds it difficult to accept them yet as young men. It is often the time when they start to overtake their parents in height, particularly their mothers, and some adults can view them as a threat. Because of the rapid change in their bodies they become physically gauche and that may be accompanied by a gaucheness of mind or social skills, illustrated by the grunts that issue from even the most articulate of teenagers. Nathan and Tom didn't escape. As he was growing, Nathan went through a phase of being permanently aware of his cock and balls and whatever he wore he could not get them to sit comfortably in his trousers. He was forever adjusting himself to the stage where even his mother finally lost patience and told him off. That just led to him doing it from inside his trouser pockets until he heard the shout from one of his form mates of
"Hey, lads, look. Natt's playing pocket billiards again." It's surprising how at that age repartee is often replaced by sign language and on this occasion he did not use all of the fingers on his hand when he waved back in acknowledgement. Not only did he in that way gain temporary relief from things not being in quite the right place, but he discovered that getting hard under the tension of his briefs enhanced the feeling and if he rubbed his dick he brought himself to the logical conclusion of an orgasm which was far more intense than when he simply wanked himself off. This was fine, but he then had to go around, often at school, with a wet feeling until his body heat dried the damp patch, but even then he could smell something and wondered whether his classmates could as well. He talked this phenomenon over with Tom who couldn't really appreciate the affliction, but it did lead him to explore the pleasures of pocket billiards and found that they were vastly increased with an 'away match' and 'return fixture' with Natt. However, this was just a phase they went through on the journey of discovery of how give one's partner varying degrees and methods of pleasure.

However, another fact of growing up did give Natt some temporary cause for worry. In the second half of the Spring term he was on a sleepover at Tom's. These had become more common and both their parents had the common sense to allow them without asking too many questions. Mrs B...'s strict régime ensured that they slept in separate bedrooms which just called for a little ingenuity, but at the H...s' Nathan was allowed the 'sleeping bag on the floor', a myth which could cover a multitude of sins and perpetuated by Natt regularly bringing his sleeping bag with him, though it always returned home unslept in. It was one of those magic moments on Sunday morning when the bed is so warm that no one wants to get up. Nathan was spooned into Tom who idly started to toy with Natt's nipple. He felt a sudden sharp pain, enough to make him cry out.
"Sorry, Natt. I don't know what I did." Nathan gingerly touched his own nipple which was still tender and felt a small lump there. He told Tom, but otherwise said nothing about it. But he was worried. There had been a lot in the media about breast cancer, which a boy could of course easily dismiss, but he had also read a small article, which astounded him, that men were also contracting breast cancer. When he was alone he did worry about it and of course tried to read about it on the internet. Luckily he had the good sense to put an 'anonymous question' in the PSE box and fortunately in the next lesson the master explained that what boys their age did get were breast knots and that they disappeared in time. Nathan had never heard the term before and so now he could go home and research it. It also turned out that he wasn't the only one in his class to suffer from them.

By Year 10 the boys had known each other long enough to have settled into a well established pecking order and to know who was friends with whom for there to be any great excitements. The pressure of work in the two year build-up to their public examinations concentrated their minds. No one concerned themselves with Nathan and Tom's being an item - that's if they were even conscious of it - or even of the fact they were gay. Phil E... found plenty of trade throughout the school. As he was growing older and less attractive to his older clientele he simply swapped rôles and concentrated on the younger beauties. He was well liked and could obviously attract custom where the odious J... and his likes couldn't. Nathan and Phil had always maintained a healthy respect for one another, as shown by the time after the school play the previous year when Phil could have dropped Nathan in it, and their interests had never clashed. Neither had they ever had the hots for one another. Phil was a good time boy and enjoyed himself with his many contacts; Nathan tried by and large to remain monogamous and in Year 10, settled as he now was with Tom, he was successful. At least to a certain degree for he would still flirt with Martin and Jack, both of whom he still found intensely attractive. But that was the nature of the beast. Nathan found many of his fellows attractive, but would respect their heterosexuality and never tried his luck. However, one PE lesson did bring a little flare-up when Russ B..., dressed as he was in rather form-hugging shorts, blurted out
"B..., stop looking at my balls." Those all around were suddenly listening. Nathan simply looked him in the face and quietly replied
"Russ, I don't want to look at them. I want to feel them." It was Russ B... who blushed.

The other incident of sexual note happened after the end of the Summer term. Again Nathan and Tom went off to cadet camp with the CCF. They were sensible enough to realise that this was a week of strict chastity which they adhered to, but it did mean that they could be together for twenty-four hours a day and that was reward enough. However, the scandal of the week was that Roly B... was discovered in bed with a Cdt J.... Fortunately the senior cadet NCO who found them had the sense to deal with the matter himself and not report it, although the threat was always there.

The summer holidays worked out rather well for our two as their parents had come to an arrangement whereby each family took the other boy on holiday. In Nathan's case it was dressed up as a reward for a good school report and doing so well in his work and exams. In between Tom and he would lapse back into the routine of taking Bruce for walkies, or going to the beach to swim, sometimes even combining the two, and taking advantage of the fact that Mrs H... worked in the morning they had ample opportunity to develop their love life. The summer holidays, seemingly unending, did eventually come to an end in mid-September, but not before they had both celebrated their birthdays. Year 11 was daunting. Life had suddenly become completely serious with public exams at the end of it. They would have liked a party for their schoolfriends, but travelling and accommodation made that impracticable. However, the families did combine and Martin was invited along too. Before his mother collected him late in the evening they privately celebrated one fact. It was Tom that brought it up.
"Natt, Martin, it's just occurred to me. Now Natt and I are sixteen we're completely legal."
Mrs H... called up the stairs saying "Mrs W... is going now and she'd like to take Martin with her." That night Nathan slept over at the H...s'. Quietly he and Tom celebrated the fact that what they were now doing and had been doing for a couple of years was now permitted by the law.

Nathan and Tom were now ready to face the rigours of their examination year. Looking ahead, Year 11 promised, as I said, to be a rather serious affair. As always, my dear Readers, I value your constructive criticism and comments.
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