You know all the usual stuff, don't read if it's illegal or you don't like sex or sex between two males offends you. All characters are purely fictional, and any likeness is coincidence. Joshua Glynn reserves all rights to this story, the characters, and the world they live in.
This story is about an 18/yo boy struggling with the gifts that he possesses, and trying to find out where he fits in a modern day society.
Joshua moved to Goose Creek, South Carolina, just outside of Charleston, due to some serious girl problems. Now he has met the twins, his next door neighbors, and is feeling confused about his feelings toward them. His first day of school was great until he got into a fight with the school bully. Now he has a new girlfriend, and some really strange feelings for her twin brother. Now he is a Tight-end for the Stratus Lighting Bolts.
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Gifted: Book One
Soul Mates
The Big Game!
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Casey
When I got back to my room from the bathroom I didn't feel like sleeping, so I just sat there and thought about, well everything. Carrie knows that something is wrong now. I'm not really sure what to do. I can't get rid of these feelings I have for Josh, but I don't want to hurt my sister and I really don't want to lose Josh as a friend. Part of me thought I should just tell him. However, the reality is that once I tell him we would never be the same friends that we are now and if Carrie found out, I'm sure she would hate me! I really don't want that.
So, the only decision left to me is to just grin and bare it. Josh had given me an out. I figured I'd just drop it and try to act like nothing happened. I just needed to push the whole thing to the back of my thoughts and try to act as normal as possible. I just hoped Carrie could leave it alone. She's not used to me keeping secrets and this one was a whopper!
By the time I had started getting ready of school, I was feeling much better about myself. I realized that my mistake had been trying to push Josh away for my own sanity. I see now I can't do that, because it just makes me more miserable. When I went down for breakfast, Carrie was already down and eating. She looked up at me with concern.
"You ok Casey?"
"Yea, I think I just needed time to think. I'm sorry for losing it last night."
"You want to talk about it?"
"No, I'm fine now. Really!"
"Ok… you look better this morning." She said smiling.
I could tell by the look on her face that she intended to bring it up again later. When we left the house we met up with Josh and his sisters. He looked at me like he didn't know if was going to snap his head off, or what. I just smiled at him. I think he got it! He just smiled back and that was the last I got from him that anything had even happened. I was so relived!
On the bus it was like nothing had happened. We joked about the practice the day before. One of the linebackers had slipped on one of the hikes and busted his ass. The whole team thought it was quite funny. Someone had called him Tank-Ass and mentioned that it would "take more then a fall to damage that ass". I knew the reason. Josh asked me about and I just laughed. Told him I was sure he would find out soon.
The school day was ok. Nothing eventful! That afternoon at practice however, we had a tough time at first and nothing seemed to go right. Leif had missed one pass early on and had become very frustrated with himself. He didn't catch another one the rest of the day. Coach was visibly upset that Leif couldn't get past his mistake. Then they started working Josh and he was brilliant. It brought Coach out of his bad mood.
Josh meshed with the team very well. He anticipated James and seemed to be in the right place every time. He was a good rusher too. They had run ten rushing plays with Josh and he had made at least 8 yards on each carry. On one, he had really turned on the moves and weaved through the entire defense, running for a touchdown. The whole team had been impressed with that one.
After practice, in the showers, things really seemed to be back to normal with Josh and me. He is still a stunning sight to behold though, especially with the water running all over him. Then, we all got to horsing around. The whole team was playing slap-ass with the wet hand towels. I got popped three times! The last one left a red spot!
I was catching a ride from Josh again and I was getting the distinct impression that Josh's sister was staring at me. However, every time I turned to her she was looking out the window. I'll have to ask Josh about it later. When we got to his house, Josh asked if I could wait a few minutes. His Dad and sister went in the house and I started to get a little scared.
"Look Casey, I just wanted to apologize for last night."
"No, I should be the one to apologize. I shouldn't have overreacted. You were just trying to be a real friend. I…I just… I have a lot of things I need to work through, that's all and I shouldn't have bitten your head off for caring about me."
"Well, I did mean what I said though, if you ever feel you need to talk to someone, I'm here for you and I won't judge you! However, we don't ever have to talk about it again unless you want to. You're the best friend I've ever had and I don't know what I'd do if I'd lost you. I just wanted you to know, no mater what! I'm here for you!"
"Thanks! You don't know how much that means to me." Then, I surprised myself by walking up to him and embracing him in a hug. He hugged me back. It felt wonderful to be in his arms. I could really feel that he did care for me.
I was starting to get a bit hard in his arms, so broke quickly. We said good night, and I went home. I passed Carrie on her way out, she seemed very happy about something. She had some kind of package with her. I guess it was a gift for Josh or something.
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Carrie
I was a bit worried about Casey. I have never seen him so upset about something. I was sitting in my room finishing my homework, when an unbelievable wave of emotional pain swept over me. I realized immediately that something must be wrong with Casey. So I jumped up and ran outside. Casey ran past me at the door, tears flowing down his face. I ran outside to see what had hurt Casey and the only person out there was Josh.
I was really concerned, what had Josh done to upset Casey so much? When he told me it was him and that he had not meant to hurt Casey, he was only trying to help him. I could feel he was telling the truth. I went back inside, Mom had seen Casey running upstairs upset and she was worried about him, so was I. I told Mom I'd go up and check on him.
When I got to his room, I could hear his sobbing though the door. I opened the door quietly and closed it behind me. I didn't want mom and dad to see him like this. He was laying face down on his bed, just sobbing his eyes out. I really hate seeing him like that. I don't know if he heard me come in, but as I crept on to his bed, his weeping softened.
I crawled up and lay over his back, like we did when we were kids. I just ran my fingers though his hair and hung my head over his shoulder so it was nuzzled beside his. I hadn't seen him like this since the time Daniel Jenkins had stolen one of his GI-Joes in the first grade. Whatever they had talked about must have really been something Casey was having a hard time with.
When his sobbing stopped I asked him, "Did you and Joshua have a fight?"
"I really don't want to talk about it." He managed to whine.
"Ok, just know that Josh was very concerned that he might have hurt you in some way. And he wanted me to tell you that you two never had to talk about it again. Whatever that means, I'm sure you understand. But he said he couldn't stand loosing you."
As soon as I said that, he started to bawl anew. I laid there with him for about a half-hour. His sobs had finally stopped and I heard the slow breathing of sleep from him. So I quietly rolled off him and left. I didn't sleep well that night, because I was so worried about Casey.
When I woke up the next morning it hit me. I had been so worried about Casey I had forgotten that I had a gift for Josh. I was a bit disappointed actually, so I decided that if Casey was feeling better, I would give it to Josh after his practice.
After getting ready I went downstairs to the kitchen. By the time coffee was ready Casey had come down. He looked in a better mood than I had seen him in a while. He smiled at me.
"You ok Casey?"
"Yea, I think I just needed time to think. I'm sorry for losing it last night."
"You want to talk about it?" I wished he would tell me what was going on. I hated not knowing what was troubling him.
"No, I'm fine now. Really!" He broadened his smile, but I could tell it was forced.
"Ok, you look better this morning." I smiled back at him.
As the day progressed I saw my brother come back to me. He was truly smiling and laughing with Josh. Josh hadn't even let on that there had even been a problem last night. It just made me even more proud of my boyfriend. He is a very caring person and he really does like my brother, I could tell. They did seem to have a bond that is much stronger then mere friendship. It is nice when your boyfriend is best friends with your brother. I don't have to worry about Casey being overprotective of me with him.
I was a bundle of nerves that after noon when Casey and Josh got home. I had waited for three days to give Josh his present and I couldn't wait to see his face! The rest of him too!