FIRST SIGHTING
I first met Mark at the beginning of our freshman year in high school. He had just moved to south Florida from Canada. His older sister received a scholarship to the university in town to study architecture so the entire family, mom, dad, Marissa and Mark packed up their entire lives and moved from Vancouver to sunny Miami.
We met during tryouts for the high school baseball team and were both selected as starters for the junior varsity team and first alternates for varsity. No small feat for two freshmen players. I had been playing baseball as long as I could remember and I kidded Mark that I thought all Canadians played hockey.
"No, we have baseball too, we just run the bases the other direction, so our first base is your third base." he replied.
"Really?" I was shocked.
"Of course not, you dope, we play exactly the same way you do, well, not exactly, we play better!" This began a long friendship of jokes about the differences between Canadians and Americans. It was another of these differences that would change the nature of our relationship forever.
It was the spring semester of our senior year and the beginning of baseball season. Mark was team captain, an ace shortstop, first team all-city all star and entertaining scholarship offers from a dozen different colleges. I was starting catcher and was on track to set a state record for my career .816 slugging percentage. We had even been scouted by a couple of Major League teams during last year's state championship (we won, of course), but both of us decided to go to college and get a little more experience before making the leap to the pros. I had already accepted an offer from a university in California.
One afternoon, after a decisive victory over our cross-town rivals Mark and I and a few of our teammates were gathering our gear in the locker room. Most guys just wore their uniforms home after practices and games so it was rare to hear the locker room showers being turned on. I glanced around and saw Mark walking towards the steamy archway leading to the showers. Saying my goodbyes to my teammates as they were leaving I walked towards the showers to find out what was going on.
"What are you doing, I thought we'd go grab a pizza with the team." I turned the corner in time to see Mark stepping into the shower jets, his back to me.
"Sorry, Rob, I have to work on my American History project. It's due next Tuesday. I'm going from here to the library so I figured I'd scrub up first." Mark began to lather up with his shower gel.
"That's cool." I replied, swallowing hard. Watching Mark soaping down, I couldn't help but notice how well built Mark was. His well-defined arms lead to a muscular back and core, sculpted legs looking every bit as though he had been chiseled from marble by one of the great masters. I worked out and was in good shape but Mark's physique was something out of the exercise machine advertisements. It was at that point I decided that I was spending an inordinate amount of time studying Mark's body when I noticed something unusual.
Mark had no tan lines. Living in south Florida, everyone was a sun worshiper to some degree and I spent my fair share of time hanging around backyard and public pools, a year-round activity here. I spent most of my summer breaks at the pool when I wasn't at some baseball camp or clinic checking out the bikini clad girls hoping to catch a glimpse of a tan line from a fallen shoulder strap or bottom that had ridden down a bit. But I'd never seen anyone with so seamless a tan as Mark. I swallowed hard again and turned towards the lockers.
"I'll catch you tomorrow." I grabbed my duffle bag and headed for the door.
"Tomorrow then, eh?" Mark replied in his typical Canadian question-that-wasn't-really-a-question style.
All during that evening I couldn't get the image of Mark's soapy body out of my mind, especially the all-over tan. How did he manage it, or better yet, when did he manage it. We hang out together all the time, even going to the pool together and I never noticed it before. I suppose the only way I'd find out is to ask.
ALL-OVER TAN
The next day I met Mark before we headed into our Physics class. I simply couldn't blurt out my question here in the hallway, especially in front everyone else hanging around. I would have to bide my time.
"Did you finish your history project?" I needed to change the subject.
Mark spat, "No, goddamn Truman and atomic bombs. It makes no sense. Good thing Canada doesn't have the bomb so we don't have to worry about that crap." Mark struggled with American history not having the background that growing up in the U.S. and having American history shoved down your throat in every grade level.
"No big deal, I can help you with it. After all, I'm an expert what with being an American and all. How about I come over after practice today?"
"I thought we were going out tonight. I asked Cheryl and she and Karly already decided that they wanted to see that animated penguin movie." Mark and Cheryl had started dating at the beginning of senior year and Karly and I had been going out off and on since middle school.
"Oh, shit. I forgot to tell you. Karly's grounded for two weeks. Her dad found a pack of cigarettes in her purse." I had only just found out myself last evening.
"So. We're all eighteen, it's legal now," Mark replied.
"Eighteen don't mean shit to her dad. The worst part is they're not even hers. She doesn't smoke. That stupid bitch Tina slipped them in to her purse so she wouldn't be caught with them. You and Cheryl can still go though," I offered.
"Hell no, If I never see another animated penguin again it'll be too soon. I'll reschedule with Cheryl and you come over after practice. Bring your swimsuit; we'll study out by the pool."
As Mark finished speaking the bell rang for class to begin and we made our way into class. Of course with that last statement my mind immediately raced back to Mark's all-over tan. Maybe I could find out how he does it this afternoon.
The hours ticked by painfully slow and baseball practice seemed to go on forever. I had no idea why Coach Nickles was pushing us so hard, we were undefeated and well on our way to another district, region and probably state championship. When practice was over I told Mark I had to stop by my house and then I'd be over. I changed into my swimsuit and a clean shirt and flip-flops and walked the two blocks over to Mark's house.
"C'mon in." Mark met me at the door wearing only his board shorts which hung loosely on his hips highlighting his well-defined abs.
I followed Mark through the house to the back patio and set my backpack on the table, kicked off my flip-flops and pulled my shirt off. I dove into the pool to cool off from my walk and when I resurfaced I saw Mark walking towards the lounge chairs on the other side of the pool.
"If you don't mind," Mark started, "I'm beat from practice and wouldn't mind just catching some sun and relax for a bit, eh?"
My throat caught. "Sure." I managed.
I followed Mark with my eyes as he made his way around the pool to the lounge chairs. I had to bite my lip to keep from gasping as he swiftly dropped his shorts and kicked them off of his feet. When seen from the front, Mark is even more spectacular than from behind. The closest thing I can think of to compare it to is the scene in Troy when Brad Pitt is putting on his armor, but even that image doesn't do Mark justice. I had never been interested in looking a naked guy but the sight of Mark standing there in all his glory was something I couldn't tear my eyes away from. I began to feel flush and more than a little aroused as my cock twitched in my shorts when I noticed that in addition to an all-over tan, the area around Mark's cock was completely devoid of hair. Mark grabbed a bottle of tanning lotion from the small table between the lounge chairs and began to apply it to his body. It was at that point he noticed me staring.
"Oh, sorry, bud. I should have warned you. I sunbathe nude, always have." Mark ignored my uninterrupted staring and continued to apply the lotion.
I stammered out, "I wondered about that... I saw you in the shower the other day and wasn't sure... Well, you know. I just wasn't expecting you to... you know...with me here."