Trouble Plus Trouble. - 32. Chapter 32

Double The Trouble.

Chapter 32.

Peter did sleep in next morning, but only till about nine, then after some breakfast, which Matthew brought up for him, they stayed in bed reading till eleven. Halfway through training Ricky turned up, and as soon as Peter saw him looking round he gave a wave and he and Matthew climbed out of the pool.

"Hi Ricky."

"Hi."

"Coming in for a swim with us?"

"Um... Not really. I didn't bring any bathers."

"Hey, I've got a spare pair. Come on. I’ll get them for you."

Matthew went off with Ricky, and Peter dived in for another lap. God, Ricky was wearing Matthew's blue racers. So that was why Matthew had worn his team speedos? Peter couldn't help looking.

"Um, I'm not very good. I'll just hack round till you finish."

"No way, we'll all go in the open lanes."

It was strange not to be training, but fun. Straight away it was apparent that Ricky really couldn't swim and they stayed where he wasn't out of his depth. The last quarter of an hour turned into a lesson on how to float when Ricky claimed that his body was built wrong and always sank.

"Not really Ricky. Your body’s the same build as ours so that means you couldn't sink even if you wanted to."

This was news to Peter but Matthew quickly proved it by making them sit on the bottom with their breath held. Peter managed, but only by working his hands continuously to keep him down. Ricky couldn't manage it till he watched Peter and Matthew, and was quite amazed about it.

"That's not real floating though."

"No, but it shows you that your body wants to go up and not down. Watch this."

He took a big breath and let himself hang in the water. His momentum took him down a little, but then he floated up till the top of his head was poking out. Ricky copied that with no troubles at all, and by the time they left the water Ricky was totally excited.

"Wow, all these years I've dodged swimming because I couldn't float. I can't believe I learnt it just like that."

Peter couldn't remember ever learning to float and was very impressed with the way Matthew had made it seem so easy. They had their showers and walked out to the car park where Ricky led the way to a very small, blue hatchback, and half an hour later they were all on the one squash court together. They had a warm-up hit for a quarter of an hour, then Ricky got quite serious and showed them different things to practice before he took Matthew to the next court. Time flew and when they finished an hour and a half later everyone was in a happy mood.

"What are you grinning about Peter?"

"The look on your face when the squash ball hit your backside.

"Ha. that's not funny. That’s cruelty."

"I know. Cruelty to dumb animals."

"Cruelty by dumb animals you mean. You hit it straight at me."

"It was your fault for standing right in front of me. How am I supposed to hit it when you do that?"

Ricky was smiling at the friendly exchange.

"You're not meant to hit it Peter. You win the point automatically if he’s in your way."

"See, now it's your fault I'm branded for life."

"Sure too, it wasn't that hard."

"Yes it was. I know there’ll be a bruise ‘cause it's still stinging."

"Don't take any notice of him Ricky. He always exaggerates everything."

That made them grin even more since it was Peter doing the exaggerating.

"No I'm not. I can tell."

"Show us then."

"What? So you can perve on my backside? No way."

He must have been curious though because he tugged his shorts down and tried unsuccessfully to examine himself.

"God Matthew, that's awful. It looks terrible."

"I told you you branded me."

"The bruise? Oh, that's nothing, just a little red mark."

Matthew whirled round and Ricky burst into laughter. The grins were even stronger as they gathered their things and headed for the shower room. When they stripped off though, the little red mark didn't look little at all and Peter felt guilty as anything.

"Jeez, I’m sorry Matthew. It really does look bad. The mark I mean."

Matthew, nude and standing next to the shower, was tenderly rubbing his finger over the angry red mark.

"Hey, it's coming up in a lump. Feel that."

Peter lightly traced the angry welt and felt even more guilty as Ricky did the same.

"Ha, got you. If it's so terrible how come you're both feeling me up?"

Ricky looked startled, then joined with Peter in throwing cold water at Matthew.

***

"Have you really read all these?"

They were at Peter's place and Ricky was looking at the bookshelves.

"Yes, and lots more. Reading’s just about my favorite thing."

Ricky and Matthew both looked for more info on that statement.

"Um, I like swimming too, now that Matthew taught me."

"Matthew taught you? I thought you were really good."

Matthew laughed.

"I didn't teach him to swim Ricky. Just how to get better. He's done all the hard work himself.

Now it was Peter who laughed.

"I didn't have any choice. Matthew’s a slave driver and he makes me swim for hours every day."

"Only because he’s so weak Ricky. He can't even swim one lap without puffing like a steam train."

Peter whispered in Ricky's ear and seconds later Matthew was squashed beneath two laughing bodies. He retaliated with tickles and Ricky let out a great squawk and jumped away. Well, that was interesting, and when Peter tried to get the same effect Ricky ended up at the bottom of the heap, wriggling and begging for mercy. He was as ticklish as Peter but after a few minutes they took pity and released him. His face was flushed red and his chest was heaving from his efforts.

"Not fair. You're ganging up on me and I'm not used to this."

"Suffer Ricky. You and Peter ganged up on me."

"That was Peter's of idea, not mine."

Matthew whispered in Ricky's ear and that of course meant it was Peter's turn to be bottom of the heap. Matthew took great delight in demonstrating to Ricky that he wasn't the only ticklish one. But then Peter managed to turn the tables and get Matthew in one of the holds.

"Give him a red-chest Ricky. He deserves it for torturing us."

"Red-chest? What's that?"

Peter explained, but Ricky didn't want to do it, so the wrestling was finished and they all sat up.

"Very sensible Ricky. The only one round here who needs a red-chest is Peter. We'll get him later. Who feels like a drink?"

They all did, so they traipsed down to the kitchen and Peter took a full bottle of ginger beer from the fridge.

"Careful Ricky. This is Peter's home-made brew and it makes everyone drunk."

Peter answered Ricky's questioning look.

"He's just stirring. Its ginger beer."

"It's still alcoholic."

Peter stared at Matthew. He sounded like he meant what he was saying.

“No it's not."

"Dad says it is. That's where the fizz comes from."

"Sure too."

"True. He says the yeast reacts with the sugar."

Peter couldn't believe this.

"Rob was stirring then."

They took the bottle and the glasses back to the room and looked up ginger beer on the internet. Oh my God. It was true. The drink didn't taste any different, though Matthew kept stirring about it and Peter wondered what would happen when Andy found out.

"It's just as bad at Matthew's place Ricky. They make you drink raw eggs there"

They ended up trying the eggnog, because the phone rang a while later and Rob told them their meal was changed to his place. Ricky was mostly quiet for the rest of the evening though he was obviously enjoying himself and stayed after the movies to listen to Matthew play his guitar. At half eleven he said it was time to go but Matthew wouldn't let him.

"Can't you stay the night? Peter is and we’d both like you to."

"Um, I'd better go."

He was just being polite, and when Peter and Matthew threatened to tickle him till he said yes he looked as pleased as punch and agreed straight away. Peter asked if he needed to ring anyone and was totally surprised at the answer.

"No, Andrew won't worry. He knows where I am."

"Andrew? ....You mean Mr Crossman?"

"Yes, didn't you know? I live at his place. He's given me a room there."

Wow. Peter looked at Matthew who was just as amazed.

"No….. We thought you were friends from squash."

"He’s helping me get through year Twelve."

Ricky seemed a bit awkward about talking, so straight away they took him to the bathroom to help him with the unfriendly shower controls.

"Here, I'll get it going for you, and leave it on for us when you’re finished. We just have quick showers."

He nodded and started stripping while Matthew fetched a towel and Peter went back to the bedroom to wait his turn. When Ricky arrived, wrapped in the towel and uncertainly holding his bundled clothes, Peter remembered his own first night here.

"We just wear jocks to bed Ricky. There’s boxers in Matthew's drawer if you like them better."

"No, whatever you're wearing suits me."

"Okay, use these then. They’re jocks Matthew keeps for sleeping."

Peter handed over Matthew's light blue ones with a secret grin to himself, and watched Ricky put them on. Matthew appeared in his towel and Peter rushed off for the quickest shower he could manage. When he returned Matthew was in front of his mirror dragging a comb through his freshly dried hair and wearing the good red jocks, while Ricky was sitting on the edge of the bed watching quietly.

"What’ll we do Ricky? Put Peter on the floor, or all squeeze in the bed?"

"I'll go on the floor. I don't mind where I sleep."

"No way, I'm just stirring Peter."

Saying this he went to his side of the bed, slid under the sheets and beckoned for Ricky to get in next to him. Peter climbed in his side and with a cheeky grin shoved Ricky towards Matthew. The chain reaction nearly put Matthew out of the bed, and laughing but indignant he looked at the spare space beside Peter.

"Push him back. He's a bed-hog."

Ricky looked as if he didn't want to take sides but that only lasted moments when he saw they were just mucking round. Then he was laughing as he was used as the buffer for several minutes of showing and pushing. Peter put on his own fake indignant look when they ganged up on him and pushed him off, but that was a good excuse to sit on top of both of them and bounce a few times. Eventually the shenanigans died and they settled comfortably.

"Have you been staying at Andrew's place very long?"

Matthew asked the question and Peter could sense Ricky getting awkward again. Then, that changed, as if he’d made up his mind about something.

"Just since the middle of the holidays when he moved in himself. He was living with friends before that but it was too far away from his new job. I was going to leave school and start working but he didn't want me to."

"How come? If you want to work no one can stop you. You're old enough."

"Well, I didn't think I was good enough to stay at school but Andrew’s helping me and now I think I'll make it."

"How come you don't live at home?"

"I haven't got one. Andrew’s is the first place I've felt happy."

Oh hell, Peter felt awful and wished he hadn't asked. There was silence till they realised Ricky didn't look upset or anything and then Matthew asked what other places he’d lived.

"Different ones, but I was always getting in trouble."

There was another silence as Peter and Matthew puzzled this over. Ricky seemed too gentle and shy to be the sort of person to get into trouble.

"Um,... I wouldn't have said anything because it's how trouble always starts, but Andrew told me I should. He said you'd be understanding if you knew about me."

"Understanding?"

"Yes. I, um, like guys."

Peter and Matthew looked at each other then simultaneously burst into laughter. Poor Ricky was totally bewildered by this unexpected reaction and a worried frown appeared on his face. He opened his mouth to speak but Peter got in first.

"We not laughing at you Ricky. Where laughing because it's funny."

"Funny?"

"Yes, what did Andrew tell you about us?"

"He said he thought I'd get on well with you."

"That's all? He didn't tell you that Matthew and I are together?"

"Together? ……….. holy sh##. You mean? ………Are you?"

There was a double nod and Ricky's features ran through a whole gamut of emotions, ending with the same grin Peter and Matthew had.

"He set us up. That's why he was so definite about helping you with squash yesterday."

Matthew gave Ricky a poke in the side making him jump and bump into Peter.

"I'm glad he did."

Peter jabbed his finger into Ricky's other side, making him bump against Matthew this time.

"So am I."

Ricky looked from one to the other and simultaneously gave a return jab to both of them.

"Me too."

The grins grew enormous and a poking war ensued till Matthew took things further.

"He’s attacking. Sit on him Peter."

That was quickly accomplished, since Ricky made no effort to escape, and a few seconds later Peter was getting very satisfactory squawks from his strategically timed bounces.

"Stop! Stop! Murder! Ganging up again."

He was loving every moment though, and then his eyes lit up even more when Matthew started whispering in his ear. He suddenly bucked strongly, while traitor Matthew attacked from the side and pulled Peter over. Strangely enough, there was little resistance again, and now it was Peter lying on his back at the mercy of the two treatment givers.

"Go on Ricky. Watch what happens. It's a special spot and he loves it. He won't move till we say he can."

"Won't I?"

"No."

Matthew had spoken so that was that.

The end of chapter 32.

Iarwain.