FRIDAY AFTERNOON
It seemed to a lot of people that Jon Grainger and Dan London had been friends forever. They had stuck together through playgroup, primary school and now, were still together even through the stresses of secondary. Being 18 was a pretty tough age for any student – and it certainly helped to have a close and trusted compadré to help you when you were feeling down. Even so, it certainly seemed to Lucie Evans that they had been joined at the hip for long enough! Still sore over her feelings for Jon – she resented the closeness the two boys had for each other. Jon: a well built, macho, muscled – yet slightly squat - rugby player almost seemed like the complete opposite of Dan. Delicate, tall and with skin that you’d swear was airbrushed, Dan was a keen sportsman also but seemed more suited to the role of waterboy. In their relationship of over 10 years, Jon definitely wore the trousers.
Maybe it would’ve been easier for Lucie if Jon had been able to tell her straight out whether he liked her or not. Unfortunately for Jon, his macho image prevented him from showing the confusion he had felt at this admission. He had never had a girlfriend before! If he was truly honest with himself, he was not sure how he really felt about getting into a relationship of that sort – but how would he tell Lucie that without losing face? The answer was public humiliation – on Lucie’s part. Rejected infront of almost the whole school, Lucie had been a private laughing stock for weeks and she had vowed to get revenge on Jon. Jon honestly felt terrible for having to defuse the problem that way but to him it had seemed the only way out.
It was coming to the end of term and the “Jon Incident” – as Lucie’s friends had named it – was well behind everyone. Soon they would be in Y13, with fresh opportunities, new starts and still more work! The holidays were looming and everyone was looking forward to putting away their books and getting out into the summer sunshine. It seemed to Lucie as if she was the only one still stuck under the grey clouds of winter. Not seeing Jon for a whole 6 weeks, absolute torture! The last time she would see him would be at Sports Day and then he would probably ignore her as well. It looked like these last few weeks would be the only precious time she had left with him. Sighing heavily, she carried on walking to her last lesson, determined to make the most of a bad job…
Meanwhile on the other side of the school Jon, Dan and some of their friends were eagerly discussing this week’s camping trip.
“This is going to be so cool!” Dan said excitedly to Jon. Jon nodded in agreement.
“It’ll be amazing! I mean – we’ve only had about 1 trip this whole year and now at least we get to stay overnight.”
“…Mmm, yeah I guess…”
“What’ja mean “Yeah I guess?”! It’s going to be fucking brilliant!”
Smacking Dan lightly on the shoulder, Jon turned away grinning but behind their outward expressions both boys were thinking the same thing… ‘Will I be able to keep my hands off him this time…?’
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
It had been a long trudge up the hill and all the boys were tired from the day’s exertions.
“OK!” Mr Redborough called out. “Let’s make camp here guys! Everyone set out their tents 5m away from each other like we plotted in the classroom.”
Grunting noises of approval, everyone took off their heavy packs and set out to make camp.
“Ooof.” Dan dropped his heavy pack on the ground not at all carefully.
“Oy! Watch out man! That’s all our provisions and shit in there!” Jon said tetchily.
“Yeah I know – just it gets a LITTLE heavy carrying about 10 stone on with you ALL day.” Dan replied.
Jon ignored him and set to pitching up the tent.
“Hey – you gonna help or what?”
“…Lemme just rest for a second willya?!”
Rolling his eyes, Jon pulled out a tentpeg and started hammering it into the ground. Whistling a rocky tune under his breath, he thought back to the last camping trip with Dan…
*** All the boys had gone to bed late that night after sitting up by the campfire telling dirty jokes and singing rude songs. Jon had crawled into his bed absolutely bushed…except he had not been able to sleep. He had lain awake – listening to the soft rhythmic breathing of Dan, just a few centimetres away from him. Thoughts crept into his head. ‘You could reach out and touch him…go on…he’d never know…sliding your hand under his sleeping bag…under his shorts…touching his soft, silky penis…’ Jon shook himself hard mentally. “I’m fucking STRAIGHT!” he thought, “STRAIGHT!” However there was no way he could deny that familiar shape rising up against his sleeping bag. Taking a deep sigh Jon thought “Tonight…but tonight only…” before his hand slipped under and he began to…***
“OW! FUCKING HELL!”
“What is it NOW?!” Dan yelled as he came running over from where he had been perched on his pack. “…Oh my God! What the hell did you do to yourself?”
Jon’s index finger was bright red and the nail was oozing blood steadily onto the ground.
“…I wasn’t concentrating OK?” Inside Jon flushed as crimson as the pool of blood growing on the grass and desperately tried to will the erection growing inside his pants down.
Luckily Dan didn’t seem to notice in his concern. Taking Jon’s large hand in his small delicate paw, he caressed the back of it gently. Jon looked at Dan. The boy’s face was a picture of compassion. Slowly, he traced small circles over Jon’s knuckles. Taking a deep breath and still trying to win a losing battle against his genitalia, Jon whispered,
“…Dan…?”
At this Dan looked up into Jon’s eyes. His cheeks were flushed and he met Jon’s gaze shyly.
“…I…”
“JESUS MARY AND JOSEPH!”
At this exclamation the two boys sprung apart. Mr Redborough stood over them. This interruption was enough to give Jon a figurative “cold shower” and he jumped to his feet.
“What the hell happened to your finger Grainger?”
“Em…well… I was hammering in a tentpeg Sir, and…”
“Oh I see,” Mr Redborough grimaced knowingly, “Hammering in a tentpeg eh? Well try and keep your mind on the job at hand next time,” He nodded at Jon’s crotch. “Not on the thing in your pants.”
