Trouble Plus Trouble. - 29. Chapter 29

Double The Trouble.

Chapter 29.

The evening was wonderful. Andy and Colin were both made to feel very special, and the food was everything Andy could have asked for and more. Laughter rang out time after time and it felt to Peter as if everyone was saying goodnight when they’d barely arrived. After talking with his mum he had a quick shower and jumped into bed. He started reading but his thoughts returned to the happenings of the day. Wishing Matthew had stayed the night he switched the light off and pondered. God, Andy got him doing some bizarre things, and Brent was nearly as bad. The plaster of Paris thing started him smiling, and then the thought of Matthew and the hour and 38 minutes turned the smile into a soft chuckle. Mr Long was very interested in that idea and wanted him to think about it more. A click sounded across the room and Peter's heart started thudding as he abruptly emerged from his reverie. It was the noise his door made when it opened. A frisson of fear flickered at a shadowy movement then exploded when someone touched him. There was a soft laugh.

Andy?

The fright dissipated, replaced with relief.

"Have I caught you?"

"Caught me? You frightened me to death."

"I mean did I catch you wanking?"

"Wanking? You didn't sneak in just for that did you?"

"Why not? After today I reckoned you'd be at it."

"Well I was, but you’ve frightened it all out of me. What is it?"

"Nothing, I just felt like talking."

Talking? Peter was puzzled. It didn't seem like an Andy kind of thing.

"Talking? Is there something wrong?"

"No, I just felt like it. We don't talk so much these days."

"Yes we do."

"I mean just you and me. There's always other people round. When's the last time I gave you a treatment?"

"Today."

"You know what I mean."

Peter did know what he meant. Exactly.

"Give me one now then."

"Why should I?"

Peter was smiling, and even though he couldn't see in the darkness, he knew Andy was too. He reached to the back of Andy's neck and holding a tuft of hair gave it a small upwards tug.

"Ouch! Hell that stings. Where did you learn that?"

It was from Mr Crossman, but he didn't know if he wanted to explain that.

"I looked up protection methods against bullies on the Internet."

"Oh yeah? Now tell me really."

How did he pick up things like that? There must have been a tiny instant of hesitation before Peter answered.

"No way."

"I can make you talk."

"No you can't."

Of course he could, but pretending he couldn't was the way this worked, followed by the wrestling with repeated escapes, the various tortures like red chest and nipple nauger, and finally the confession. Andy dragged it out at him, and loved it.

"Oh my God. Twice? Does Matthew know you've got the hots for your teacher?"

"Yes, I told him straight away, but it's not really the hots. It just happens."

"Ha, I know you Peter. I bet you get boners in class sometimes when you look at him."

Andy laughed knowingly at Peter’s non-answer.

"Brat, you're so randy. What's this feel like?"

The shivery warm feeling built when Andy tugged gently at the hairs on Peter's neck.

"Um, it tingles."

"Bull! It makes you horny. It means you've got the hots for me too."

Peter didn’t really know what Andy was getting at.

"You don't mind do you? I can't help it."

"Do you like looking at me in my speedos or jocks?"

"I already told you that."

"Do that stuff to my hair without hurting. I want to see what it feels like."

"Okay."

Peter felt for a tuft of hair, and instead of the upwards tug, just pulled slightly and started playing with it. Andy hunched his shoulders up and after a few seconds relaxed them.

"Jeez, it does tingle."

Peter let go, thinking that the experiment was over.

"Don't stop. It feels good."

Peter started again and then there was a chuckle.

"I must have the hots for you. It's giving me a bone."

"Um, do I still keep going?"

"Yeah, but hang on a sec. I'm too uncomfortable."

Oh boy, what was this about? There was a rustle of movement in the darkness and when Andy leant back Peter had bare skin under his arm. After more movement Peter realised Andy was nude.

"All right, give me more goosebumps."

"Um, okay."

"Mmm, that's good. Hey. Feel this, it's monumental."

"What?"

"My bone."

Peter had felt Andy’s bone before, when Marty was holding him down and often when they practised the grabbing game, but being invited was a totally different story.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, go on."

Peter went on. It was quite monumental all right, and Peter felt it tauten even more in his fingers.

"Do you like doing that Peter?"

"Yes."

"Well don't let go then."

Peter did let go. He needed to know what this was about.

"What are you doing Andy? It's like you're tricking me, except I know you're not."

"Well I'm saying I'm gay on Wednesday aren't I?"

"Fibs, tell me for real."

There was quite a pause before Andy went ahead.

"When I got home tonight I was thinking about you and Matthew, and Marty and Amy, and I was wondering what it’s like to have someone to do stuff with. It feels like everyone knows things I don’t."

Sheba! Peter's mind whirled. Did it mean Andy wanted to do stuff with him? It almost sounded like he might be feeling lonely?

"We can do stuff if you like Andy."

"Um, was any of that stuff Brent said this afternoon about experimenting with other guys true?"

"Yes, Matthew did find that out from Rob."

"Eighty percent of guys?"

"Yes, it's a lot isn't it?"

"Marty’s one of the twenty percent."

"I'm not."

"What about Matthew?"

"He's not either."

"Brat, that's not what I meant."

Peter knew what he meant.

"It’s okay. We've talked about that, and he doesn’t mind."

"Would you tell him?"

"Of course I would. We tell each other everything. Hey Andy?"

"What?"

"Are you still monumental?"

"Find out for yourself."

***

"What are you smiling about?"

Peter was lying on his side watching Matthew's body make a little jump each time he found a new spot to softly poke. Matthew was grabbing the offending finger then somehow losing hold so it could try again.

“Andy.”

"Andy's crazy isn't he?"

“Yes, but it’s nice crazy. Guess what he did last night?”

“Last night? After we finished eating?”

“Way after that. When I was in bed he let himself in with his key and came into my room in the dark. I thought it was a burglar or something till he laughed.”

“What did he want?”

“I’m not exactly sure. Do you ever think he’s lonely?”

“Andy? No.”

“Not me either but he jumped in bed and stayed till this morning.”

“Bed? What you mean?”

“Well he was giving me a treatment, then he was talking about you and me together, and Marty being with Amy, next he was talking about guys experimenting with each other and when he undressed and got in with me I thought that’s what he wanted to do.”

“But he didn’t?”

“Not really. He kept giving me a boner but I could tell it was really to stir me more than anything else.”

“So what happened?”

“We talked for ages. He told me all sorts of stuff and asked about us.”

“Us?”

“Yes, what we do in bed and by ourselves. A bit about sex, but mostly not.”

Matthew was totally interested.

“What did you tell him?”

“Everything. I knew you wouldn’t mind and it felt like he really wanted to know. I don’t know how to explain it but he wasn’t just being curious.”

“And he was serious about it all?”

“Yes, he even got me showing him how we cuddle and telling him some of the things we say to each other.”

“Show you? You mean do them with him?”

Peter nodded and Matthew said he wished he’d been there.

“Don’t say anything to him Matthew, unless he says something first.”

“Really? How come?”

“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I have.”

“Okay. He’s complicated isn’t he? He seems like he’s just a muck around and he’s not.”

Peter laughed.

“Mum says he’s an iceberg.”

“Iceberg?”

“Yes, really cool on the surface, but underneath there’s lots of important things happening.

“Neat. Rob thinks something like that too.”

Thinking about Andy made Peter suddenly grin and shake his head at the same time.

“He really is crazy.”

Somehow Matthew knew what Peter was thinking about.

"Yesterday afternoon?"

"Yes, he knows how to embarrass people but they all liked it."

"Liked it? Peter they loved it. Brian was practically begging to meet up again when he was talking to Brent on the way back to the bridge."

They both started smiling as the events came back to their minds.

"How was Adrian? He's nearly as bad as Kenny."

"Well you can't blame him. Mr Long is pretty amazing."

"Idiot, and when am I going to pay you back for the one hour 38 minute idea?"

"Pay me back? What for? I didn't do anything."

"Yes, but Adrian did when you and Brent wouldn't let me move."

"What did you think of Colin?"

"I don't know. He's hard to work out isn’t he? He hardly says anything."

"He's good. He smiles all the time and he joins in everything. He looks like he can't believe Andy’s being friendly with him."

"I was like that for the first few weeks after I met him. I still am a bit."

"Me too. I wonder if Marty was quiet before Andy met him?"

"I wouldn't even have thought of that Matthew. They've been friends for ever. Do you reckon he was?

Matthew?

.... Matthew?

***

Coach must be wondering what was going on. Peter could see him checking his driving mirror at each new outburst of laughter. It was Andy of course and he was organising everyone to sit with their boyfriend for the day. Peter thought he might be with Matthew, and instead got Kenny. Matthew was with Andy and Marty. Kenny got into the spirit of things, and instead of holding hands for a trial moment like most of the others, planted a big kiss right on Peter's mouth. Peter didn't mind that at all, he was too busy worrying that coach might notice the grope that was accompanying it. When he protested Kenny just made him swap out of the aisle seat, then continued the grope saying it was boner time.

"What? Now? On the bus? Kenny, you're impossible."

"No I'm not. It's good luck for Matthew."

Peter gave a laugh while Kenny kept groping. Kenny was sure putting plenty of effort in lately to make sure Matthew's luck was high.

When the bus arrived the Hillston team was waiting to give the welcome that seemed to be the accepted greeting method. There were stacks of them, as Matthew had predicted, and in fact there looked to be even more than the large team at the last comp. They were lined up along the sides of the pathway towards the pool building, and the first few off the bus had a normal greeting. Matthew left with Andy and Marty and Peter followed right behind with Kenny. It only took a few steps and things started.

"Fag."

"Queer."

"Poof."

The comments weren't yelled, just directed loudly enough for Matthew to hear. If Peter hadn’t been close behind he wouldn't have known they were being said. That continued all the way along and it was really obvious it had been planned. A dark headed guy acted as if he suddenly made up his mind to cross the path and shoved Matthew to one side as if he'd accidentally bumped into him. Peter felt like cheering when Marty just as accidentally got his feet tangled and the guy went sprawling to the ground.

"Hey sorry. I didn't see you."

Andy stayed right next to Matthew through this and a couple of steps further on a tall guy stepped out and walked alongside.

"Hey, you've got a queer on your team."

He was looking directly at Matthew while he said this, but Andy acted as if he didn't notice that, and made a show of looking back at Marty who was now catching up.

"Marty? Yeah. We know. He's cool but."

The guy looked as if he didn't believe it.

"Not him! Peck. He's the fag."

"Fag? Watch your mouth mate. Matthew’s mine."

To drive his point home Andy took Matthew's hand and held it as they finished the so-called welcome. The tall guy stepped to the side and just stared. More comments were directed at Matthew but Andy lifted his and Matthew’s joined hands as if to acknowledge them as a greeting. Peter's own hand had been taken by Kenny, and behind them Brad and David had seen what happened and done the same. Kenny, looking like he was loving it, took his cue from Andy and gave a wave each time he heard a comment. Peter felt like hugging him for that. In the changing room Andy's smile disappeared.

"Bastards! They had it all planned. Matthew, you stay close to Marty all the time. All right we're going to lay it right on them. Justin? You got those flags?"

Justin took a package out of his day pack and grinned as he handed it over. The Hillston team started coming in at that stage and Peter was conscious that a number of them were watching Matthew. More were watching Andy though. He'd made himself a centre of attention already. Justin's package turned out to be little pink triangular flags with a safety pin, and by the time Peter received his, he'd seen Justin and Marty fastening them to their speedos. Brent and Colin were out of their clothes first and that's when more things started happening. They were giving each other a fall on hug.

Oh my God! They hadn't even put their speedos on.

Justin took Paul's hand and dragged him towards one of the toilet stalls. Michael and Jason sat together with their hands resting on each other's thighs. Anthony and Ian stood holding hands, and Brad and David did the hugging thing.

Peter looked towards the Hillston team and barely had time to notice how most of them were staring, when he nearly jumped a mile. In his eagerness to see the Hillston reaction he’d momentarily forgotten that Kenny was his partner. One arm held him tight while the other checked his bags. God, trust Kenny not to use any half measures. The grope continued and Peter heard Kenny's voice in his ear.

"Come on Peter. You're meant to be loving this. Get into it."

For a moment Peter plastered a dreamy look across his face and leant back against Kenny, but then he started wriggling when his boner stirred.

"Let go Kenny. I've got to swim in a few minutes and you're starting my boner."

"We should show it to them. They'd forget about Matthew then."

He let go, thank goodness, and Peter yanked his speedos on as quickly as he could. Half of them were already looking at him after Kenny's effort. God, they were getting a show anyway, as he had to do the sideways arranging thing to fit in. Andy checked round to see if everyone was ready, and as one group, sporting the little pink flags pinned to their speedos, they all filed past the watchers. Most of them did nothing, a couple made comments about queers, and a few, who must have already figured they were being stirred, were even smiling. Best of all, not a word was directed specifically at Matthew. With all their gear, and obviously very pleased with themselves, they sat in their team area and got prepared for the racing.

Starting race was the 50 m backstroke, which meant Peter, Andy and Michael, and as usual Peter was in a state of nerves, which worsened when he saw the Hillston guys. Why was everyone he swam against so much fitter and stronger looking? And why didn't any of them look nervous? Peter couldn't help smiling at Andy. Everyone else had pinned their pink flag at the side of their speedos. His was right at the front and looking very, very, obvious.

"Good starts today Peter."

Peter did make a good start, just as well because he only just beat the Hillston guy, but this was Andy's race and he won by a good arm's length. The cheering from the rest of the team was terrific but Peter was too busy watching the black headed guy who’d tried to shove Matthew outside, as he spat the dummy. This was a first for Peter, as at every other comp the guys had been good-natured about losing, and it was a surprise to see such as display of temper. They climbed out of the pool. What was Andy doing? It looked like he was playing with his dick as he unpinned his pink flag, and it certainly drew everyone's attention. He held it out to the black haired guy who looked at him like he was crazy.

"What the hell is this for?"

"Aren't you a good enough sport to take it?"

It looked like he was going to refuse, but too many people had heard his sportsmanship challenged and he accepted it then walked away. Andy was happy as.

"Every time we win a race we’ll give them a flag Peter. They can't say no now."

And win they did, first and second every time for the 50 m events. Coach came over after the second flag had been given away to find out what was going on.

"They tried to get Matthew, coach, so we're letting them know we’re supporting him."

"Get him? How?"

"When we got off the bus that guy we just raced shoved him, and most of them were calling him a queer."

Coach’s face changed and he demanded details. He looked angry when he heard it had been an organised thing against Matthew. He then wanted even more details.

"Are there any of those flags left?"

Sheba, Peter watched coach pin one of the pink flags on the chest of his tracksuit top.

The most exciting event of the day was the 50 m butterfly. Marty was complaining as usual that he didn't have a hope, and it almost looked that way when he lined up against the fit looking competitors from Hillston. One of them was almost as big and powerful looking.

What a joke!

He left them in his wake. By the time he reached the finish line nearly three metres ahead, the whole team was on their feet yelling with excitement. Peter felt his heart pounding as an amazing feeling of pride took over.

"Holy hell! That is too much."

There was another huge cheer when the results were announced, and then a further one when Marty reached the team area with his face all lit up. He ignored everyone though and went straight to Matthew, pulling him to his feet.

"Come on Andy. We’ll show them what we think of Matthew."

A stunned looking Matthew was hoisted on their shoulders. Andy beckoned everyone to join in and the whole team set off round the pool.

Everything stopped.

The judges, officials, Hillston swimmers, and all the spectators watched the cheering group parade in a complete circuit of the pool. Most of them wouldn't understand why, but in the way of things, the message would rapidly spread that was it Matthew who trained Marty. Past the officials, where coach was smiling happily, and another guy who turned out to be the Hillston coach, who was also smiling. Past the Hillston team area on the other side of the pool, where their cheers for “Matthew” and “Bluey” got even stronger, and then finally past the spectators, most of whom were smiling at this strange outburst, where there was even a spattering of applause.

Matthew won his hundred metre events, but then Hillston gained the lead by winning all the long-distance events. They really were very good, and three or four of them looked magnificent. Matthew said they were the ones who trained the most. The relays pulled them back though. The combination of Matthew, Brent, Andy and Peter was way too powerful. The last race, the 50 m freestyle feature race, really clinched it and when Peter saw he was against the dark headed guy again, he poured in every bit of effort he could.

Yes! He and Brent came first and third with only a metre between them. At least the guy didn't get angry this time. He did look rather surly though, and when he took the pink flag, the third Peter had given him, he mumbled something under his breath. The official announcements were made and amidst cheers and excitement, Peter made his way with the rest of the team to the changing room.

Peter and Matthew had been given a victory walk and Marty and Andy were in the middle of theirs when the Hillston guys started coming in. By the time Marty and Andy were lowered to the floor almost their whole team must have been there. Peter wondered what would happen. There were twice as many of them, thirty-two he found out later, and the room was really crowded. The black headed guy, with the tall one next to him, fronted up to Andy.

"What's this pink flag crap?"

It was definitely a challenge but Andy just smiled.

"Hey, great swimming you guys. You did really well."

Was he being sarcastic? Peter didn't think so.

"Where's your 800 metre guy? That was a fantastic swim."

He knew very well which one it was, and with Marty, walked past the two guys to the wiry looking redhead who’d done so well in the distance events. To the dumbfounded looks of nearly everyone he was lifted to their shoulders and carried round the room.

"Champion! Champion!"

The cheers built, Hillston joining when Andy and Marty paraded through their midst, then stopped and became silent when he was lowered and Andy made a big show of unpinning the pink flag from his purple speedos and offering it. Wow! He took it, pinned it to the side of his light blue speedos, and to Peter's astonishment lifted Andy’s arm in the air and with a grin made a call.

"Gays forever!"

Once again Peter was astonished at how Andy could figure out what to do without seeming to think about it, as here he went again, grabbing the guy's arm and returning the action and the call.

"Gays for ever!"

There were a few laughs and Andy turned to another of their winning guys and went through the same procedure, this time using the flag from Marty's speedos.

"Gays forever!"

"Gays for ever!"

There were more laughs this time and lots more smiles. Andy collected the bag of flags from Justin and offered them round to any Hillston guy who'd take one. Wow! About ten of them did. Right then, a man in a tracksuit entered the room, took a look round at everyone, gave a nod to Matthew then faced Andy and smiled pleasantly.

"Better get a move on. Your bus is waiting."

Sheba, he had one of the pink flags pinned on his chest. The showers were left running for quick pass through, and the team was on the bus ten minutes later.

The journey home was monumental. Coach stopped the bus again to give a talk and told everyone they were no longer the ace team, instead he was calling them the top team, explaining that the win was totally unexpected by Hillston, who'd already beaten last year's winner and were expecting to be unbeaten. He didn't say anything directly about the support for Matthew but he did congratulate everyone for having the best spirit of any team he'd coached.

Peter's throat was getting sore from joining in all the chants and cheers. Marty was looking almost dazed, since much of it was directed at him.

The end of chapter 29.

Iarwain.