Second Chance(14)

He closed his eyes and let his mind wander back in time.



1989



Jack felt the boy’s eyes following him across the room, like a finger trailing down his spine. Resisting the urge to look, he poured himself another drink from the murky mixture in the punchbowl. Fuck knew what it was, but it was definitely alcoholic and that was good enough for him.

When he turned back, the boy with dark hair was still watching him.

He’d been watching Jack all evening.

Jack didn’t know his name. He was a friend of Julia, who was hosting the party at her parents’ house in Marlham while they were on holiday. Julia had gone to North Bristol College instead of staying at their school for sixth form, so presumably this boy was one of her mates from there.

Jack wasn’t obviously gay. He’d learned to suppress any tendencies to campness in school to avoid negative attention. He occasionally got words like queer or faggot thrown at him as an insult, but so did half the straight boys too. Jack flew under the radar and he preferred it that way. Sure, it sucked that he couldn’t get laid, but he was biding his time. Another eighteen months and he’d be at university where they had clubs and societies for people like him. He wouldn’t need to hide anymore—not completely anyway. He could find other guys who liked guys.

But this boy made Jack impatient. There was promise in his eyes, a heat and intensity that made Jack’s skin prickle and his dick fill. He knew that if he showed even a flicker of reciprocal interest, something could happen tonight.

He turned back, drink in hand, and caught the dark-haired boy’s gaze across the roomful of other teenagers, and held it as he took a large swallow from the glass.

Fuck. His eyes watered at the strength of it, but he managed not to cough. Another couple of gulps and he felt the fire of it in his stomach. The boy was still watching him, and his lips curved in the barest hint of a smile. He raised his eyebrows in an unspoken question.

A wave of reckless excitement swept through Jack. Emboldened by desire and alcohol he gave the boy a nod, then jerked his head minutely in the direction of the door before walking that way, desperately hoping that he’d read the signals right and that the other boy would too.

Jack headed upstairs. It was quiet up there with the party in full swing downstairs. Luck was on Jack’s side, because a toilet flushed, and then a door opened onto the landing. A girl Jack didn’t know came out, clutching the doorframe as she stumbled a bit.

“You okay?” Jack asked.

“Yeah. A bit pissed.” She giggled. “That punch is lethal.” Steadier now, she passed him, heading for the stairs. “It’s all yours.”

“Cheers.”

“Oh sorry,” the girl said, out of sight now around the corner at the top of the stairs.

“No worries.” The reply was in a deep voice that sent a thrill of anticipation through Jack. He waited, and sure enough the boy from downstairs turned the corner and stopped when he saw Jack.

They stared at each other.

Jack’s heart beat out the time while he waited for something, anything to happen. Panic filled him. Maybe he’d got it all wrong. Maybe the other boy just wanted a piss and was wondering why Jack was staring at him like an idiot.

“Sorry.” Jack’s voice came out in an embarrassing squeak. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Did you want to use the bathroom?”

The boy took a step closer, then another. “Not really. Did you?”

Jack shook his head, throat too tight to speak at all now as the boy advanced on him, eyes dark and full of the same fear and excitement that was racing through Jack’s veins.

Finally the boy was close enough to touch, and without letting himself stop to think any more, Jack grabbed his arm and tugged him into the bathroom. The door slammed shut and it was dark. Strong hands found Jack’s hips and Jack wrapped his arms around the other boy as their mouths smashed together in a frenzied, desperate kiss.

They pulled apart after a few seconds, both breathless. “You sure you wanna do this?” the boy asked.

“Yes. But lock the door.” Desperate for this experience, but terrified of discovery, Jack’s heart was beating so hard he felt dizzy.

“Hang on, I can’t see….” The light came on, bright and shocking after the intimacy of the darkness. “There. It’s locked.” The boy turned, flushed and smiling uncertainly. “What do you want to do?”

“Kiss me again,” Jack said, reaching for him.

“What’s your name?”

“Jack.”

“Hi, Jack. I’m Stephen.” And then Stephen’s lips were on his and Jack couldn’t think about anything else. Everything was a blur after that. A thrilling blend of excitement and sensation. It was obvious that neither of them really knew what they were doing, but arousal and instinct guided them as they kissed and ground against each other before getting their cocks out and stroking themselves and each other.

Jack came first, catching his come in his hand before wiping it onto his boxers. Then he dropped to his knees and took Stephen in his mouth. Jack had imagined this so many times, but barely got to experience the reality before Stephen cursed and his cock pulsed, filling Jack’s mouth with bitter, salty come that almost made him choke. Eyes watering, Jack pulled away and spat it into the toilet bowl while Stephen chuckled breathlessly. “Sorry. I should have warned you.”