Beneath the Mask - 22. Chapter 22

After school, Carlos needed to report to his probation officer. He walked into the probation office, signed in and sat down in the lobby. His appointment is at four thirty, but he didn’t get seen till five minutes after five.

His probation officer came to get him from the lobby and escorted him to his office. They sat down and the probation officer went through the same questions that he always asks. After asking the questions he finally looked up at Carlos.

“I know that you were still in high school, but you need to start paying your probation fees and fines. If you fall behind, you can be revoked and sent back. You know as well as I do you don’t want to go back to the detention facility. There is no way, you will make it out of there alive, and you know that.”

Carlos just sat there stunned by what his probation officer just said. “I go to school all day long, and I have to be back in my house by no later than seven or my monitor will go off and you will revoke me. My grandmother or my mother can’t afford any extra bills than they already have right now.”

“Look at me Carlos so you can see that I am very serious about what I'm telling you.” Carlos looked straight into his probation officers face. “Your personal issues aren’t my problem. What my problem is that you aren’t paying your probation fees or fines. The State doesn’t care about your family personal finances.

Maybe what you need to do is getting off your lazy butt and go to work in the evenings and weekends. If you show me a schedule of your work hours or your boss calls me I will go ahead and change the time on the monitor for you to work. But when you come in here next time, you better make payment on your fines and probation fees.”

Carlos nodded his head in agreement with his probation officer. He got up and walked out of the office. On the bus home, he couldn't stop thinking about what his probation officer just said. If he doesn’t come in next month with his payments he might be revoked and be sent back. There is no way he will make it out of there if he goes back.

Although his mother has remarried, they are barely making a from payday to payday paying the bills. His grandparents are living on Social Security and that is not even supporting them and the savings his mother and stepfather have are being spent on the move from the central part of town to the west side. There is no money for them to give him for his probation fees and fines.

Carlos didn't sleep at all through the night. He couldn't stop thinking that this might be the last month that he is in the free. The next morning when he got to school he could barely look anyone in the face. Finally, Alex pulled Carlos to the side as they were putting away their trays.

“I know there is something bothering you this morning Carlos. You aren’t acting like yourself at all. What is it that's on your mind and maybe I can help you through it. You have helped me through a lot of crap in my life. Now it's time for me to try and return the favors that you have done for me.”

At first Carlos tried to not involve Alex in his problems but Alex won’t let him go until he spilled the beans. Carlos finally broke down and told Alex everything that had happened to him yesterday. He told Alex everything that his probation officer told him and that he basically threatened him if he doesn't pay his probation fees or fines.

“That son of a bitch thinks he can fuck with us. He looks at you like you are some piece of shit that walked off the street. By the sounds of it he didn't like the idea of you getting out in the first place. Now he's looking for any reason to send you back and he doesn't care if your life is in danger or not.

He is not going to get away with this and let me tell you why. You will go speak with Mr. Baird after school today. Tell him what you told me and he will give you a job at the new print shop. He will work or around your school schedule. He will give you the hours that you need to not only pay your fees but to have money in your pocket.”

“Alex I really don't know all what to say. You don't have to do this for me. I was thinking about going to fast food restaurants and putting in applications. Someone out there will hire me and give me enough hours that I need have in order to pay my probation officer.”

“Screw that Carlos! You are my friend. You have been there at my side since we were kids. I won’t abandon you now when you need my help. Just do what I told you and you will have a job without question.”

Carlos couldn't help but smile, because he felt relief. Now he can think straight and stop thinking about his probation officer’s threats. Alex and he joined the others and quickly got back into the conversation that the others are having. He looked around at the group of friends that they have now. It confirmed to him by having Alex as friend, he will be okay.

Still not knowing their way around the school yet, Alex and Matt left earlier than the others in order to get to class on time. When they reached their first period classroom, they just stood outside the door talking with each other. They really want to hold hands, but they don’t want others to know that they are boyfriends yet.

The first bell rang, but they stood outside watching the others walked in. They don't want to be the first ones in the classroom, because they might get a rep they don't want. When the warning bell rang, they finally walked in and took their seats.

Their teacher had each student go in front of the class and read the report they did the night before. Alex just looked at Matt as the teacher called student after student up to the front. When the teacher finally called on Alex. Instead of going up front. He told the teacher he didn’t complete his assignments.

That got Alex off the hook from going in front of the class to read his assignment. When the class ended, the teacher held Alex back as the rest the students walked out. Once the final student walked out the teacher walked around his desk and sat in the desk next to Alex. He just sat there for a few seconds and than finally spoke.

“Your transcripts is telling me that you are a very smart student. Smart students don’t forget their homework. They always do their homework and hand it in when due. I believe that you have your assignment done. I just don't think you wanted to get up and read in front of the class. Am I right on that assumption?”

“I didn't know that you are going to have us read our assignments in front of the class. I really don't like speaking in front of large groups of people that I don't know. So yes you are right on your assumption, but I rather take an F. I won’t talk in front of the class.”

“I don't want to give you an F Alex. If you completed your assignment, please hand it in. You need to get going so you aren’t late for your second period. You and I will figure out another way to get you used to talking in front of large groups.”

Alex ripped his assignment out of his notebook and handed it to his teacher. He got up, thanked his teacher and walked out. Just as he got out into the hallway, he ran right into Matt. They walked together to the next class and barely made it as the tardy bell rang.

At lunchtime Alex explained to Matt what happened between him and their first period teacher. It actually made Matt laughed a little because he didn't know that Alex is actually afraid of speaking in front of large groups of people. He always thought that since he’s a gang leader nothing bothered him.

Alex quickly changed the conversation away from what had happened in the morning to why they are eating in the cafeteria. He didn’t know that Dewayne is off today and that’s the reason they are eating at school. He looked over at Jacob and noticed that he looked a little down. He can tell that Jacob is really missing Dewayne when he is away from him. That is love; a love that you rarely find between a couples.

As soon as they finished eating they left the cafeteria. Jacob left a little bit earlier than they did because he needed to go to the ROTC building. So Alex, Matt, the new group of friends and the old group of friends all headed out to the football field.

Tom got a hold of a football, and they started to pass the ball back and forth. Within a few minutes of just passing the ball back and forth, another group of students walked up and challenged them to a game of touch football. Of course Tom, Alex and the others didn’t back down from the challenge.

Without a challenge everyone agreed that Tom should be the quarterback. The others filled in the other open positions before lining up. The minute the ball got hiked, it became obvious that the other team has no plans on playing touch football. They immediately went after, and tackled Tom as he released the ball.

Robert turned around just in time as the ball came flying at him. He caught it and ran another ten yards before getting tackled himself. As he got up and wiped himself off, he ran back over to the huddle.

“Listen, it looks like these guys aren’t going to play touch football. If they choose to play that way, fine. If they come at you and you tackle them. Make it loud and clear not to fuck with us.” Tom slapped his hands and gave the next play.

They hiked the ball, and this time they are prepared for getting tackled. They opened a hole in the defense line so huge, a herd of buffalo could run through it. But instead of a herd of buffalo, only Alex needed to run through it. There’s no one there to stop Alex once he ran through the defense line and Alex ran untouched to the end zone.

Quickly, Tom and his gang got the ball back and scored again. Alex started to hear cheering from the stadium. He looked up and noticed a crowd of students watching them as they finished up their lunches. He couldn't help but smile at what he is seeing.

About five minutes before the bell, the other team called it quits. The final score at the end was four touchdowns to none. The other team can’t use as an excuse that everyone on Tom's team is on the football team since the only one that is on the football team is Tom, and nobody else.

After washing up in the bathroom, they headed over to their lockers to get the afternoon books. Alex is really not into his afternoon classes because one of them is the class that he really never wanted to take. The only reason he is taking ROTC is to get rid of his PE requirements. He would've taken PE instead of ROTC, but he couldn't due to the monitor.

Alex walked into his fifth period with Matt; he noticed that Jacob looked frustrated. That is why he doesn't like the class. The pressure alone is put on the student would scare anybody away from this class. Alex thinks the class could be a lot more fun if the instructors would lighten up or if they had different instructors altogether.

As the afternoon wore on, Alex started to think about his appointment with his probation officer after school. He and Matt have to report in just like Carlos did the day before. Although they have different probation officers they have to follow the same rules when it comes down to paying their fees.

He got brought out of thought when Jacob approached him. “After school, you guys meet me at my truck so I can take you to report in. Your mother asked me this morning if I would take you so you guys don't have to take the bus. It completely escaped my mind until I saw you sitting here in space.”

“Thanks Jacob! We really do appreciate it.”

Jacob got up and walked off. Matt turned to Alex and asked him the very thing that is bothering him. He just stared at Matt with his mouth wide open. Alex started to feel that Matt could read what is going on in his mind.

“I really don't know how to answer your question. One thing is for sure, if our probation officer is anything like Carlos’, we are going to get a mouthful. Poor Carlos got his head ripped off by his probation officer yesterday when he reported in.”

Just then their Sergeant approached them. “I don't know what you guys are talking about, but one thing is for sure it isn't the assignment. Stop your talking and study the ranks. You will get quizzed on Friday on what you're supposed to be studying right now.”

Alex and Matt looked down at the desk and started going through their notes. They didn’t speak again to each other the rest of the period. On their way to their final class. They didn't speak to each other. They are both stuck in thought about what might be coming to them in just a couple of hours.

The minute they got dismissed from their final class, Alex and Matt walked as fast as they could to the locker, got their books and walked to the parking lot. As they walked up to the truck, Jacob and the others are already sitting inside waiting for them.

Matt got in trying to figure out how the others can get out of the school so quickly. As he sat there in thought, Alex explained to Jacob and the others that they do have an appointment at four, but more than likely that they won’t be seen at that time. None of them has a problem waiting for them.

Jacob drove up and parked as close as he could to the probation office. Alex and Matt got down looking nervous as hell. Alex started to walk away from the truck. When Jacob called him and Matt back over.

Jacob pulled out a couple hundred dollar bills from his wallet. “Here take this and pay your probation fees and any other fines that you’ve got to pay.” Alex didn't take the money, nor did Matt. “Look guys, this isn't something am giving to you; it's a loan. When your printing company gets going, you will pay me back any money that I'm loaning you. So just take this and get in there before you’re late.”

Alex took the two hundred dollar bills from Jacob. He handed one to Matt as they walked into the office. Unlike Carlos’ experience the day before with his probation officer, Alex and Matt are surprised and pleased their officer didn't ride them or make them wait. In fact he came out to get them right on schedule, and got them out quickly.

They wanted to go down to the office after meeting with the probation officer, but decided against it because of time. They just headed straight home instead. The first thing they did when they walked in to the house is do their homework. After they completed their homework they started fooling around.

Right when Matt fell to his knees between Alex’s legs, some one started knocking on the bedroom door. Alex looked at the nightstand to see what time it is. He realized without even having to ask that it is one of his brothers coming to get them for dinner.

Alex pulled Matt up from the floor and gave him a kiss on the lips before they walked out. To no surprise to neither of them they ran right into Lorenzo at the bedroom door. Alex grabbed him and tossed him on his shoulders.

Trying not to be noticed, Alex and Matt ate as quickly as they could. The minute they finished eating, they got up and put their plates and silverware in the dishwasher. When they thought they got out of there scot free, they got stopped at the back door.

“Hey Alex, can you and Matt come up to my room for a minute?”

Alex turned around to see Jacob standing behind him. He nodded his head and followed Jacob up the stairs. He hopes whatever that Jacob needs to speak with him about can be done fast. He wants to get back to his house and be with Matt before his little brothers, called them over to play in the game room.

They walked into Jacob's room to find Dewayne sitting on the bed. Alex and Matt stood at the door, and didn’t step completely into the room. Jacob didn't notice it until he turned around. He looked at Alex and Matt not understanding why they don't want to come into the room.

“Okay, this is very strange of you guys. We aren’t going to jump you. Please, come in. There something we would like to discuss with you.”

Alex and Matt walked in and they didn't stop until they stood in the middle of the room in front of Jacob. “Good we can’t now get down to business. I would like to offer you something and before you say anything, hear me out. I know you are a very proud man Alex and you don’t like to accept anything that you consider a handout.

Now with that said I would like to explain to you first why I need to do this. This bedroom set I bought when I was together with Joey. In fact, Joey and I bought this bedroom set together. By the looks in your faces you are seeing where I'm going with this.

In this very bed Joey and I shared our moments together. The mattresses aren’t dirty they are still pretty much brand-new. But I don't feel right sleeping in this bed with Dewayne even after I have changed the sheets over and over again.

So after talking it over with Dewayne, we have decided to buy a new bedroom set. We don’t want to sell this one. Instead we would like you guys to have it. Again let me emphasize what I said at the beginning of this conversation. I know you are a proud man, Alex and you don’t accept handouts. This isn't a handout. If you will take this bedroom set off my hands you would be doing me a favor.”

Alex really didn't know what to say. He just stood there in silence trying to gather his thoughts. The way the Jacob explained it, it does sound like he will be doing Jacob a favor at the same time that Jacob is doing him a favor.

“I do understand why you want to get rid of this bedroom set. I believe you when you say that the mattresses are basically brand-new. Also as I look at the bedroom set it looks like there is no wear and tear on any piece of this set. So yes I will take this set off your and Dewayne’s hands.”

Alex walked up to shake Jacob’s hand. “But I will pay you for it. It seems that you have opened me a charge account with you. Give me a price and I will pay it.”

Jacob pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. It is the original receipt to the bedroom set. This receipt is attached to another piece of paper. As Alex wrote down the second piece of paper he noticed that Jacob knocked discounted the original price. Such as wear and tear, how long he has owned it and a family discount. The final price written on the bottom of the second piece of paper is five hundred dollars.

Alex looked up to Jacob and smiled. “You really do know me in only a few months of friendship. I agree with the price, and I will pay it in full. Maybe not all at once, but it will get paid in full.”

“Alex, there is no doubt in my mind that you will pay me back any money that I loan you. We are hoping to go out after school tomorrow to look at bedroom sets. If we find one tomorrow it will probably be delivered on Friday. If that’s the case, on Friday, we will help you and Matt move this set to your house.”

Alex once again agreed with Jacob and shook his hand, bidding him goodnight. Alex and Matt tried to escape, but once again got caught at the back door. This time it's Lorenzo and Ismail asking Alex and Matt to join them in the game room.

“Why don’t you let your brother and Matt go back to their room? They look exhausted and they might not be up to playing with you guys.” Franseca tried to help Alex and Matt get away.

Alex looked at his little brothers, and could see that they really want him and Matt to join them. He looked over to Matt and Matt knew that they are going to go down to the game room. Alex doesn't like to say no to his little brothers. It didn't bother Matt at all because he likes to hang with the younger versions of Alex.

By the time they finally got to their room. They only have time to shower and get ready for bed. They could stay up and have sex if they want to not get nearly enough sleep. They opted to get sleep over having sex.

Matt crawled into the bed, followed by Alex. They cuddled up against each other as they tried to get comfortable in the small bed. Matt wrapped his arms around Alex and rested his head right next to the back of Alex's head.

“The good thing, we only have a couple nights left sleeping in this small bed. Hopefully by Saturday, we will have a queen size bed.” Matt whispered into Alex's ear as he nibbled on Alex's neck.

“Can you imagine having sex on a queen size bed? When we got together at the center we both had twin beds. When we came here same thing. The only way we are able to have sex is by doing it on the floor.”

“You know, I really didn't give it much thought until you just said this Alex. You are right we really haven't had sex in a bed. Why don't we hold off on having sex until we get our new bedroom set? That way we can have sex all night long on our new bed.”

“I can have sex with you all night long, and all day long, seven days a week. Every time I look at you, I get so horny that I can barely restrain myself. There has been so many times I wanted to rip your clothes off and have my way with you.”

Alex turned his head as Matt leaned over to kiss him. As they kissed, Matt ran his hand down Alex's chest and stomach and didn't stop until he reached Alex’s dick. Matt didn't have to search for his boyfriend's dick because it is hard and leaking pre-cum through the underwear. He wanted so badly to help out and relieve the pressure that is building in Alex's balls. But he knows if they get started, they won’t stop.

They made out for a while, and finally went to sleep. When they woke up the next morning they both had a huge erections. He crawled out of bed with their dicks pointing straight out. Even after getting dressed their Levi's couldn't hide their erections.

Once they walked into Jacob's house, their erections finally went down. They sat down at the table as Franseca finished up cooking breakfast. Just like the mornings before, they ate at the house and ate again at school.

Carlos told Alex that he spoke with Mr. Baird yesterday and he got a job. When he reports next month he can pay not only the current amount, but he can also pay what he couldn’t pay this month. That should shut his probation officers mouth for a while.

“The next time you guys play football during lunch, I would like to be invited to play in the game. You don’t know how weird it felt hearing that you guys played from other people.” Jacob looked at Tom as he spoke.

“Sorry Jacob, we went out to toss the pig skin around. Another group of guys walked up and dared us to a game. You know me and a dare. I can’t turn it down.”

Everyone nodded their heads to what Tom just said except Alex, Matt and their group of friends. Jacob let the subject drop and moved on to another. Alex started to talk with Matt about doing something over this weekend.

“I didn’t mean to eaves drop, but I have a question. Don’t you guys have to be in your house by seven in the evening like we do? That doesn’t give you enough time to go to the movies and eat.” Alex looked over at Steve to see a angry look in his face.

“I don’t know what your probation officer set up for you guys, but Matt and I don’t have to be in our house until ten. That gives a plenty of time to catch a movie and eat.”

Alex wanted to tell Steve to mind his own business, but he bit his tongue. Steve couldn’t believe that they get to say out a lot longer. Matt maybe deserves a later time, but Alex ran the gang and shouldn’t be trusted to stay out late.

Steve got lucky when the bell rang. Alex could see disgust in Steve’s face and was about to invite him outside to discuss it in more detail but Steve got save by the bell. Alex dropped it and walked away.

“Alex, I am proud of you for not doing what you wanted to do to Steve. If I can see it in your face and trust me, Steve saw it as well. You looked like you wanted to grab Steve and just knock the living shit out of him,” Matt observed.

“The only reason I didn’t do what I wanted to do to Steve is because of you Matt. I want to be with you and I kept thinking if I hit this guy, I would not only get suspended, but I could get revoked as well. You are the reason I want to stay out of trouble.”

“Me and your family of course.” Matt jabbed Alex in the arm.

“Of course my family as well. They mean as much to me as you do.” They reached their locker and Alex turned to face Matt. “Look, you helped me keep a level head in that place we were in. You help me keep a level head while we are at school. I don’t want to embarrass you because I feel I need to fight someone to get my point across. I don’t care what Steve thinks of me. I care what you think of me.”

At that moment they both wanted to kiss each other. They looked around and saw way too many people around. They held off and just grabbed their books out of the locker. They headed to class tapping each others hands as they walked to class.

The minute the bell rang, the teacher handed back the assignments that they handed in the day before. Not saying a word, he filled out the attendance sheet. The students just watched the teacher walk to the door, put his attendance sheet in the box and walk back. He just stood in front of the class looking out at them.

“When I asked you guys to read your assignments in front of the class yesterday I didn't give you permission to ad-lib. I sat at home reading your assignments and couldn't believe the differences between what you wrote in what you said.

You will see three different grades on your assignments I handed back to you. The first one is the grade I gave you for speaking up front of the class. The second one is the grade that you got on the written part. The third is the final grade that went into my grade book. That is the average of the two.”

Alex looked down at his paper and saw a zero for the first grade, a hundred for the second and his average is a failing grade of a fifty. He looked over to Matt's desk to see his assignment in his final grade is an eighty-five. He slid his assignment into his notebook and didn't bother to look at it anymore.

Once again when the bell rang, the teacher kept Alex and let the other students go. Alex already angry with what occurred during breakfast with Steve, and now this! He is boiling over, and it is taking a lot to keep control of his anger.

“I can see that you aren’t happy with your grade. I explained to you yesterday Alex that you needed to get up in front of the class and read your assignment. That was basically half of your grade for this assignment. Maybe next time, you will think twice before you lie and say that you didn’t do your assignment.”

“This is not a debate class or a class that requires you to speak in front of the other students. This sheet of requirements you handed to the class the first day of the semester.” Alex pulled out the sheet of requirements for this class. “Nowhere in here is stated that, whenever YOU feel like it, we have to come up in front of the class and read our assignments. It does go into complete detail on how your grading system works and again, it doesn’t state the grading method that you used for this assignment.”

Alex got up to leave, but stopped. “Although I don't think it's fair, but I will take a failing grade you gave me. If you are going to start using this grading system for our assignments, you need to put it on this sheet or not hand out this sheet at all.”

He turned and walked out the door. Matt met him in the hallway and new by the look on his face that it’s best to leave him alone for now. At the end of third period, Alex had settled down from earlier. Although Alex is okay right now, Matt knows that anything small could actually set him off.

Instead of going to the cafeteria for lunch, they met the guys at Jacob's truck. Since Dewayne is working today they are going to go to Taco Bell for lunch. They found a long line when they walked into the restaurant. This is the first time that they walked in and found the restaurant slammed with customers.

It seemed as if the customers never stopped coming. Because of that Dewayne could not join them for lunch. That didn't stop Jacob and Dewayne stealing looks of each other. Alex could see that Jacob really wanted to eat lunch with Dewayne, but they couldn’t.

After lunch, the rest the afternoon went by really fast. Before Alex knew it, he found himself walking with Matt to Jacob’s truck. He is still a little frustrated about his morning. He tried his best to just let it go. He still has a long evening ahead of him, because he is going to go to work.

Since Jacob is going to go out with Dewayne searching for a new bedroom set, Alex and the guys are going to have to go to work in Tom's car. So as soon as they drove up to the house, they all got down. Alex, Matt, Chase and David waited for Tom outside by his car, as he ran in to get his car keys. They know if they go inside, they won’t be able to get out without being asked to eat something.

All the way to work, everyone couldn't stop talking about how excited they are. This is going to be their first job and they're going to have fun doing it. It is not often that friends can get a job with each other and on the same shift. Even Alex got into a better mood than he started out with as he talked with the guys.

This time as they drove up to the building, Al told them where to park so where they don’t have to pay. Tom parked and everyone jumped out of the car. They walked over to the building talking with each other about what to suspect on their first day of work.

Taking the elevator down to the basement, they got off and walked into the print shop to find some of the machines going already. Alex and Matt went looking for Mr. Baird, while Tom and the others looked for their time cards and clocked in.

Alex found Ron walking Carlos through the plant. He and Matt caught up to Ron and just listened to him as he gave the tour. The tour ended at the time clock, and that is where they ran into Tom, Chase and David.

“Good, I am glad to see you all here on time for your first day. Since you three have already walked around the plant there is no need for me to give you a tour of it. Let me say this is here, before anything else. Give yourselves time to learn what each machine does and what they are called. If I ask you to go to a certain machine and you have no idea what I'm talking about, ask me, and I will walk you through the machines.

Also I need to let you know, there are certain things that you can’t do because of your age. We have plenty of work here that you can do and still get your hours in. As we get going. I will let you guys know what you can’t do by law.”

Ron walked everybody over to pallets of merchandise. He split everybody into groups of two except Alex and Matt. He then told them what to do with the material on the pallets. As soon as they understood which machines got what, Ron, Alex and Matt walked over to Ron’s office.

“It looks like we're getting the complete crew for the evening shift. We are getting a lot of work, and there is no time to spare. In order to keep the customers we have I want to get their orders out ahead of schedule. We are a brand-new company and we need to build not only a customer base, but trust and confidence with our customers.”

Alex sat down and looked around Ron's office. Ron hasn't made it personal yet, and Alex is starting to wonder why. He turned his attention back to what Ron is saying. He understands everything and agrees with it.

“In the everyday running of this company is yours. We are busy with school and can’t give it the time it requires like you can. I just have a few concerns I believe you can clear up.

The first one is where are we getting the money to not only buy the needed materials to get the print shop going but to pay everyone. I don't want anyone to put in time and we don't have the money to pay them or we give them paychecks and they just bounce.”

“Remember that you and Matt have forty-nine percent of the business. The other fifty-one percent is owned by Jacob. He and I have spoken and he is fronting all the money to get this company going. Once it's on its feet, and we start getting paid. He is going to pull out his funding and we have to make it on what we are getting.”

“Okay I understand that. I know that Jacob made a very big investment and he wants it to succeed. Once we are on our feet, are we going to be able to afford everything without the financial subsidy from Jacob? He is a great guy, but I would like him to start receiving money and not spending it.”

“I agree with you on that Alex and I believe within ninety days we will be independent of Jacob for operating capital. Once the word got around what we are charging, we have more customers than we can handle. That is why you're going to have a day and evening crew in order to keep up with all the orders we are getting.”

Ron pulled out contracts that have been signed by every school in the school in El Paso, Ysleta, Socorro and Fabens school districts. He also has contracts from the ROTC programs, car companies, local restaurants and other local companies. Alex couldn't help but smile at the amount of work that they already have.

“So as you can see, there is nothing to worry about. As long as we keep these customers happy, there will be a lot more to come. That is where I come in at, and I promise you, these customers will be so happy. They aren’t going to go anywhere else,” Ron said with a wry smile.

All the other questions that Alex had were answered! Everything came down to a customer base. As long as they have a customer base their business will succeed.

“I have a weird question for you, but I have to ask. What do you want Matt and me to do to earn our pay? As you said earlier, we are young. There are certain things that we can’t do because our government says we can't do it.”

“You guys are the owners and owners just show up. Come in and learn the company from the ground up. That way when you do come of age, you will know every bit of this company. I don't see this company going anywhere in my lifespan or yours. If you have kids, you will be able to pass this company to them. And so on and so on.”

Alex, Matt and Ron walked out of the office so Ron can start showing them every machine in the print shop. He repeated the same thing he told them earlier not to worry about learning each machine right now. In time, they will learn everything they need to know all about running this business.

By eight, everyone started to clock out. Ron has them scheduled from four to eight every evening and ten hours on Saturday and ten hours on Sunday. That gives them their complete forty hours a week and still enough time to get home, do their homework and get ready for their next day of school.

Before leaving, Al stopped Alex and Matt and got them on the phone with the security company. They selected their codes before the security company walked them through setting the alarm and turning the alarm off. The last thing, the security company explained to them is that their codes only give them access to the lobby and the basement. After the main alarm is set, they can’t go up past the first floor or the alarm will go off.

Alex got off the phone and walked over to Al. “Thank you Sir for trusting us. I promise that we won’t compromise your trust in us. We have been given an opportunity here that no one in our shoes would ever get.”

“Alex, you guys have shown me that I can trust you. Just like I learned from my grandson, you guys will also learn. When he says that you can trust someone he is always right. Make your company succeed and you guys will never have to worry about anything. If you run into a problem, please don't hesitate to ask me or Jacob for help. You guys are now part of our extended family.”

Instead of shaking Al’s hand, Alex hugged him instead. This is the kind of grandfather that he wishes he could have. He can’t remember his grandparents on his mother's side, but he can on his father's. They were even worse than what his father was and that's being generous to them.

Al set the alarm and locked up the building. Alex and the others headed to Tom’s car more excited than they were when they arrived. They can’t wait until tomorrow to go to work again. They really liked what they were doing and can’t wait to actually do what they are going to do every day when they go to work.

They got home in fifteen minutes with the scarce traffic on the roads. The minute they walked into the door, Franseca called them over to the kitchen to eat. She explained to Alex and the others that everyone one had already eaten except them and Jacob’s grandfather.

After dinner, Alex and Matt went to their house to do their homework. As they finished their homework, Alex headed back over to Jacob’s to spend time with Lorenzo and Ismail. He knows his little brothers are waiting for him to play video games.

Somehow they went from playing video games to wrestling with each other. Of course Alex let his little brothers win every time. After they won, they ran around the game room yelling that they can’t be beaten. Alex just laid there on the ground letting his little brothers enjoy themselves.

He finally left his little brothers close to ten. Alex showered, laid out his clothes for the next day before getting into bed. He looked at the clock on the nightstand to make sure the alarm clock is on and when he saw the time. He couldn’t believe that it is already eleven fifteen.

He flipped over to look at Matt as he sleeps. He just laid there in the bed looking at his boyfriend. Alex moved the few hair strands that had fallen into Matt’s face. He leaned and kissed Matt on the lips before he fell to sleep.

At one thirty in the morning, Alex jolted awake from a bad dream. He pulled himself up and leaned his back against the wall in a cold sweat. As he sat there trying to calm down, he realized that he didn’t need to set the alarm for the morning. It is Saturday and they don’t need to get up so early in the morning.

Alex turned off the alarm before he crawled under the covers. As he pulled the covers over him, Matt reached out and wrapped his arms around him. Alex moved as close as he could to Matt. He grabbed a hold of Matt’s hand and held it tight. It didn’t take long before Alex fell back to sleep again.

He didn’t wake again until he felt Matt kissing him. Alex opened his eyes and looked up to see Matt smiling down at him. He reached out and pulled Matt down to him where he could return the kiss that Matt had woken him up with.

Alex reached between Matt's legs and placed his hand on his thigh. Slowly he moved his hand up Matt’s thigh until felt Matt’s balls. Alex squeezed Matt’s balls gently a couple of times before he moved towards Matt’s dick. Matt knows what Alex is doing so he stepped back from the bed, breaking the kiss.

“Oh no you don’t, you gangster of mine! You know if we get started we won’t be able to stop. We need to get up, get ready for work and go over for breakfast. When we get home tonight, I want your gangster muscular body all over me!”

Matt kissed Alex on the lips before he pulled Alex out of the bed. Alex didn’t know that Matt was going to pull him out of bed. He landed up ended up falling to the floor, smashing his hard dick between him and the floor. He looked up to see Matt laughing as Matt walked to the closet.

Alex got up and pulled down his underwear. His hard dick sprung straight out. Matt walked out of the closet to find his boyfriend standing in the middle of their room flexing at him with his underwear at his ankles.

“You know that you want this body all over you right now.” Alex stopped flexing and grabbed a hold of his hard dick. “He wants your warm mouth all over him. He and I have been missing your warm mouth all week.”

Matt stood their looking at Alex as he talked about his dick in a second person. He thought that was hot. It took every ounce of will power for Matt to not drop the clothes in his hand and run over to Alex, fall to his knees and grab Alex’s dick. Matt walked over and kissed Alex on the lips, tugged on Alex’s dick a couple as he whispered into Alex’s ear.

“You and him….” Matt tugged once more on Alex’s dick. “…are going to have to wait until tonight to get my sweet, warm lips around him! You or him won’t regret it if you wait until tonight. Damn the big bed! We are going to have sex no matter if we have the bigger bed or not!”

Matt let go of Alex’s dick and walked out of the room leaving the door open. Alex quickly pulled up his underwear before anyone could see him standing there naked. Alex ran over to the chair where he laid his clothes, he got dressed and headed out.

Just like last night, Alex and the guys hitched a ride with Tom and David. Jacob and Dewayne are staying at the house for the delivery of the new bedroom set. Alex tried to stay in order to help Jacob moved out his old bedroom set into his room. But Jacob refused to let Alex stay. Jacob promised that he and Dewayne will move the furniture around. By the time they get home this afternoon, both rooms will be set up.

With hesitation Alex agreed and headed out. They got to work to find the building locked still. Alex is surprised to find the building that still locked up. He suspected to run into either Ron or Al as they got to work.

Alex reached down his pockets and realized that he didn’t bring his keys to the building. Matt pulled out his keys and unlocked the building. Before heading down to the print shop, Alex turned off the alarm system. Once they got downstairs and unlocked the print shop neither Alex nor Matt knew what to do from there.

Tom, David and Chase went to clock in before doing anything else. As they clocked in, Alex and Matt turned on the lights to the main floor. They walked over to their offices and found that Ron or somebody had moved in furniture. The other three guys joined Alex and Matt in Alex's office.

“So dude, what are we going to do today to earn our paycheck?” Tom asked as he walked into the office and leaned against the wall.

“Right now all we can do is wait for Ron to show up. He knows what machines need to be turned on and what we need to be running right now. So just relax and enjoy this time, because we will be working very soon.”

Everyone found a spot in the office and sat down. Not even ten minutes passed when Ron, Carlos and a couple other guys walked in. Before Ron did anything he went over to the break area and put on a pot of coffee. Once he got his coffee made and drank a couple slurps of it, he is ready to go and called the guys out to the floor.

“Today we are going to run only four machines. I want to try to get two print jobs done before the day is over. Follow me over to the machines we are going to run. I will show you what each of you will be doing today.”

After Ron started up the machines he showed each person what they are going to do for the day. At first he had no plans on putting the Alex or Matt on a machine. But they asked to work like the others in order to learn. Ron agreed and put Alex and Matt together on one of the machines.

Each group tried to talk to each other, but none of them could hear the other over the machines. They finally gave up and just paid attention to their tasks at hand. Before they knew it, Ron walked out and called lunch.

Since none of them brought lunch, they decided to go down the street to the McDonald's. Alex stopped at Ron's office and asked him to join them, but Ron declined. Alex didn't try to talk him into going with them. He just left and joined the other guys at the elevator.

As soon as they returned back from lunch, Ron had the machines ready to go. Alex and Matt walked over to the machine that they were working on before lunch, but it was still turned off. Just as they turned to see what's going on, they found Ron standing behind them waiting for them. They walked over to the office in order to hear each other.

“I love it that you guys want to get your hands dirty, but you need to learn other parts of the company such as a management area. You will be running this company very soon by yourselves. I don't plan to go anywhere, but this part you need to learn as well.”

“Okay, we agree with you on that we need to learn all parts of the company. Why don't Matt and I spend half the day on the machines Saturday and Sunday in the other half with you learning the management part? We then split the week evenly between working on the machines and working by your side for you to teach us.”

“That I can live with, and you can learn every part of the business. What I need to show you today is what printing jobs were going to do for the day. Just in case you get here again and I'm not here. You can come to the office and know what machines to turn on. I will never have my office locked.”

The rest the afternoon, Alex and Matt sat with Ron and learned how to read the schedule of printing jobs. Once they got a hang of doing that, Ron took them out to the floor. Using the other machines that aren’t on he showed Alex and Matt how to turn them on.

“Now, you guys can turn on the machines, but you can’t run them. That is why I have these other guys here. They will be running the machines and you, Matt and the other boys will be doing everything else.”

Alex and Matt nodded their heads in agreement to what Ron is saying. Ron let Alex and Matt practice on turning on and off the machines before heading back to the office. They rested may be fifteen minutes before Ron got up and called it a day.

Ron, Alex and Matt walked around and turned off the machines. As Ron took a look out the printing they did during the day. Carlos pulled Alex to the side. They walked over to Alex’s office and closed the door.

“I am very grateful that Mr. Baird gave me a job. Last night when I got home my grandmother reminded me about my community service hours. With me working here every evening and Saturday and Sunday, I don't have any time to do my community service hours. You know I have an ass for a probation officer. He wants to find a reason to revoke me and send me back. I don't want to give them any reason to do so.”

“I can cut you hours back, but that means you won’t be making your forty hours a week. You can only have one or the other Carlos. You won’t lose your job if you need fewer hours, just tell me what you want to do and we would do it.”

Carlos moved around in his seat. “I need my hours here in order to not only pay for my fees but to help out at the house. My grandparents can’t make it on the money that they are getting on their Social Security checks. I'm what you call stuck between a rock and a hard place. I'm damned if I do and I am damned if I don't!”

“Let me see if we can double dip in your hours. I know when we originally set this company up it was for people to complete their community service hours. Let me speak with Jacob and find out if we are still registered for people to do their community service hours. If we are, we will find a way to get you your forty hours and your community service hours.” Alex got up and walked over to Carlos.

Carlos got up and walked out of the office with Alex. Carlos clocked out as he walked to the elevator. Ron locked the print shop and joined the boys at the elevator. Everyone walked out of the building as Ron tried to set the alarm. He couldn’t set it because it kept giving him several errors.

Alex walked in to read the panel and didn’t understand what it meant. He walked over and called Jacob’s house to speak with Al. Al explained that there are several doors in the building that aren’t closed right. Alex, Matt and Ron checked every door on the first floor and basement. They found two doors on the first floor cracked open.

After they made sure that all the doors are closed and secured. They walked back to the front of the building. This time when Ron set the alarm, it activated. Everyone said their good byes and headed home.

On the way home Alex can’t stop thinking why those doors on the first floor were cracked open. Once everyone that was scheduled to work showed up, they didn’t go up to the lobby. They used the door in the basement that lead to street.

Matt noticed once again Alex in deep thought. He debated with himself on whether or not to ask Alex what he is thinking about. He finally gave in and decided to ask. He leaned over to Alex and whispered in his ear.

“You seem to be in deep thought a lot lately. When we were in the center and you were likes this it was something to do with the gang. Now we are out of the center and you are still keeping things from me. What is on your mind?”

“Matt please forgive me! I don’t mean to shut you out. Yesterday is was what our teacher did with our grades. Ever since I found that I really liked school, I aimed to get the highest marks on all of my assignments. He goes and gives me a failing grade because I didn’t want to get up and speak in front of the class.”

“You can’t let things like that bother you Alex. If you do that, you will fold under the pressure. I know it is easier said than done, but just let yesterday go. You will bring that grade up. Don’t tell me that is all that is bothering you right now.”

“No, that isn’t what is bothering me right now. The thing that is bothering me today is the open doors on the first floor. Those doors should not have been opened. Al and Jacob are trusting us with a lot. Now look on our first day being without them, this happens.”

“This I see where you are coming from. There is an easy fix to this problem as well. Now on during the weekend or in the evenings after Al and his staff goes home, we have our staff use the exit to the street from the basement. The only ones allowed in lobby will be you, me and Ron.”

Alex looked over to Matt and smiled. “That is a good idea. Also we lock down the elevator and stairs so that anyone that doesn’t have the keys can’t use them either. They can only be in the area where they should be. Very good idea Matt!”

Matt didn’t say anything else. He leaned in and kissed Alex instead. He loves it when he sees Alex not worried about anything. Matt knows there is going to be times that Alex is going to worry, but he needs Alex to start talking with him. Matt decided to shelve that discussion for another day. Alex is back in a good mood again.

Alex and Matt walked into Jacob’s house and said hello and good bye to everyone they ran into as they made their way to their house. As they walked into their room, they fell right into their new bed. They forgot that Jacob and Dewayne moved their new bedroom set into their room while they were out.

Both of them looked at each other and started to laugh. Matt pushed Alex back on the bed on his back and got on top of Alex. Matt started to kiss Alex, not giving Alex a chance to even get comfortable.

When Matt broke the kiss it was for him to pull off his shirt. He pulled Alex up from the bed and pulled off his shirt as well. Pushing Alex back onto his back, Alex started to kiss down Alex’s neck, to his chest and back to his neck.

“I want to make love with my gangster boyfriend. I want your gun in my mouth so bad, I can’t wait another minute!” Matt whispered in Alex’s ear.

He crawled between Alex’s legs. Unbuttoning Alex’s pants, pulling down the zipper, Matt separated the flaps of Alex’s jeans to get to what he wants. As Matt put his hand into Alex’s boxers, he immediately found Alex’s hard dick leaking pre-cum.

Matt struggled trying to get Alex’s dick out. Alex is so hard; Matt can’t get it out of the fly of Alex’s boxers. Matt gave up and got up from the bed. He pulled off Alex’s shoes and socks and then pulled off Alex’s jeans with his underwear at the same time. He lay back down between Alex’s legs and grabbed Alex’s dick.

All at once, Matt put Alex’s dick into his mouth. Alex started to moan as Matt sucked his dick. With his eyes squeezed shut, Alex reached out and wrapped his hands around the back of Matt’s head. He didn’t do it to control the speed Matt is going. It was just reflex for Alex to do that.

As Alex felt the urge to cum, he pulled Matt off of his dick. He rolled Matt onto his back as Alex got up from the bed. After he pulled off Matt’s shoes, he unbuttoned Matt’s jeans and pulled them off along with Matt’s underwear.

Just like Matt, Alex crawled between Matt’s legs. He put Matt’s dick into his mouth and quickly deep throated it. As he sucked Matt’s dick, Alex played with Matt’s balls one at a time. That threw Matt into another gear that he never knew that he had. Between moans, he half whispered and yelled to Alex. He didn’t even know that he started to yell.

“Please, I want my gangster to fuck me! Bury your cock in my ass and make love to me! I need to feel you meat in my ass now!”

Alex let Matt’s dick slip out of his mouth as he looked up to Matt. “I want to make sweet love to you. I don’t want to rush one second of us being together. I want to be inside you and I want you inside me as well.”

Matt couldn’t speak, he just shook his head. Alex helped Matt move all the way to the head of the bed. Once Matt got settled, Alex lifted Matt’s legs. He threw them over his shoulders. Alex wanted this love making to be long and meaningful. Pre cum wasn’t going to be enough lubrication to make it just right. Reaching over to the nightstand, Alex got the KY and generously lubed Matt’s hole, working the lube into the opening. He then lubed his cock. Gently Alex pushed his cock against Matt’s hole and didn’t stop until his dick broke through. Once Alex’s dick penetrated, he slowly sank it in completely. With the KY, it went easily and smoothly for both of the lovers.

As Alex started to get into his rhythm, Matt kept grabbing at Alex’s arms and chest. Not scratching at them, just cresting any part of Alex’s body that Matt could touch. Matt rested his hands on Alex’s nipples. Matt squeezed Alex’s hardened nipples as Alex fucked him.

Alex stopped himself before he exploded. He pulled his dick out and lay on his back. Matt put Alex’s legs over his shoulder just like Alex did to him. Matt loved the sensations that lube provided, so he grabbed the KY and lubed Alex’s love chute the same way Alex had done for him. He also generously lubed the full length of his cock ensuring that he would give Alex the same awesome experience Alex had given him. Matt slowly pushed his dick into Alex until his entire dick was buried to his pubes.

It didn’t take long for Matt to reach climax. “Man you are so tight Alex and I am about to cum! Do you want me to cum in your ass or in your face? Please, I am about to cum in your very tight ass, tell me what you want.”

“No, pull out and cum on me Matt! Don’t cum in my ass, cum on me!” Alex looked into Matt’s face with a pleading look.

Matt pulled out his dick and quickly moved up to Alex’s face. Alex opened his mouth as Matt knelt above him stroking his still well lubed cock. As Matt was stroking, Alex slipped his middle finger into Matt’s hole and found that sweet spot and massaged it to heighten Matt’s passions. Within seconds, Matt started to shoot. Almost every shot of cum landed in Alex’s mouth. The ones that didn’t either landed on Alex’s forehead or cheek. One shot actually landed on Alex’s shoulder.

Matt didn’t rest after shooting his last shot of cum. He fell to the bed and started to jerk Alex off. Alex already got close to exploding twice today, so it didn’t take long for him to shoot. When Alex started to shooting, Matt leaned over until his mouth got directly above Alex’s dick. Every shot of cum Alex shot landed in Matt’s mouth.

While Matt ate down below, Alex scooped up the cum on his forehead, cheek and even the one that landed on his shoulder and ate it. Once they both felt they got all the cum the other shot, they fell side by side onto the mattress.

Covered in sweat and still breathing hard, they just lay there on the bed slowly coming down from their highs. Not needing to say a word, Alex and Matt knew what the other is feeling. Matt crawled up to Alex and lay by his side. They kissed each other for a long time before falling asleep at each other side.

Alex woke up first, but didn’t get up. He moved to his side and just lay there looking at Matt sleep. He looked Matt up and down his naked body. He can’t believe how happy that Matt makes him feel. Alex kept thinking to himself that he is in a dream that he hasn’t woken up from. When he does wake up, he will be in jail still and not have ever met Matt at all; the love of his life is nothing but his mind playing tricks on him. He lay back down at Matt’s side wrapping his arms around Matt. Alex thought as he dozed off to sleep that, if this is a dream, he doesn’t want to wake up. He wants to live the rest of his life in this happy dream with his boyfriend at his side.

TO BE CONTINUED…………….

WRITER’S CORNER:

{I like to welcome you back readers to another chapter of “Beneath the Mask”. This story is starting to roll along at a good pace. The time line is not going so fast anymore nor has it slowed down to the point I think you guys will get bored.

This is the first time that I left a chapter barely ending a sex scene. Many times I find myself in a position that I can’t find a breaking point. Some of the chapters all of a sudden end when I bring a plot to a conclusion faster than I would like from simply needing to find a breaking point to move onto the other chapters! Can you imagine had I left you guys in a cliff hanger in the middle of a sex scene? Aren’t you glad there are no more cliff hangers?

Alex and Matt I keep saying are getting closer and closer. You can see it in their love making and in the way they are with each other. I wish they could just drop the act and hold each other’s hand at school. If they want to kiss each other, they should. But keep in mind this story is back in 1992. Things like that were not seen in public.

In this chapter we see two different probation officers. One that is a really big prick and the other is okay. I used to work at a job that we use to hire from halfway houses. I used to talk with some them during lunch and they told me stories. That is where I get the probation and halfway house plots from. So if there are any readers out there that have been in these places and feel I have miss-stated or didn’t do justice to these plots, remember it is just fiction. Please let me know what you have gone through in places like this or on probation. I might write it into my stories.

As you see in this chapter I didn’t write that much about Jacob. He appeared here and there, but I didn’t write a huge amount involving him. Now that Alex and Mat are away from the center and on their own, I feel they have a set of good plots of their own. Jacob will appear and at times and I will open plots in this story and finish them off in Jacob’s or the other way around.

Also I am using characters from Jacob story such as Chase, Tom and David. They aren’t getting a lot of playing time in Jacob’s story and I want to get them back involved in the stories. But they will remain main characters in Jacob and appear quite a bit in this story as well. Keep an eye on their plots as well.

The print shop is up and running. Mr. Baird is running the everyday stuff, but wants Alex and Matt to learn every aspect of the business. I agree with Mr. Baird and Alex and Matt should. They need to get their hands dirty with manual work, but they also need to learn the everyday management of the business. They can’t depend on Mr. Baird forever for that.

Alex has a problem speaking in front of his classmates! I think the main issue there is that he doesn’t want to be up front in every student’s eye. He wants to keep a low profile and just get through high school. Remember there is the lingering fact that his former gang is looking for him. If he starts to get into the spot light, that makes it even easier for his former gang to find him.

Carlos I think is going to come around and be a good person. He wants to work and get money to help his grandparents out. He also has to worry about his probation officer. I really do hope that he can keep his forty hours and get community service hours done at the same time. He doesn’t need to give his probation officer any reason to revoke him.

What is up with Steve do you think? I really hope he doesn’t cause Alex and Matt trouble. He was cool in the center, but upset about finding out that Alex and Matt have a different time to be in their house than he does. Let’s just hope he lets it fall to the side and leaves it alone.

The one I think that will be able to settle him down on that is Robert. We haven’t heard much about Steve and Robert since they got out of the center. We will in the next few chapters. How are they handling being out of the center with each other? Are they still together? Is their relationship getting stronger? You know love making is a lot better when you don’t have to rush it like they had to do in the center.

Since this story received a makeover in the last four or so chapters, it is going to be very exciting in the chapters to come, trust me on that. Right now, so many of the old plots in this story I keep bringing in, probably has you wondering on what is going on. As the chapters finish, you can’t wait for the next posting of the new chapter. I really thank you guys for coming back week after week, and reading my postings. I hope I will never let you guys down as far as the drama in the storylines is concerned.

I don’t want to say too much more and spoil the future chapters to come, so I won’t. I warn you though! Don’t skip a chapter, or you will be lost. There is a so much to answer in the chapters to come. Keep reading the future chapters, and enjoy! Please email me and let me know how I am doing at jacobmillertex@aol.com, Thanks!}

EDITOR’S CORNER:

Jacob, GREAT love scene with Alex and Matt! Their lovemaking is maturing and becoming more emotionally driven making the physical more passionate. I like it that both Alex and Matt focus on giving their counterpart pleasure. Sex coupled with deep love is the glue that will hold any good relationship together.

The print shop is taking off at Warp Speed. With the team of Jacob and Mr. Baird and Al in the background, coupled with the dedication of the friends being employed in the business, I expect that the business will thrive, grow and will be profitable.

I agree with Alex that the teacher that rated him at 50% for his assignment was outside his agreement with the students in doing so. Any aspect of grading a student’s performance must be contained within the syllabus for the class. The syllabus is a form of contract outlining the expectations and policies for a class. It should be adhered to and if there are any changes, such changes must be outlined before being implemented. I am a teacher in an adult education environment and that is the bar to which both my students and I are held accountable. I hope that Alex will find a way to appeal the grade to preserve his grade average. It would be a great life lesson for Alex if he can find a way to appeal the grade relying on new ways to resolve a conflict rather than the ways he used in the past.

I hope that Steve has enough maturity to work though his feeling of unfairness regarding his curfew time. I hope that his P.O. will gain trust in him and that the curfew will be extended with evidence that Steve is going to be reliable and trustworthy.

I suspect, like Jacob said, that Carlos has turned his life around and is taking the right path along with Alex and Matt. I worry that the gang will find him and threaten him into revealing where Alex is and how to get to him.
What is the deal with those doors in the office building on the first floor being unsecured? Was someone lurking in the building? Just how did those doors get opened? If I were Alex and Matt, I would report that to Jacob and Al to cover their butts!

I hope you all enjoying the story as much as I am. Jacob weaves a tale that I find addictive. I can’t get enough of his work. I so admire someone that has the ability to weave tales of this caliber.
Until next time,

“Daddy” Rick