Last Chance High - 14. Chapter 14

Marc had been wrong about things quieting down, for the rest of the day he could feel eyes and whispers following him. No one said anything directly to him, but the hushed conversations and sly looks were just as bad. Part of him wished he knew what they were saying; part of him prayed he never had to find out. The worst was gym class. He stuck close to Marcin the change room and kept his eyes glued to the floor. He couldn’t help but remember the confrontations he had in the past. None of his classmates seemed to have a problem with him, they didn’t try to move away or hide from him, but he couldn’t help feeling sick. The lack of negative confrontation was almost worse because he felt like he was waiting for it all day.

Marc tried to be supportive, sticking close to Toni as much as he could. He knew the younger boy was still scared about being out and Marc had to force himself to keep the distance they had before. The hardest thing he ever had to do was keep himself from pulling Toni close and wrapping his arms around the boy in attempt to fight the fear. By the end of the day when they climbed into Marc’s car Toni was pale and shaking. While he allowed Marc to take his hand he was quiet the whole drive home.

“Who don’t you come over for a while? I’ll drive you home after dinner.” Marc asked gently. Toni nodded without looking away from the window.

X+X

Marc flopped onto his bed and flicked his TV on glancing over to Toni who stood awkwardly at the door staring at his feet.

“Tonio?” Toni looked up like he had forgotten Marc was there. “You going to come sit down?”

“Sorry, Marc.” He mumbled and sat gently down on the edge of the bed.

Marc sighed and crawled onto his knees next to the Italian. Usually his shyness was endearing but right now it was actually hurting Marc to see him look so scared. “What’s wrong Tonio? You going back to being afraid of me?”

Toni shook his head but didn’t move. Gently Toni pulled the smaller boy onto the bed to sit against the headboard. He allowed himself to be guided but still sat stiffly. Marc settled in next to him and flicked through the channels. He wanted so bad to help Toni relax but had no idea how to do it. He settled on their new favorite show The Deadliest Warrior and tossed the remote to the end of the bed.

“Come here, Baby.” He reached over and pulled Toni close.

“Baby? Really? What am I a girl?” Toni scowled but let Marc pull him against his side.

“Hey now, that’s sexist. Boys can be babies too.” Marc replied with a frown.

Toni elbowed Marcin the ribs receiving a groan. “So now you are calling me a baby!”

Marc smirked wickedly and turned to face Toni. “I mean you’re precious and adorable, like a baby.”

Toni just rolled his eyes. Without warning Marc put his fingers on Toni’s sides and attacked. Toni let out a high pitched squeal and laughed as he tried to fight off the bigger boy’s tickle attack.

“Oh, my dear Toni, are you ticklish?” Marclaughed.

“Stop! Marc!” Toni managed to sputter between laughs, but Marc was relentless. Swinging his leg over Toni’s hips he held the smaller boy in place as he straddled him. Toni bucked his hips and tried to swat the hands away but Marc was stronger than him. Soon the two boys were breathing hard and laughing. Toni tried to grab Marc’s wrists but the older boy was faster and took hold of Toni’s hands and pinned them above his head. The two boys stared at each other, chests heaving. Toni tried to ignore Marc’s rapidly growing erection.

“What are you going to do now?” The younger boy said breathlessly. Marc smirked back without replying.

Slowly he leaned down and gently placed his lips against Toni’s, kissing him gently. Toni couldn’t help the small moan that escaped his mouth. Marc smirked against Toni’s lips as he released the younger boy’s wrists. He slowly slid his hands along the smooth pale skin on his arms and down his sides causing the younger boy to shiver. Gripping his hips he brushed his thumbs along the patch of skin between his shirt and the waist of his jeans. Tilting his head Marc deepened the kiss and was glad when Toni lowered his arms and wrapped them around Marc’s neck, holding the older boy close. Marcsnaked his tongue out and licked the younger boy’s lips demanding entrance. When Toni opened his mouth with a small gasp Marc couldn’t help but gently grind his hips against the boy beneath him. The moan he received along with the hardness he felt pressing into him edged the older boy on. While his tongue explored his boyfriend’s month his hands slowly ran up his sides under his shirt. The feel off the warm soft skin under his hands made Marcmoan. Toni entangled his fingers in the soft black hair and pulled the older boy closer. Marc rolled his hips, pressing himself against Toni. Nipping at his boyfriend’s lip and moving to place kisses along his jaw Marc slowly pushed Toni’s shirt up exposing the pale olive skin beneath. When Marc pulled back slightly to pull Toni’s shirt off the younger boy stiffened and grabbed hold of his wrists.

“Wait.”

“Come on, it’s not like I haven’t seen you topless before.” He older boy mumbled into Toni’s neck.

“Just, stop, wait.”

Marc pulled back and sat up. “What’s wrong?”

Toni pulled his shirt down and pulled himself from under the older boy. Without resistance Marclet his boyfriend out from underneath him and sat back. Toni blushed and looked down, pulling his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. Marc watched Toni for a moment in silence; part of him feeling guilty for getting carried away but part of him frustrated by confusion. It’s not like he had been reaching for his belt.

“I’m sorry.” The younger boy mumbled without looking up.

Suddenly the green eyed boy felt only guilt; Toni obviously wasn’t ready for this. Marc reached out and tilted his face to meet his eyes, “Hey now, Tonio, don’t you dare apologize. There’s nothing to be sorry about.” He spoke softly with what he hoped was a gently encouraging smile.

Toni nodded but didn’t move. Marc crawled up to sit beside his boyfriend. “Come on, let’s just watch our show.” Toni allowed himself to be pulled against his boyfriend’s side. Toni didn’t know why he had stopped him, he was right when he pointed out they had seen each other topless before. Toni couldn’t pay attention to the TV, he could feel the tension in Marc even though the older boy tried to hide it. He knew his boyfriend had been with others before him, but it was new territory for the younger boy. It was only last week Marchad given Toni his first real kiss.

“Marc?”

“Yea Tonio?”

“It’s just... last week, when you kissed me?”

“What about it?” Marc said, peering down at the younger boy who refused to meet his gaze.

“That was kind of... my first real kiss. I mean, I’ve been kissed before, but just like a little peck. Nothing like that. You know?”

Marc stiffened and he felt his eyes go wide. He knew Toni wasn’t very experienced, but he hadn’t realized just how inexperienced. He turned towards his boyfriend and gently turned his shoulders to face him.

“Oh God, Toni, and here I am pawing all over you. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Toni mumbled, still refusing to meet the other boy’s eyes.

“No, it’s not. Hey, look at me Tonio.” Toni slowly looked up into the blue eyes of his boyfriend “I’ll try to restrain myself. We’ll go slowly I promise.” Toni nodded as Marc gently brushed his lips across his forehead.

X+X

Toni was very disappointed when history ended and Marc wasn’t waiting for him outside the classroom. So with only Warren by his side, chattering on about some sports team or another, Toni made his way to his locker. He was emptying his bag when he saw someone stop next to him; two worn tennis shoes came into his view. Toni looked up and saw a blond boy with pale blue eyes staring down at him with a wide grin.

“Hi.” Toni greets as he stands up, unsure who this boy was or why he was standing there.

“Hello, Toni.” The stranger said in a sultry voice.

Confused, Toni slants a glance at Warren who just shrugs but stands up straighter with his arms crossed over his chest. Warren kept his eyes glued to the newcomer with suspicion in his eyes.

“Do I know you?” Toni asked timidly.

“Not yet, but I hope you will soon.” The new blond says with a wink.

Warren’s eyes narrowed, “What do you want, Erik?”

“I’m not here to talk to you Warren. I’m talking too little Toni here. How about you and I go get some coffee off campus and have a nice little chat, hmm?” Erik says, brushing his knuckles along Toni’s cheek. Toni pulled back quickly bumping into a hard chest. The boy behind him wrapped an arm protectively around his waist, holding the smaller boy tightly against his chest.

“Hands off, Erik.” Marc’s voice snapped out from behind. Toni relaxed into his boyfriend’s arms.

“My, my, a little possessive aren’t we, Marc?” Erik said with a smirk, crossing his own arms over his chest. “You better watch out, little Toni, guys like that can be dangerous.” Erik stared at Toni like a lion staring at an antelope. Toni shrunk back into Marc, who brought his other arm around so Toni was surrounded by him. Erik’s tongue darted out to lick his thin lips before lightly biting his bottom lip. Toni felt Marc stiffen and tighten his hold on Toni. With a laugh Erik pushed off from the lockers and walked away. Toni shivered and turned towards his boyfriend, burying his face in Marc’s chest.

“You okay?” Marc asked, rubbing the smaller boys back.

Toni nodded and pulled away slightly so he could look up at the green eyed boy, “He’s creepy. And he reminds me of Kronos.”

Marc nodded, “Yea, he’s creepy. He’s not the physical type thou. He’s more likely to fuck with your head.” Marc brushed his lips gently across Toni’s forehead. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be possessive.”

Toni smiled softly and stretched up to brush his lips against Marc’s cheek, “You were being protective, not possessive.” Marc smiled down at the smaller boy in his arms.

“Come on Tonio, let’s go get some lunch.” Toni nodded and let Marc take his bag from him in a way that had become their regular.

Marc and Toni made their way to the table in the back where Warren’s crowd sat. The friends made space for the two boys. Marc slid one leg over the bench sitting sideways and Toni sat down between his legs. The older boy gently rubbing his back as if he didn’t even realize he was doing it. A few minutes later Alex and Jack come over and sat down with their lunches and joined the conversation. Confused, Toni glanced around and was surprised to see no one seemed to think it weird. Marc laughed at something someone said, catching Toni’s attention; he turned to look at his boyfriend who smiled down at him before brushing his lips across his forehead in the gentle way Toni loved, before returning to the conversation. Toni smiled to himself as he leaned against Marc who wrapped his arms around his waist without missing a beat, as if it was a natural and common thing to do. Closing his eyes Toni relaxed against his boyfriend and listened to the chatter around him. He couldn’t think of a more perfect moment.

X+X

Later that day Toni sat in computer science staring at the projector where the teacher was explaining binary code. His mind was foggy after that nap at lunch, which he had continued in gym class where he slept through a movie about first aid with his head on Marc’s desk as the older boy ran his fingers through Toni’s hair.

“Toni, wake up!” Jack giggled, poking the dark haired boy with his pencil.

“I am awake.” Toni whispered back, but he could feel his eyes drooping. At some point the teacher had turned off the projector and sat back down at his computer leaving the students to complete their assignment.

Jack giggled again as the Twins rolled their chairs over,

“Marc keep you up late last night, eh Romeo?” Chris said with a wink.

“Or would you be Juliet?” Steven said. Toni shot him a look, and was surprised to see he was thinking seriously about it. Toni punched him in the leg.

“Hey!” Steven shouted. Chris and Jack laughed louder.

“So it’s true.” The boys all turned to look at Katie, who had turned her chair to face the boys.

“What’s true?” Toni asked nervously.

“You and Marc. You’re together.”

Toni took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in his throat; everyone was looking at him expectantly. Toni nodded slowly, and noticed all three boys smiling proudly at him.

“Damn, Erik is going to be disappointed.”

“What’s it to him?” Jack asked harshly.

Katie shrugged. “He’s got a thing for the little guy.”

“He doesn’t even know me.” Toni said softly, this morning’s meeting with the blond in question suddenly making sense.

“Well, just be careful around him, alright? The guy is kind of creepy.” Katie remarked, turning back to her computer.

“I’ve noticed.” Toni mumbled.

The Twins patted him on the back before turning back to their own computers. Jack just sat there grinning at him.

“What are you smiling at?” Toni said, rolling his eyes.

“You and Marc.” He said with a smile, scrunching his shoulders and clasping his hands under his chin.

Toni scowled at the Latino and punched him in the shoulder. Laughing as Jack frowned and rubbed his arm.

“Ouch.” The Latino mumbled. “Definitely not Juliet.” Toni laughed and turned back to his computer.