Trouble Plus Trouble. - 22. Chapter 22

Double The Trouble.

Chapter 22.

Coffee woke Peter in the morning. The smell of it plus his big toe being wriggled.

"Come on lazy head. You can't sleep all day."

"Mmm. Yes I can."

The sheet started inching its way towards the end of the bed where Matthew was standing. Peter let it, and looked at Matthew with a sleepy smile.

"You just want to perve at me?"

Matthew nodded then grinned cheekily as he gathered the last of the sheet.

"Beth's bringing you toast with spaghetti and melted cheese. I said I'd make sure you were ready."

Peters squawked and scrambled for his shorts. No, he'd still be obvious. The towel would be better, then grabbed the sheet from Matthew and tried to wrap himself in it when he realised he'd been conned.

"Help, naked ghost attack."

Matthew was laughing as he let himself be tangled in the sheet and dumped on the bed.

"Whoops. Sorry, I'll turn my back till you’re ready."

Oh my God! Peter dragged the sheet from Matthew and wrapped himself in it as fast as he could. Matthew started busting himself with laughter then told Beth it was safe to come in. She put the tray down and left with a large smile of her own.

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, let me eat your toast and spaghetti while you dance around naked in front of your mum."

Peter dumped the sheet, it did look like a toga the way he’d tossed it on, and grabbed his towel instead. He couldn't attack Matthew again because the toast and spaghetti would get tipped over.

"You. ...Double tricker."

"I told you Beth was coming."

"Yes, but then you acted like you were tricking."

The food smelt so good Peter sat down and started on it.

"Aren't you having some?"

"I had mine an hour ago. Beth and I have already bottled some ginger beer and she’s organising a picnic lunch."

"When are we going to do our study then? We've got disaster day to catch up on."

Disaster day was their name for Friday when a huge pile of work had been dumped on them by nearly every teacher, and so far neither of them had even looked at it.

"That's why we woke you up. We can fit in a couple of hours now and then about four more before we go to the pool."

"Slave drivers."

Matthew pointed at the clock with a grin. Oh boy, it was twenty to ten and he said he'd be up at nine. They actually had let him sleep in. They worked on the math's mastery sheets then went to a park with a small lake that Matthew knew about. It ended up just being the three of them because no one answered when they tried to ring Rob.

Peter loved picnic lunches. It was something he and his mum often did and this was the first one since school started. Somehow or other Beth persuaded Matthew to sing a couple of songs for them, and that made it extra special. At home again, everyone worked, Beth on accounting stuff, and Peter and Matthew spent two hours on physics, then another hour on the net where Matthew demonstrated some great ways to search for the information they needed for English. Beth went with them to the pool, swam part of the time herself and even had a mini lesson on how to get better from Matthew, but mostly she was amazed at how hard Peter was training and how much he'd improved. Matthew was dropped off and Peter and Beth had the left-overs from the picnic for their meal. Peter decided to do his study in the living room so he could be with Beth while she worked at the computer, and they ended up talking about his issues topic which then led to showing her how to do the searches on the net.

***

Mr Crossman was very helpful about the interview and when he heard of the work hours problem, offered to drop around one evening.

"I could manage this Wednesday or Friday Peter if that was suitable for you and your mother."

Peter knew his mum would be really pleased with an evening interview and said it would probably have to be Friday.

"Well that certainly suits me, so let me know definitely tomorrow. This can't be about your school-work surely? I have glowing reports from all your teachers."

"Um. ..No, it's personal."

"Right. Well I certainly hope I can help."

Peter felt even more positive about an interview with Mr Crossman after that, and Beth was delighted she wouldn't have to take time off work.

"That's very helpful of him Peter. Why don't we ask him to share a meal with us first? Would you like to do that?"

The next day Mr Crossman said he'd be delighted and would turn up at seven o'clock as Beth suggested. Training was short and easy since the comp the next day was against the school that came second last year, and Brent was parking the car outside Peter's place not long after four and stirring about the ginger-beer-place, as against the raw-egg-place when they went to Matthew's.

"Are you sure this stuff’s safe to drink? I mean yeast turns into alcohol doesn't it?"

"Yes, it's like moonshine. 99% pure alcohol and only real men are game enough to drink it. Give him a whole bottle Peter."

That was quickly organised.

"Now, you have to skull it down in one go or you're a loser."

"One bottle’s easy."

"Not this stuff. I bet you don't finish it without stopping."

Brent upended the bottle and the contents rapidly started disappearing. Peter could do this himself when he was thirsty because the fizz was mostly quite mild. When the level was down to about a quarter Matthew used both hand to poke strongly into Brent’s stomach. Ginger beer went everywhere as he spluttered from the shock, some over the table and more down the front of his T-shirt. He gawked at the mess and a grinning Matthew.

"What a slobberer. I knew you wouldn’t finish."

“Oh yeah? Who could when they get their gut punched in the middle of swallowing. God. Look at this."

He was holding his shirt out, away from his body.

"Take it off Brent. You'll be all sticky. We’ll rinse it out and it won't take long to dry if we hang it in the sun."

With friendly threats that he was going to mangle Matthew, Brent did all that and wiped himself clean with a damp wash-cloth from the bathroom.

"Come on and take your medicine Matthew."

"What? Are we going to wrestle?"

"No, I told you. We're going to mangle."

They headed up to the bedroom where Peter grabbed a couple of pairs of shorts. Out of habit Brent took his good clothes off and was down to his jocks before he realised there weren't any shorts for him.

"Hey. Am I expected to just wear jocks?"

"Yes, you lost the bet."

Brent laughed, grabbed Matthew and twisted his arm up behind his back.

"Okay, but you have to too."

"What? Are you going to make me?"

"For sure."

There was a short scuffle with squawks about bullying and a few comments about Brent being a wuss, but a few moments later they were both in their jocks. With grins on their faces they turned to Peter.

"What?"

He knew very well what they meant, but acting like he didn't was part of the game, an excuse for another scuffle, this time with two onto one.

"God you two. What are you? Twins? Kenny should be seeing this."

Brent was stirring them for their identical jocks. He reached for the elastic on Peter's hip and laughed at the snap and the yell when he let go. His attempt to do the same with Matthew backfired with the odds at two to one against him, and it was his turn for snaps.

"What's wrong with our jocks? They're classy."

"Classy. On you they're classy Matthew. On Peter there something else. Look at him."

With two sets of eyes checking him out Peter tried a quick readjustment, but his reaction to the mucking round had gone too far and all he got for his attempt was grins from the two onlookers.

"Watch out Matthew. He's looking horny."

"He's always horny. I can't wrestle him without getting stabbed by that thing. Peter, your jocks will be stretched out of shape if you keep them on."

"What? You expect me to take them off with you two gropers near me? No way."

Matthew flashed a quick look at Brent, who nodded, dived at Peter and made a try at pulling the jocks down. Peter's reflexes were too quick though and it wasn't till Matthew made a sneak attack from behind that he lost them. His boner was on full show now and Brent's eyes fixed on him. Yes. They were definitely fixed on one area. This was more than just ordinary curiosity. Well. They'd find out this afternoon.

"Are you sure you're bigger than that Brent? Peter said you checked the other day, but look at him. He’d poke his eyes out if he had to do sit ups. Check it again and I'll be the official judge."

"Are you serious?"

"Of course I am. Come on."

Brent looked a bit dubious but that didn't last long when Peter joined the persuasion and very quickly there were laughs and stirring as these very personal comparisons were made.

"You too Matthew."

Now there were three boners being compared. With that finished Matthew took over and told Brent to lie on the bed.

"What? How come?"

"You lost the bet."

Brent laughed.

"So does this bet mean I have to do whatever you tell me?"

"Yes, are you game?"

“Both of you?"

Matthew and Peter exchanged glances, then both nodded. Mr Hyde peeped through for a moment with a look that said he was going to expect the same from them, then Brent gave his own nod and flopped on the bed.

"So what happens now? Is this going to be a double torture from both of you?"

"Nope, Truth or Dare."

A puzzled look crossed his features at this departure from their normal mucking round.

"Like serious truth or dare?"

Matthew nodded.

"Do you trust us? We’ll trust you when it's our turn."

Brent looked at them while thoughts obviously churned through his mind.

"I trust you and Peter more than anyone."

Wow, Peter hadn't quite expected that answer, and when a hand went ruffling through Brent’s hair it was obvious Matthew had been affected by it to.

"You like us don't you Brent?"

"Yes."

"Why do you trust us?"

"Um.... I don't know. I just do."

"Who do you like best? Me or Peter?"

"Peter of course."

Peter was startled by such a straight out answer, but from the look Brent gave knew Matthew was being stirred. Did that mean he liked Matthew best? Matthew was just as puzzled.

"You have to tell the truth."

"I can't Matthew. I don't know."

This was even more confusing. Matthew waited for a more detailed answer.

"That’s the truth Matthew. You're always with each other and I sort of look on you like you’re the one person."

"Really?"

Peter felt a kind of glow as Matthew turned to smile at him, but the questions weren't going where they'd expected them to.

"I dare you to hold Peter till we tell you to let go."

Brent's eyes widened, as did Peter’s. This wasn’t a part of the script. Was Matthew having a repeat of the night they’d told each other? Nothing happened till Matthew moved Peter close to the side of the bed, and even then Brent did nothing, till his hand was taken and lifted into place. Sheba! Peter’s boner pulsed as the hand grasped round it and he watched the mischief grow in Brent's eyes as they looked into his own then focused where he was holding.

"Are you sure you mean this Matthew? Peter’s going to get very embarrassed."

"Yes, I'm sure, because he loves this kind of mucking around."

Brent was obviously unsure about this because all his attention switched to Matthew.

"What's going on? I like mucking round too, but I don't understand this."

Matthew smiled at him.

"No questions till it's your turn, but don't worry, you said you trusted us and you can. Just keep holding."

For a minute no one spoke, just watched each other. Peter wondered when Matthew would say something and he had to close his eyes because Brent's hand had just started squeezing gently. When he opened them he saw Matthew nodding at Brent and the gentle squeezes continued. God, he wasn't going to be able to last long at this rate.

"Peter told me he likes you doing that. Would you do the same to me?"

"Um.... Yes."

"Go on then. It's part of your dare."

"What? Now?"

Matthew nodded, and moving to the opposite side of the bed, stood with Mr Fat half boned till Brent's free hand took hold.

"Mmm. That feels good Brent. Peter and I think you're really good-looking."

As if jerked by a rope, Brent's head went from watching his hand to look at Matthew.

"What?... What do you mean?"

"We think you're really sexy."

That was when it all stopped being some kind of muck around for Brent. He didn't let go of either of them but the teasing pressure disappeared and a puzzled, nervous look appeared.

"Are ...Um ...Are you guys serious?"

They both nodded at him.

"…Why are you saying that?"

"We want to know if you think the same about us? You don't really have to answer but we'd like you to."

There was some hesitation before Brent was ready to say anything, and Peter was trying to imagine what must be going through his mind.

"That's very personal Matthew, but all right, I'll tell you."

There was a strong tug on Peter’s boner which continued till he realised Brent wanted him closer.

"Closer Peter."

Eventually when Peter was leaning next to Brent's head there was a soft whisper in his ear.

"I think you're a very, very sexy."

It was sort of what Peter expected to hear. It was nice to hear too, but also embarrassing. It was Matthew's turn then and Peter wondered exactly what Brent was saying. Whatever it was, it made Matthew smile.

"Guess what Brent? It's your turn for a truth or dare."

"Okay, it's Truth. Are you guys trying to tell me something, or trying to find out something?"

Matthew answered. He was in charge.

"Both, Brent, and I think it's the same answer. Haven't we made our side of it fairly obvious?"

Brent gave a kind of nod then his eyes started flicking from one to the other as a further thought came to him.

"Both of you?"

It was Matthew's turn to nod, then answer with his own question.

"The three of us?"

One by one the heads inclined in assent. Brent first, then Matthew, and then when Brent looked at him, Peter.

"Oh my God. I don't believe this."

Brent had a stunned look on his face which gradually became more and more strained. Peter's heart lurched when a tear slid slowly down Brent’s right cheek and another welled in his left eye. Oh no! Had they done the wrong thing? After all, they’d practically forced Brent into saying he was gay. Matthew acted first, and pulling Brent to his feet hugged him tight. Almost automatically, Peter did the same from behind and sandwiched Brent between them. For a minute or two Peter felt each muted sob pass to his own body. They quietened though, and there was a strangled kind of laugh.

"It's all right. I don't even know why I got upset."

His move to separate was thwarted by both Peter and Matthew holding him even tighter, till he relaxed with another more natural laugh.

"I feel like a bookmark in one of Peters books."

"Ha. Peter would never close his books if you were."

"I really am all right."

"Good, but you're not moving yet."

This got another laugh.

"I could if I wanted to."

He didn't though, and the tableau remained close for three or four minutes till Brent started stirring about the acupuncture he was getting from in front and behind.

"Acupuncture? Brent, I feel like I've got a pole vault stuck in my stomach. All right. It's time for you to lie on the bed with your hands behind your head."

"On the bed again?"

"Yes, you lost your dare when you let go. We have to start all over again."

Peter thought that wasn’t quite fair but Brent laughed and jumped straight on the bed, asking what would happen this time.

"Well, we know a secret about you don't we? It's torture this time. For ten minutes. Electric shocks Peter calls them. Peter, you take his body and I'll take his boner."

Peter was totally surprised. He thought everything would get all serious and sensible and instead they were doing the finger tracing thing that definitely would drive Brent crazy if they kept it up for ten minutes. Brent stared in disbelief when they started, but somehow he survived. They were all charged up by the end of it but Matthew cooled things down by sitting next to Brent and asking questions.

"Being gay upsets you doesn't it Brent?"

"Of course. Don't you feel like that?"

"No, my dad taught me to be proud about it."

"Your dad? He knows?"

"Yes, he found out last year."

"Your dad must be pretty amazing then. I'd never tell my mum. Didn't he get aggro with you?"

"No way, I wished I'd told him sooner. I did feel like you Brent, but he showed me that it was the way I was being treated that was bad. Not being gay."

"What about you Peter? Does your mum know?"

Peter nodded and Matthew laughed.

"Peter’s only been gay for five days and he told his mum on the second day."

"Five days? What's that mean?"

"Well, that’'s when he worked it out for sure. I didn't believe it myself for a while. I think you might even have suspected before I did Brent."

That led to a big discussion of Matthew's worries, how Peter had talked to Andy and how Andy was going to tell the rest of the team the following Monday. Brent was totally boggled.

"You told Andy? Well I suppose he's your friend and that's why he's helping you, but it would be a nightmare if he found out about me. He doesn't like me."

Was he ever wrong about that. Peter knew exactly what Andy thought.

"Brent, he does too like you. Those were his exact words when we were talking about you on Saturday."

Brent went all nervous again.

"How come you were talking about me with him Peter?"

"It was because of his idea to beat Matthew's old school. He was saying how important you are for the team and he wondered if you’d train harder to help us win. He was totally impressed when I told him you’re already training at least six days a week."

"He was? He doesn't act like it."

"You're a dork because you muck around so much. I told him that's totally crazy because he does exactly the same. I know he thought about it then."

"I only muck around to impress him Peter, and because it helped me be the King Dick. If he's on your side everyone likes you."

Peter and Matthew caught each other's eye for an instant at this revelation that another of Matthew's ideas about Brent was true. Matthew was right again.

"Um ....Brent. He already thinks you're probably gay and he doesn't care a scrap."

Brent looked even more worried.

"Did you tell him something?"

Peter dodged that one.

"He's thought it since last year and he reckons Kenny and Justin are gay too."

Brent's smile came back.

"He must think half the team's gay."

Matthew was grinning too.

"It would be good wouldn't it? They all look so sexy in their speedos. That's probably why they joined up anyway. That's what Peter did, so he could watch them in the showers."

"Idiot!"

"See, he didn't deny it."

"Idiot, it takes one to know one."

"Hey Brent? Who do you reckon’s got the best looking body?"

"Peter for sure."

"What? Just because of his big dick? Leave him out. He doesn't count."

"You wait fatty. I'll get you for that."

Brent was now laughing at them and for the next five minutes there was a discussion in quite a bit of detail about the best bods on the team and their key attributes.

"Hey, we'd better put some clothes on. Beth will be home soon."

"What about my turn to truth or dare you two? Am I going to miss out?"

"No, Peter’s taking it for both of us when you see him next."

 

Beth didn't arrive for another twenty minutes, late as usual, so they talked, mostly about more general stuff. Matthew surprised them when he said Brent was going to learn how to play the guitar and organised it for Monday afternoons.

"Matthew, he mightn't even want to."

"Of course he will Peter. You said it yourself. It takes one to know one."

Brent was looking as puzzled as Peter.

"One what?"

"Muso Peter. Haven't you noticed the CDs in his car?"

Not in particular. He'd seen the CDs but had no idea what was on them. Beth arrived looking rather tired but full of smiles for everyone, and after hugs all round their meal was set going.

***

"Matthew Peck, you're amazing."

Brent had left about 10 o'clock after a mixed sort of session on their Lit, and Matthew, showered, was standing next to the bed. He raised his eyebrows in query and dramatically dropped his towel.

"I know. Can you beat that?"

"Idiot, you beat it enough yourself."

Peter was learning all the lingo from association with Andy and Marty.

"Ha, well what else is amazing then?"

Peter hardly knew where to start.

"Everything. I meant this afternoon. Brent will be your friend for life."

"I hope so. And yours too. I felt awful when he got upset though. I pushed that on him when I shouldn’t have and I’ll never do that to anyone again. You should have stopped me."

"You took charge and it worked out right anyway."

“Thank goodness. But it mightn’t have."

"How did you know he'd want to learn the guitar?"

"I didn't. It was to let him know he wasn't pushed out because you and I were boyfriends."

"You told him I wanted to make him shoot next time we're together? "

"Well you do don't you? You would have this afternoon."

"Um... After you made him hold me for all that time. How could I help it?"

"I know, it was a good idea wasn't it? It surprised you too. He didn't know what to make of it. Especially when it was both of us at the same time."

"How come you didn't finish him when we gave him the electric bath?"

"I don't know. It just seemed like more fun at the time. I wonder what he'll do when he's in charge?"

"Matthew, you know he'll do the same back. He always does. Only he'll try and make it last even longer for us."

Matthew thought that was funny and said Peter needed lots of practice to get him ready for the torture.

"You're evil Matthew."

"I know. It's good isn't it? But you still haven't said what you think about making him shoot. I know I'd like to."

"I'd like to too. He makes you want to doesn't he?"

"Well that's why I think we should. We've talked about how he likes touching and hugging when there's no one else round. I think he needs it."

Peter laughed at Matthew and called him a rudey, but he had to agree.

"You're right Matthew. Mum noticed that too. She said he's a very physical person and needs hugs all the time. She reckons he’s missed out on them at home."

"Boy, imagine it."

Peter couldn't. If his mum didn't hug him it would be awful, and nowadays there were constant hugs from Matthew and Rob as well. Gosh, even Andy had started giving him hugs lately, especially at home. Maybe hugs were catching? He said as much to Matthew, who promptly dived on him to check it out. It was an extra long hug, though there were other things happening too, and it was very nice having Matthew whisper in his ear that a Peter hug was a hundred percent addictive and totally incurable.

"You smell nice Matthew."

"You taste nice Peter."

"You feel nice Matthew."

"You look nice Peter."

"You sound nice Matthew."

There were no more senses left and Peter thought he'd had the last word till there was a little laugh.

"You are nice."

"Mmm."

***

"Come on Big Boy. It's time to get up."

"Big Boy doesn't want to. He wants you to stay here for another five minutes."

"Well, all right. But only ‘cause you're making me."

The five minutes stretched to ten, and when the front door closed and the car drove off there were no restraints to sounds or actions and somehow time turned into a very low priority.

"Aren't you two coming to school?"

Oh My God.

Peter nearly had a heart attack at the sound of Andy's voice, frantically searched for the sheet, which of course didn't seem to be anywhere in reach, and scrambled for a towel for himself and Matthew. With his face burning red and his disbelief mirrored by Matthew’s, they stared at Andy who had a grin about two miles wide.

"Man, what a show. We can spare another five minutes if you like and we'll just about make it when the bell goes."

Peter was speechless and did nothing till Matthew started moving.

Panic!

God, there was five minutes to be dressed, grab some food, throw the gear and books for the day together, and be in the car. No time for a shower. That was embarrassing but being late for school in the situation would be worse. Andy watched, laughing, as two tornadoes whirled through the house, grabbed some food from the fridge, and somehow made it to the car in six minutes.

"Andy, you just walked in?"

"Well I always do don't I? And then I heard funny noises so I came upstairs. Your bedroom door was wide open so I just watched the fun."

There wasn't much more said in the dash for school, but Andy laughed and grinned so much that by the time they pulled up Peter and Matthew couldn't help smiling themselves. Man. They were never, ever going to hear the end of this.

Matthew got the giggles in English class and Peter's face turned red when some of the others looked at them to see what it was about. Who ever invented blushing should be shot.

At lunchtime Andy had a field day telling Marty all about it. Marty had heard the story all morning of course, but this was the exaggerated version where, according to Andy, he'd watched for over a quarter of an hour.

"Marty, that bed must be made of reinforced steel the way they were going at it. Peter yelling and Matthew begging for more. I had to shout before they could even hear me."

Marty was hanging on every word as the descriptions got ruder and ruder.

Matthew eventually clapped his hands over his ears and said he couldn't listen any more. Peter copied him and they pretended not to hear anything, but Andy just raised his voice till they panicked about other people hearing. Then they went to the cow paddock where Andy said they had to have a rest before swimming to get back all the energy they’d used up. That turned into a bit of a wrestle but then they did actually relax for a while. Most of the time turned to talking about the afternoon’s comp since it was such an important one.

The end of chapter 22.

Iarwain.