Chapter Twenty-One
Orsen put his head on the table. “My head hurts,” he mumbled. He liked being back at school because he now had friends his own age, but he hated it as well, because homework made his head hurt. It didn’t help that Mrs. Park gave them the hardest homework.
“I think she hates us.” Dale rubbed his face, then shoved all his work in his bag. “Fuck me, that was hard.”
“At least we’ve done it.” Matty stretched his arms over his head. “Ugh. I need to give my brain a rest.”
“I hope she isn’t like this for the rest of the year,” Devon muttered. “I might start skipping her classes.”
“Finished, boys?” Alice, Devon’s mom, asked as she walked into the kitchen where they were all sitting around the table.
“Finally,” Devon groaned.
“Clear the table and I’ll bring the food over. I hope you boys are hungry.”
“I’m starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten in a week.”
“You ate an hour ago, Devon.” Alice went over to the stove and Orsen chuckled when Devon mimicked Alice. He quickly stopped when she came back over with hot dogs, burgers, and fries. “I love you, Mom.”
“Hmm. That’s changed from last night.”
“Mom!” Devon’s skin flushed, and he ducked his head. “I was in a mood then.”
“I have cake too,” Alice threw over her shoulder as she walked away.
“I love your mom.” Dale picked up a hotdog and stuffed it in his mouth. “Yours is the best.”
Alice came back with more food and spoke to Orsen. “I heard you knocked your old house down, Orsen. How are you feeling about that? Big change, isn’t it?”
Orsen licked his lips, then shrugged. “I don’t really know. I think I’m happy but sad at the same time.”
Alice patted his hand. “No matter what happened there, it was still your home, but you need a fresh start. A place that’s yours that you can make you own. A place not tainted by the past.”
“A place to hang out with no parents around—ouch! Mom!” Devon rubbed the back of his head where Alice had hit him. “What was that for?”
“I know perfectly well what you would get up to with no adults around. Condoms, Devon.”
Devon flushed bright red, his mouth hanging open. “Mom!” he screeched. “Just no! Not the whole sex thing in front of my friends!”
“Like I wasn’t your age once.” Alice put the chocolate cake on the table. “Have you any idea what you want to do, Orsen?”
Orsen shrugged. “So much has changed…” He trailed off, smiled and shrugged. “I’m back at school. I have friends, and a boyfriend, and sometimes…” Shaking his head, he stared at his plate.
“It can be overwhelming.” Alice squeezed his shoulder.
“I remember Ambrose from when I was younger. His parents were no different from him. He followed in their footsteps. I even called social services when you stopped going to school, but nothing came of it. Not sure why, but Ambrose knew the right things to say, and I guess with the Tanner situation happening at the same time, you were lost in the system. I should have tried harder, but you put your trust in the people who are there to help children, not realizing they fail, too.” Alice disappeared, then came back a minute later with some cream.
“How is Cody, do you know? Another one who had an awful home life.”
“He’s really happy now that he’s with TJ.”
“Didn’t I tell you he treated us all to cake from Tea for Two?”
“No, Devon. You must have forgotten, you know, with us living together and having daily conversations. Must have just slipped your mind.”
Devon glanced around the table. “Oh well, yeah. He met Orsen after school and we all had cake. He’s nice.” Devon smiled at Alice, then winced at the other three when she looked away.
Alice looked back at Devon, then sighed. “Boys. Shout at me if you need anything else.”
When she left the room, Matty grimaced and muttered, “You’re in the shit later.”
“How was I supposed to know I should tell her? She knows more than I do.” Devon shoved a burger into his mouth. “I thought we could watch a movie or play games. Did you all bring your controllers?”
Orsen felt the heat on his cheeks as he shook his head. “I don’t—”
“I have a spare for you, and you live at Crompton’s, so I figured he wouldn’t let you have one.” Devon shoved more food into his mouth. “And you need to show us how to make his home brew. You said he was teaching you.”
“Only so I can take over,” Orsen grunted. “My first batch is up and running, so we’ll see how it goes. I haven’t blown the place up yet.”
Dale grinned. “I can’t wait to try it. Orsen’s first brew. So, are we doing zombies or monsters?”
“Or aliens?” Matty leaned back in his chair, then burped. “I vote aliens. Nothing better than blowing the fuck out of them. And I need to tell you about what I did with Nova after football.”
“You didn’t.” Devon grinned. “Nah, you did.”
“Yep. She gives good head, too. Almost made me shoot my load, but I wanted to fuck her, so I did.” Matty popped a fry in his mouth and grinned. “I’m seeing her tomorrow. Her parents are going out.”
“How about you and your older man, Orsen? Have you?”
“You guys talk about sex like this?” Orsen stared open-mouthed at them as they all nodded. “Really?”
“Well, yeah, duh. Course we do. We’re teenagers. Matty was the first to lose the big V and told us all about it. I couldn’t wait.” Devon licked his lips. “Nothing better. So tell us.”
“I am no longer a virgin.” Orsen could feel his face heat up.
“Who did what?” Devon asked. “I haven’t with a man yet, but I’ve done plenty.”
“You want to know that?” Orsen’s eyes bulged. “Never heard of privacy?”
“Nope. We’re friends, so we talk about this.” Matty shrugged as he munched on another fry. “I remember when I lost my virginity, and I couldn’t wait to tell these guys even though I did come in like under a minute.” Matty rolled his eyes. “So embarrassing. I’m better now.”
“Spill, Orsen.”
Orsen glanced at Devon, then at the table. “Well, er, the thing is… er, I was, you know, the one doing…”
“Woohoo! Orsen was in charge. Nice. That’s what I like about being bi. I can date both sexes and with guys, you can do it both ways. Figure out what you like.”
“And you got Jameson.” Matty arched his eyebrows. “I thought for sure he was as straight as they come, but you somehow got him in the showers.”
“Jameson is built all over.” Devon licked his lips, then sighed. “I have no problem bending over for him, but we haven’t got that far yet. And you got Nova, Matty. She’s hot too.”
“What’s his name? This guy you’re seeing?” Dale leaned on the table. “I don’t know if you mentioned his name.”
“Santino. He’s older than me. Has his own place here but works a lot in the city. He has a dog called Charlie.”
Dale clicked his fingers. “I’ve seen him. Don’t remember much about him other than the fact he works out and looked good, but I do know his dog. Chocolate Lab. Am I right?”
“Yeah.” Orsen grinned. “Charlie’s cute.”
“Santino is hot. You lucky fuck. I mean, I love women, but I can see a man and know if he’s hot or not, especially with Devon here.
We get to talk about this and know we’re not going to be weird, right?
Some kids have a stick up their ass when it comes to stuff like this or admitting if they find someone hot.
” Matty picked up a hotdog and shoved half of it in his mouth.
“And Devon’s parents are awesome as well. They don’t mind who Devon likes. That right, Dev?”
“Yeah. I was shitting myself telling them, but all they said was condoms.” Devon rubbed his chin. “I think that’s their answer to everything.”
“I never told Ambrose,” Orsen admitted quietly. “It was bad enough without him knowing that.”
“At least you have a nice guy now. He is good to you, isn’t he?” Dale stared at Orsen. “You know, because if he isn’t, we could do something.”
“He’s great, so you don’t need to do anything.” Orsen ducked his head, rubbed the back of his neck. “He wouldn’t do anything sexual with me until I was eighteen. I really wanted to, you know.”
“Who doesn’t at our age?” Devon stood and stretched. “We finished with the food, or should we take some up to my room?” Matty grunted, then piled his plate high with food. Devon stared at it, then at Matty. “Where the fuck do you put it all?”
Matty shrugged and shoved some cake in his mouth, eating it with his mouth open. “Eww, you dirty bastard.” Dale smacked Matty on the back of his head, causing Matty to choke, then kick out at Dale, who jumped out of the way. “Close your mouth. I don’t want to see all of that.”
“Boys,” Alice warned as she came into the kitchen. “Have you finished?”
“Can we take some upstairs? Promise we’ll bring it down.”
“Only for tonight, Devon. Do you want anything else? I have popcorn and chips?” Alice began to clear the table and Orsen stood to help. She smiled at him and shook her head. “You don’t need to help.”
Orsen pressed his lips together and then grabbed a plate and took it over to the side. “I don’t mind.”
“Dude, like if you do it, then we have to as well,” Devon whispered.
“Maybe you should. She’s your mom and didn’t have to do this. You should appreciate that.”
“Come on, Orsen—”
“Some days I had nothing to eat.” Orsen spoke quietly, watching Devon.
Devon stared at him, blinked, then picked up a bowl and carried it over to Alice.
Alice smiled and touched Devon’s shoulder, then moved back to the table to pick up more items. Devon looked at Orsen, pursed his lips, then nodded. “Thanks,” Orsen whispered.
“I forget, you know. I have this all the time, but then, well, yeah.” He grabbed another plate and shouted at Dale and Matty to help.
It didn’t take long for them to help Alice clear up, then they ran up the stairs to Devon’s bedroom.
Orsen stepped inside and stared. Devon pushed him inside, then shut the door. “Welcome.”
Orsen giggled and stared at Devon’s room.
He had bunk beds made up, but there were plenty of cushions on the floor and blankets stacked in the corner.
His game setup was awesome, with a huge monitor.
Devon passed him a controller, then pushed him to one of the beanbags.
“We’ll show you how to play, then we’ll have teams.”
“No offense, but I don’t want to be paired with Orsen. We’ll die.”
“Thanks.” Orsen sat and nudged Dale, who’d spoken. “Just for that, I hope I am on your team. How do you pick teams?”
“Rock, paper, scissors.” Matty grinned and held his fist out, then showed Orsen the rules, then they all played until the team were decided and yes, Orsen was with Dale, who rolled his eyes.
“Oh wait!” Orsen said as they were about to start. He crawled over to his bag and pulled out a bottle. “Only small amounts. It’s pretty strong.”
“You snuck this from Crompton’s?” Dale asked, wide-eyed. “I think I want to marry you.”
Giggling, Orsen opened it and took a tiny sip. As soon as it hit the back of his throat, he coughed. “Shit,” he coughed out. “Need something with it,” he choked.
“I have some soda somewhere.” Devon got on his hands and knees and looked under his bed. “Here.” He grabbed a couple of bottles and held them up. “Let’s have some fun!”
Orsen grinned. “Let’s!”