The Apprentice

by and © N Fourbois

Chapter 49

Being by himself gave Kieran time to reflect. He should have been organising himself for school, but his brain had taken up temporary residence between his legs. He was sitting at his desk in his room, sifting through the photos that had been taken during the week, whether printed or on screen. He thought back over the past few days he had spent with William. He had gained full carnal knowledge of the boy who in return had been physically exciting, intellectually stimulating and fantastic company, but it was clear from their conversations that William was his own man. Now that he had this past week's experience behind him William wanted to branch out, make his own discoveries, clearly starting with Toby Cholmondeley and, as improbable as it might seem, Kieran feared, ending with Leslie Bridgeman, but he hoped not, for Mr Bridgeman's sake. William might be Kieran's fag, but he was patently not his slave. The bond outside College would remain if his mother allowed him to join the gym, and knowing William's skills in personal relationships he had no doubt that he would easily win that battle, more precisely a minor skirmish.

Kieran's mind then proceeded down a different path. 'So Jack's up for it and I thought that was just a one night stand. Okay, that's one possibility. Let's see where it leads us. Then I wouldn't mind having Cholmondeley, but I'd better lay off there since William's already staked his claim. But what is it about blond blue eyed boys? Why are they automatically attractive, sexually attractive, more attractive than their darker confrères?'

Mid evening tiredness descended on Kieran. It was almost as if the half term week had been adrenalin driven and now it had run out. He struggled to get his things ready for school. Fortunately he had remembered to pick up his school uniform from the cleaner's. Mrs Crater had put a week's supply of shirts, crisply ironed and on hangers in his wardrobe. He packed his games kit, made sure his books were in order and that his memory stick was in his blazer pocket. He went to bed without any cocoa and biscuits, crashed out in a deep and dreamless sleep until the alarm beeped. He hadn't even jerked off, although his todger probably felt some relief for that as it had been working overtime throughout the previous week.

He got up, shaved and showered, dressed and had a simple breakfast of muesli, toast, butter and marmalade. The fresh air made him feel more awake and he almost danced his way to the bus stop. The bus arrived, he climbed aboard, took his seat on the top deck and looked out of the window, anxiously awaiting Jack's stop. Yes, there he was in the queue. Kieran realised he had missed him.

Jack's suntanned face appeared over the banister rail, stared around, saw Kieran, the body followed the head and he came and plonked himself down beside Kieran. They were obviously über pleased to see one another. Jack put his hand on Kieran's knee and gently squeezed.

"How are you doing?"

"Great. How was your holiday?"

"Great. I can't wait to see your tan lines, Jack."

"What tan lines?"

"Where you wore your speedo."

"What speedo? You don't get it, Kieran. It's an all over suntan. No speedo, no boardies, nothing."

"Then I can't wait to see your lack of tan lines," grinned Kieran. "Apart from that a good holiday?"

"Not bad."

"You don't sound convinced." Jack lowered his voice.

"I met this Swedish kid, Lars. I don't know what it is with Swedish guys, but they simply ooze sex, whether they're gay or not."

"Was Lars gay?"

"I'm coming to that. I didn't meet him until Monday. So that was two wasted days. He was keen to practise his English and as I don't speak any Swedish I felt no need to practise it. Tuesday we hung out by the pool. Wednesday we were out on an excursion and so I didn't see him until dinner. He was with his parents and two little brothers, I was with mine and afterwards he came across to our table and asked me if I was going to the disco. I wasn't. I didn't know what the attitude to gays was in Tenerife, but when he asked, I was then. I certainly didn't know whether he was gay or not. Anyway, we danced together, nothing close, and I gather that's okay, accepted. Then we decided it was too hot and noisy and we'd go outside. To cut a long story short we found a place in the hotel garden and without saying anything he let me get him up against the wall. And did he know how to respond! I was just about to give him head - it was either that or he'd come off in his Björn Borgs when we heard a woman calling 'Lars'. 'It's okay,' said Lars. 'It's my mother. She won't find us,' and she didn't, but his baby brother did. As I said, I don't understand Swedish, but I realised the toddler was going to give the game away. 'I must go,' he said, quickly zipping up his jeans. 'See you tomorrow,' and he was gone. I saw him at breakfast and he said everything was all right. 'I told my parents I was with a girl and I told my brother he was mistaken in the dark.' We didn't see each other until dinner when he said he couldn't meet me as they were packing and had to leave for home early in the morning. So yes, a good holiday except the main attraction was a complete and utter failure. How was your half term?" The bus was pulling up at the stop outside College.

"Interesting. I'll tell you all about it later."

Kieran and Jack reached their study cubicles and said good morning to Toby. Where was William? Kieran began to panic inside. Then he arrived panting. Kieran had forgotten he was coming by bus while the mornings and evenings were dark.

"Hi, Kieran. Sorry I'm late. Looks as if I'll have to catch an earlier bus. Look, I need to talk to you and it can't really wait until break. It's Mum." Kieran went white and suffered another mini panic attack.

"You're not pregnant, are you?" he said, trying to laugh it off.

"No, nothing like that." They went into Kieran's study and closed the door. "We had a long talk last night about things, but the urgent one is whether I can go to the gym or not. She said it would be okay if... You see we'd talked about boyfriends and we went over the agreement we'd made the previous week that if she could have Simon as a boyfriend, then I could have a boyfriend with the implication that meant doing what you do with boyfriends. Okay so far. Then she said she'd pick me up after gym, but as she wanted to spend Mondays with Simon, could I go home with you and she'll pick me up from there or the gym, whatever."

"That's no problem."

"But then came the next bit. Tonight she's got tickets to go to the theatre and she won't be able to pick me up tonight."

"Why can't you go to the theatre?"

"Remember that my life is lived under the motto of 'two's company, three's a crowd'?" There was a hint of resentment in the tone of his voice.

"Oh," said Kieran. "I see."

"But then there was a bit more. I can go to the gym if I can sleep over with you tonight. And you call me manipulative!"

"Do you want to sleep over tonight?"

"Does the Pope wear white?"

"My parents aren't back and so it wouldn't be difficult. The blue room won't be made up. You'll have to kip down in my room."

"You drive a hard bargain, Kieran, but I suppose I'll just have to accept... as long as it's not on the floor." They both burst out giggling. A bell rang in the distance.

"Hey, William, you're not supposed to be here any more. Run along to registration and blame your lateness on me and your fagging duties. I've got broad shoulders."

"And I've still got to ring or text Mum with the answer... Now!"

"Speak to you later, but probably not till lunchtime."

Toby had long gone and so Jack was waiting alone outside Kieran's study.

"Problems, Kieran?"

"In a way, yes, but the sort of problems I like. It's all wrapped up with what I'm going to tell you later." They'd already zapped their VI Form ID cards and so it was straight off to assembly.

Kieran and Jack met again at break and despite the chill wind decided to walk the bounds of the school fields. Kieran told him about his half term, how it had taken a most unexpected turn from what promised to be an extremely boring week into an intellectually stimulating and physically arduous one. Jack laughed at Kieran's hyperbole.

"I think you mean 'physically stimulating' and we'll forget the intellectual bit. So that's two notches on the headboard of your bed?"

"Three. Don't forget Orlando."

"I've just got two - Alexis and you."

"And I can see a third one looming on the horizon."

"Oh, yes? Who?"

"I'm not one to gossip," said Kieran in a confidential tone, "but William tells me he's determined to get your trousers off at some stage."

"And you're going to allow your boyfriend to do that?"

"Uh uh, fag, not boyfriend. He's made that perfectly clear. He's got you and Toby clearly in his sights. He's already done stuff with Toby, but he's after his cherry. He might have a bit of competition there..."

"You're not sniffing round there?"

"You have a lovely turn of phrase, but I cannot tell a lie. I do fancy him, but like that character in Queer as Folk... Stuart Jones... once I've had him I shall discard him like a used condom."

"What? You've seen Queer as Folk?"

"I've got it on DVD. My Uncle Eric gave it to me for Christmas."

"Can I watch it some time?"

"You can borrow it if you like."

"Thanks, but I think that would be a step too far with my parents. Perhaps I could come round?"

"It'll cost you."

"What? An arse and a peg?"

"I couldn't have put it better myself, but let's get back to our sheep. I also gather from my little fag that you, Jack Bastion, have the hots for me."

"Moi? Whatever could have given him that impression?"

"Well, perhaps I ought to put my money where my mouth is and we do something about it some time," grinned Kieran.

The school bell could be heard across the fields.

"We'd better get back," said Jack.

"It's okay. I've got a study period," said Kieran.

"I've haven't. I shall just get the glare if I go in late. See you over lunch." With that Jack held his blazer closed and scooted off towards his classroom.

After lunch just as Kieran was leaving the dining hall William came over to him and said

"It's okay. We're on for tonight." It was one of those moments when, they say, an angel passes and everything suddenly goes silent. As William's voice rang out across the silence, Kieran's face went as red as a beetroot. William just ran off.

After school William and Toby did a quick tidy of their fagmasters' studies. Jack decided he would catch the early bus with Kieran, and of course tonight with William. By half past four it was dark. The seniors sat together on the bus with William in the seat behind.

"What do you reckon to this school skiing course in the holidays, Jack?"

"Good fun. Why? Are you thinking of going on it?"

"Maybe."

"Lush," piped up the voice behind.

"Shush, you," said Kieran, turning round. "You've already made me feel embarrassed once to day." William put his thumb in his mouth, bent his head forward and looked up at Kieran with those large, brown, doe-like eyes.

"You know I'm going, don't you?" said Jack.

"Yes," said Kieran.

"So am I," said the perky voice behind.

"We know."

"And so's Toby."

"Mine's the next stop," said Jack pressing the bell. He got up and left. William slipped into his seat.

"Kieran, you're not really cross with me about lunchtime, are you?"

"William, how could I ever be angry with you?"

"That's what I thought."

"But you must be a bit careful. There's still a great deal of prejudice against people like us out there, especially with our age difference."

"It's only three years and you said Orlando was only three years older than you."

"Yes, but I'm of legal age. You're not. You're what they call jailbait, and Toby is too."

"You will come skiing with us, won't you?"

"I don't know. I can't even discuss it with my parents until they get home. Come on, my little cuddly friend. We get off here. Press the bell."

It was properly dark now. As the two boys were walking the two hundred yards to the house, William tucked his arm round Kieran's waist and Kieran pulled him in.

"You know I've got a stiffie now?" said William.

"No, but if you whistle it, I'll try and follow by humming it."

"You twit!" said William as he took his arm away from Kieran's waist and gave him a gentle push which wrong footed him and made him stumble into a privet hedge.

"Careful. I'm fragile and precious."

"I bet your mother told you that." They were both giggling as they went on. Anyone observing this would have said they were young lovers from the way they were acting.

They soon reached the house. Kieran let them in and put some lights on. On the kitchen table there was a note from Mrs Crater.

"I'll look at that later. Are you hungry, William?"

"Not particularly."

"Good, because we don't usually eat before a gym session. We don't want you throwing your voice. How's that stiffie?"

"Gone now," William giggled.

"I'll make us a cup of tea. Have you got any prep?"

"A bit."

"We've got an hour before getting changed. You can work at my desk upstairs. I'll do mine in the office. I'll call Eric to let him know what's going on. Have you got any money?"

"About five pounds. Why?"

"Rather than keep paying guest fees, we'll get you enrolled as a junior member. I'll pay on my card and you can pay me back on Wednesday. Off you go. Get changed and get on with your prep and I'll bring your tea up." William made a face. "Go on. Work before pleasure."