Wrestling With Desire

by D. H. Starr

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  Wrestling With Desire

  by D.H. Starr

  As they got ready to leave for their fifth period classes, Josh stopped by the table. "Hey Derek, Scott, Beck. I'm having a bash at my house on Friday night to celebrate our win, and the fact that Friday's the last day before February break. Derek, you can't mix this party. You need to be free to celebrate with everyone." He didn't wait for a response, running to catch up with a few of the guys from the team.

  After school, Derek dropped Scott off at home, feeling a slight twinge of disappointment as he watched him walk up the steps to his front door. He wished things had returned to the way they had been before Scott's punishment. What he wouldn't give to get Scott alone in his attic right now. After the last couple of months of not spending any time with Scott, Derek forced himself to accept the situation without complaint.

  When he got home he found his mother sitting at the kitchen table. He knew she had figured out what he and Scott had been up to at Newton High, and he also knew it made her uncomfortable, but he wanted to wait a while before discussing his love life with her. She said they would figure things out as a family, so Derek saw no reason to rush into a discussion about his sexual practices right now.

  "Honey, I wanted to talk to you for a minute." Dread settled onto Derek's shoulders like a weight and he sat down at the table, waiting to find out what his mother wanted to say. "As you know, your father has been working long hours since it's tax season. He and I are going away for a few days to relax and have some down time. We plan on leaving on Friday afternoon and coming back on Monday morning. We'll 322

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  leave you money for food and for going out to enjoy the beginning of your break."

  "Yeah? That sounds good." The weight lifted. That's not what I expected to hear. He had to work to keep the rising excitement out of his voice. "You two deserve to get away once in a while." He gave his mom a kiss on the cheek and walked towards his room. Once there, he shut the door gently, then did a silent happy dance. His celebration was short lived when he remembered Scott was still under house arrest. Hatred for Scott's dad flared up in his chest.

  He flopped down onto his bed, grabbing his English book and beginning his homework. He was in the middle of his Latin homework when his mother came to his bedroom door.

  "Honey, you have a visitor." Derek wondered who would stop by unannounced and his breath caught in his chest when he saw Scott standing in his doorway. Derek's pleasure bubbled up inside of him and his mouth spread into a wild grin. His mother would have to be a moron not to know exactly what he was thinking...and she was no moron.

  "I'm fixing some chicken for dinner. I'll let you boys know when it's ready." She lingered in the doorway for a moment.

  "Um, I'd like for the two of you to leave the door open." Her cheeks pinked, clearly uncomfortable at having to make this request.

  "Mom!" Nothing more needed to be said for Derek's embarrassment to be clearly known.

  Derek's indignation seemed to snap his mother out of her discomfort. "Or the two of you are welcome to spend time in the living room. I have no problem with you closing this door 323

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  if you're out there." The pink had left her cheeks as she locked Derek in an unwavering stare.

  Derek softened his demeanor. "No, keeping the door open is fine."

  She glanced back and forth between the two of them, maintaining a serious expression on her face. Derek had never seen her so parental before. As she headed towards the kitchen, Derek swore he heard a soft giggle. Wow, she is some cool shit! Turning his attention to Scott, he ran to the doorway to make sure his mother wasn't lingering, then ran to Scott and wrapped his arms around his neck. Scott returned the embrace and they kissed. "What are you doing here?"

  Scott sat down on Derek's bed leaning against the headboard. Derek sat cross-legged towards the foot of his bed facing him. "After you dropped me off, my mom told me she wanted to talk. She had made fried chicken, which I found odd because she only makes it when she has something big to tell me. I half expected she was going to announce another move." Derek's body stiffened. "Relax, we're not going anywhere. She told me about the conversation she had with your mom. I listened as she poured her soul out, apologizing every third sentence for failing to stand up to my dad. She even started crying at one point and I almost lied, saying things hadn't been all that bad."

  Derek gave him an incredulous stare. Scott leaned forward and placed a hand on Derek's shoulder. "Calm down. I said I almost lied." Shifting his grip to the back of Derek's neck, 324

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  Scott pulled Derek in for a short kiss, then released him and leaned back against the headboard.

  "So, she's going on and on, telling me how understanding I've been about the moves and the punishments. And then she hits me with the big news. She told me my punishment was over and I could go out again. I asked her when dad had decided to let me off the hook and she said he hadn't. It blew my mind. She said that even though he hadn't changed his mind, she didn't care and was going to...what were her exact words...oh yeah. Handle things." Scott shook his head, a thin smile crossing his lips. "She told me I didn't deserve the way I had been treated and I had never given them any reason to be disappointed in me. She said this was between her and dad and I shouldn't worry. I did of course, and said maybe I should stay home until she actually talked to him, but she told me to get my unpunished ass out of her house and to go and enjoy the day. She actually suggested I come over here.

  I've never seen her so assertive and in charge before."

  "Well, I am glad she was, and I'm happy you're here."

  Crawling on his hands and knees, Derek edged closer to Scott. He tilted his head to the side, like a panther listening for sounds in the forest, trying to get a sense of his mother's location. He heard her open the oven and pull the tray out.

  Must be basting the chicken. Secure in the knowledge she wasn't about to walk into his room, he continued slinking towards Scott who had placed an expression of mock fear on his face. Derek placed his hands on Scott's ankles and pulled, flattening him on the bed, and then continued crawling over 325

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  Scott's body until he was straddling him. "I have some good news for you, too." His voice dripped with lust.

  Scott was becoming hard, grinding his hips against Derek and pressing their crotches together. The friction caused Scott's breath to quicken.

  It took Derek a moment to regain his train of thought. "I have some really good news for you." He leaned down and kissed Scott on the lips, evoking a light hum from him.

  Lowering his head, his lips and tongue traced Scott's jaw, until his mouth rested against Scott's neck. Shifting between kissing and licking, Derek's own excitement intensified as Scott writhed beneath him.

  Scott struggled to keep his voice contained to avoid drawing the attention of Derek's mother. "Derek, if you don't stop...I'm gonna—"

  Derek silenced Scott by running his tongue in circles over the sensitive skin of Scott's neck, slowly working his way upward until his mouth was next to Scott's ear. "My mom just told me I'm gonna have the house to myself for the weekend." Derek didn't know whether Scott's gasp was from the stimulation or from what he had just told him.

  Scott grabbed Derek and toppled him over onto his side, causing a book to fall onto the floor. "Your parents are going away for the weekend?" A glint of excitement sparkled in his eyes.

  "Everything okay in there?" Derek's mother called from the kitchen.

  "Yes, Claire," Scott said, "I tossed a book at Derek's head.

  He's being a pain in the butt."

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  "All right, then. Smack him once for me too." They listened to her light gig
gling for a moment.

  Scott smiled, but his expression became serious as he rolled Derek onto his back, resting his weight on his elbows and forearms as he peered down into Derek's eyes. "That is good news. So what are you planning on doing with this house all to yourself?"

  Derek smiled and lifted his head to kiss Scott. Scott playfully pulled his face out of reach. Derek pouted. "Isn't it obvious what I'm planning?"

  Scott leaned down and caressed Derek's neck with several short and gentle kisses. "No, I must be dense. Why don't you spell it out for me?"

  Derek pouted. "So you're looking for an explicit invitation?"

  Scott grinned wickedly. "Uh huh."

  "Okay, fine." Derek tried to sound petulant, but couldn't manage it. "Will you come over and spend the weekend with me?"

  Scott's response was answer enough. He leaned down and closed his mouth over Derek's giving him a hungry and passionate kiss. Scott lifted his head so he could gaze at Derek, whose eyes were shining with warmth and caring. "I really love you, Derek."

  Derek pulled Scott into a strong embrace. "I love you, too.

  So much."

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  Epilogue

  The remainder of the spring flew by. Snow melted, and with the arrival of warmer weather and fresh greenness, a constant stream of students could be found outside during lunch and study hall periods. The wrestling team had been celebrated in an all-school assembly shortly after their victory and the banner which announced Brampton as division champions hung in the lobby of the school. It would be moved to the athletic building once school ended to hang with the other championship banners Brampton had been awarded over the years.

  Things had been tense in Scott's home since his mother had put her foot down and overrode his father's punishment, but Shannon made sure Scott experienced none of the stress between her and her husband. As a result, Scott had once again become vibrant and full of energy.

  Despite his fear of getting caught, Derek spent his free time furtively exploring the school with Scott for places to have some privacy. They had discovered several locations where they spent their unscheduled time conducting themselves in a manner most unbefitting a Brampton student.

  Derek and Scott had both received their acceptance letters to Boston University in April and, although they had been accepted to many other colleges, decided they wanted to stay close to home, albeit for different reasons. Derek wanted to stay in Boston because of his family. Scott wanted to remain because he had moved around enough and his experiences 328

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  over the past year in Boston had turned it into a home to him. Their number one reason for choosing to go to Boston University was because it was the only place they both applied to and got accepted.

  Numerous parties filled the remaining months of school, Derek mixing for most of them. A few became the focal point of gossip over the spring because parents had returned unexpectedly to find their homes crowded with the entire senior class. Those unfortunate students, whose parents had caught them, suspiciously fell off the social radar for the remainder of the school year.

  Graduation day was bright and sunny. The student council officers from the lower three grades set up the decorations along the football field and lined up the chairs for the graduating senior class. As custom dictated, the lower grade student council members attended graduation. The senior class usually selected a gift for the school, presenting it to the junior who would serve as the president the next year.

  The seniors sat alphabetically by their last names, so Derek and Scott sat next to each other, Derek walking across the stage right behind Scott. As each student received their diplomas, their families stood and cheered, mothers tearful and fathers holding them. The seniors were beaming and ready to put high school behind them; excited to begin their new lives as college students. A big reception after graduation took place on the soccer field next to the football bleachers and families gathered to eat and socialize. The entire affair lasted about two hours.

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  Over the next couple of weeks, several smaller graduation parties took place, parents having to coordinate with one another so their parties didn't overlap. These end-of-year parties were a big deal and no one wanted to miss a single one. Derek's parents threw his party the weekend following graduation. The wrestling team had been invited along with Beck. All of the fathers drank beer and surrounded Henry by the grill, offering their suggestions about grilling technique.

  The mothers gathered on the porch or in the kitchen chatting about their children and their summer plans.

  Derek gazed around his yard and laughed at how 1950's it all seemed. He was distracted by Scott and Beck who appeared at his side. "Can we talk to you for a moment?"

  Scott had been the one to speak, but they both had conspiratorial grins on their faces. Derek paused, distrustful of the expressions on their faces.

  Reluctantly, Derek allowed himself to be led through the kitchen, down the hall, and up the stairs to the attic. "Okay, you have to close your eyes." Beck spoke this time.

  Scott stood behind Derek covering his eyes before they entered the attic. Derek heard something sliding across the floor. He also heard his mother and Shannon's voices as they entered the attic as well. Finally, Beck spoke up. "Okay, I think it's ready. You can let Derek see again."

  Scott removed his hand from Derek's eyes. The sudden brightness of the room blinded him for a minute. When his eyes adjusted, he saw it sitting in the middle of the room with a huge red bow on top. The TASCAM M-164FX 16 Channel Mixing Board with Digital Effects Derek that he had wanted to 330

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  buy when he, Scott, and Beck had gone to Best Buy at the Copley Place Plaza. "Oh my God. I can't believe it." Derek walked over to the mixing board and ran his fingers over the controls. "Mom, did you get this?"

  His mother shook her head. "Nope, this is from those two."

  Derek turned to Scott and Beck in disbelief. "I can't...This is too much. I can't believe it."

  Scott and Beck exchanged amused glances, and then Beck walked up to Derek. "Well, we could always bring it back."

  Derek stood protectively between Beck and his new mixing board. "No way. This is awesome. But I didn't get you guys anything." Derek's mother and Shannon, clearly only wanting to see Derek's reaction, said they needed to return to the party and left the attic. Beck's grin spread from ear-to-ear.

  "So you love it?"

  Still in shock, Derek spluttered a reply. "Yes, I love it.

  Thank you both."

  Beck gave Derek a hug. "Good. I'm glad." She gave him a small peck on the lips. "Now, what I want for my present is acting lessons. Here." She pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper from her front pant pocket. "I want to take acting classes which will be offered through community college. My parents say the tuition to Brandeis is graduation present enough. Well, that and the car they bought me so I could come home. I'm still convinced they bought the car more as a gift to themselves. My mom still hasn't stopped crying about me moving away from home."

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  Derek smiled. Only Beck would find a reason to complain about receiving a car as a present. "Sure. I'd be happy to pay for your lessons as your graduation gift."

  Beck's face lit up. "Excellent, because I've already filled out the application form. All you have to do is write a check and—"

  Derek gave her a hug, making sure his embrace forced Beck's mouth against his shoulder. "No problem Beck." The class would only cost $100 and he still had the $300 that he had saved up to buy the mixing board. She hugged him back, apparently unaware his action had been motivated by a desire to shut her up.

 
"Okay, well, I'll leave you two. Don't stay up here too long or I'm gonna send up the sex police." She turned to face Derek. "That would be your mother, in case you didn't know."

  Derek gave her a heated glare which clearly conveyed the message Shut up and leave already. She smiled and left the attic, giving Scott a high five as she passed him.

  Once they were alone, Derek rushed to Scott's side and gave him a huge hug. "Thank you so much. I love it." Scott hugged him back. "I can't believe I didn't get anything for you."

  Scott held Derek at arm's length. "You really are clueless aren't you?" Derek's face must have reflected his shock because Scott's crooked grin crossed his face and he shook his head. "You have given me the greatest gift, Derek. You love me. You want me. You make me incredibly happy."

  Derek didn't know what to say. "But that's not a gift, it's—"

  His words were cut off by Scott's mouth. He allowed himself 332

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  to be drawn in, his chest being squeezed until it molded against Scott's body. Derek opened his mouth, allowing Scott full access to him and their tongues danced and intertwined.

  With one hand tightly wound around Derek's waist, Scott's other hand gently touched the side of his face, savoring the heat radiating from Derek's skin.

  A tingling sensation shot up Derek's spine as Scott's thumb caressed his cheek as they kissed. His crotch began to grow and expand. "Mmmm."

  After a few minutes, the kiss shifted from needful intensity to languid sensuality. Finally willing himself to pull out of the kiss, Scott continued holding Derek in his arms, allowing their bodies to sway gently. "Derek, you are my gift. End of discussion."

  Tightening his arms around Scott and savoring the feel of their bodies together, he knew Scott meant what he said. He looked up and sealed his lips against Scott's, allowing him to enjoy his graduation gift a little bit longer before they returned to the party.