Big Poppa

20.



Poppa was grinning broadly, when the three returned. Comfortably leaning on an arm, he beckoned Delwyn to join him, and pulled him close. “So now we’re all in the open, can we act normally again? You haven’t eaten yet, pretty. Have some.”



Obediently, Delwyn did what he was told. He needed quite a bit of coffee to wash it down his dry throat.



“Rrright…” Jean looked at his friends, slowly nodding. “So I’m gay, Delwyn is gay, and now Jo appears to have a secret crush on Barney. I don’t know about you, guys… but I’m quite amazed.”



“You’re amazed?” Barney stared at Jean. He’d been red in his face ever since he heard the confession on the pier. “I should be amazed! I’m not even into guys, and one is in love with me!”



“You’re not gay?” Beth cried out, throwing her hands to the sky. “Thank you!”



“Don’t you start on me now, Beth,” snapped Barney. “I’m not interested in you, and I don’t ever want to be. No offence, of course.”



Beth snorted. “As if I’d ever be interested in dating such a fat ass,” she said nastily. They always argued like that. “You’re nice as a friend, Bernard, but that’s about all I’ll ever feel for you.”



Before anyone could respond to the rudeness, Poppa sat up a bit. “Actually, girl, being big and strong is wonderful. You should try a fat guy once. You’ll never ride your teddy bear again.”



“Annnd stop there.” Jean cut the air with a flat hand. “That’s about enough. I so didn’t need that image in my mind, Poppa…” He shivered demonstratively. “Shall we be nice to each other again?”



Barney shrugged. “I’ve been called fat a lot of times,” he said, untouched. “I don’t care.”



“But it kept you single,” bitched Beth. “No one likes chubby guys.”



Four pair of eyes stared at her. “I do,” said Delwyn.



“Me too,” said Joseph quietly.



“But you’re no girls.” Beth grinned triumphantly. “You don’t count, for Barney. He’s straight. Aren’t you, Bernard?”



“Supposedly…” Barney shrugged. “Does that mean anything?”



“Don’t you look at Jo like that! I was in love with Delwyn, and he never complied because he’s gay! Don’t you go all curious all of a sudden, just because a guy has his eye on you!”



“Joseph is my best friend, Beth.” Barney looked at him again, and smiled softly. “We should at least talk about it…”



“Don’t you dare! I’m Del’s friend! He never got curious with me! It doesn’t work that way!” She punched the grass with a fist. “It’s not fair!”



“God… Do all of you have issues?” Poppa wasn’t amused anymore, and sat upright. “I wanted to have a nice weekend with my lover. Your unexpected visit wasn’t too bad, but now it’s getting annoying. Del was in the closet because something has happened to him in the past, Barney has been unaware of Jo’s feelings, but is suddenly curious, and Beth… You feel neglected. The only normal person here appears to be me. And Jean.”



Jean cleared his throat. “I’m not too normal, Poppa,” he said softly. “Actually, it’s my fault Del didn’t dare to come out. I thought he would get over it though. He’s young enough.”



“Great. Well, since we’re all opening up today, maybe you can tell me your secret too, so we can get on with our lives. Hm?”



“Delwyn has been afraid of violence,” said Jean after a moment of thought. “Of gay bashers. I know him since we were teenagers, and we wanted to come out together. But then… something happened.”



“You were in a coma,” mumbled Delwyn. “It wasn’t just something… You still have all those scars and you lost a finger. And ninety present of sight in one eye.”



“Ah…” Poppa could fill in all the blanks pretty easily. “You were knocked up. Were you there, pretty?”



“Yes… But I… I ran. I left my friend alone, coward as I was.”



“You were fifteen!” Jean rolled his eyes, and shook his head. “What did you know? You ran and got help! If you had tried to rescue me, I would be dead and you would be beaten up as well. You did the right thing. I survived. Get over it!”



“I thought you were in a car crash,” said Elizabeth, jaw dropped. “Don’t you guys tell me anything?”



Poppa ignored her. “Delwyn’s healing process has just begun,” he assured Jean. “He’s with a strong man now. You don’t have to be afraid, pretty…”



While Delwyn crept closer against Poppa to be comforted, Barney looked at Joseph. “I’m not as strong as Poppa,” he said with an apologetic smile. “If that’s what you’re looking for…”



“I’m not looking for anything.” Joseph blushed a bit, averting his eyes. “I fell in love with you because you’re so cuddly… and soft…”



Barney shifted a bit closer, so he could whisper without being overheard. “Did you have fantasies about us?” When Jo nodded, he leaned to the young man’s ear. “Tell me about them,” he whispered. “Every detail.”



“Let’s swim,” whispered Joseph back. His lips brushed Barney’s soft cheek as he looked at him. “And I will tell you everything.”



“I want to go home,” muttered Elizabeth. “I have no friends anymore. Dammit, I feel totally ignored here!”



“I can give you a ride.” Jean felt a bit left out too, but he didn’t mind as much. “I guess we should leave the tent here, though…”



“Were you planning to spend the night here?” Poppa looked up, still cuddling Delwyn. “Shouldn’t you have asked first?”



“Yeah… I guess we should. Well, we’re going home, but maybe you have it in your heart to give those two a bit of time together?”



Poppa looked at the whispering couple, and his face softened. “Aww… I believe they won’t disturb us. Seems to me they are in as much need of privacy as us. Fine, put that tent up somewhere at a distance. Need a hand?”



“Please.” Jean stood up, and walked to his friends. “You two! Help us.” He kicked Barney against his ankle. “Beth and I will go home. You can have the rest of the weekend here, as long as you keep away from Poppa and Del.”



“I have no intentions to disturb them,” smiled Barney. He got on his feet and helped his friend up. “Got other things on my mind. The lake is big enough for the four of us, right?”



“Jean, please hurry?” Beth really didn’t know where to look anymore. She’d rushed to the van and had already brought the tent out before Jean had even moved.



“Could be kinky,” whispered Poppa to Delwyn. “The four of us in that lake… I don’t mind a few spectators, do you?”



Blushing, with wide eyes, Delwyn refrained from any response. He wondered when he would wake up. Yesterday his life had seemed so easy… But since today, everything had changed. A swim could be good to clear his mind a bit. Even though it could become kinky…



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