New Kid

Gavin stared at the collection of fossils reverently as Adam’s dad explained each minute detail. He asked plenty of questions and even offered some of his own amateur insight, which Adam’s father always loved to hear. The man was tall, like his son, but leaner with less muscles. His thinning hair was turning gray at the temples, but he was still a handsome man. Or, distinguished, as Adam’s mom liked to say.

“That’s a nail from a velociraptor!” Gavin exclaimed as Dr. Fenson picked it up to hand to his son’s friend. He took the artifact carefully and traced its edges with his fingertip.

“That’s right!” the man nodded. “Let me guess. Big Jurassic Park fan.”

Gavin blushed.

“It’s okay,” the doctor laughed. “My son and I are, too.”

Gavin turned his silver gaze over to Adam who shrugged with a smile. “You expected us not to be?”

“I guess I did,” Gavin grinned and turned back to Adam’s dad. “How far off is the science of that movie?”

“We could talk about that all night,” Dr. Fenson laughed again. “But there are some very accurate facts in there as well. Sometimes the speed of science scares even me.”

“Hey, can we watch some of the footage from last year’s dig after dinner?” Adam asked. “I figure Gavin might like to see what you unearthed.”

“Yeah!” Gavin’s eyes were wide.

“Oh, you don’t have to bribe me, son,” Adam’s father replied. “But you might have to sweet-talk your mother if you want her to join us.”

“Well, of course we do!” Adam grinned. “How else can Gavin get the full Fenson narration without mom?”

The two shared a laugh while Gavin watched curiously.

“Why don’t you show Gavin your collection upstairs while I start the barbecue?” Dr. Fenson suggested as he stood to close the protective case where he stored the velociraptor nail.

“Follow me,” Adam said with a smirk.

Why oh why couldn’t he stop feeling giddy? A weird word, yes, but the only one he could think of that fit what he was feeling perfectly. Ever since that day in the library, when he and Gavin quite literally flirted, he couldn’t get his mind off of the black haired beauty following him upstairs right now. He led the way to his room with a mixture of anticipation and dread. What if he was reading Gavin wrong? What if the guy really only wanted someone to talk to? He opened the door and allowed Gavin to pass him then let it fall shut behind him, clicking the lock into place.

Gavin looked around the room with interest sparkling in his eyes. He seemed to take in all of the posters one by one, examining them as if looking for another clue to Adam’s psyche. He turned to the side and walked to the bookcase, leaning his head to read some of the titles. Adam had followed behind him and now stood only a hair’s breath away from him.

“Lots of wonderful titles,” Gavin whispered softly.

Adam couldn’t take it anymore. His obsession had only worsened since they’d started speaking and now the boy he dreamed about was in his room, next to his bed. It was too much. He leaned in next to Gavin’s ear and breathed softly, “You think so?”

Gavin stiffened before him and stood rigidly in place. Adam froze, too. Had he overstepped the boundaries so soon? Was Gavin going to run away? The tense silence was unbearable.

“Please don’t tease me, Adam.”

Gavin’s voice was raw and pained, and Adam winced at the sound. He knew that, for him, at least, there was no going back now, so until Gavin pushed him away, he had to go forward. He slowly raised his hands and let his fingertips ghost over Gavin’s arms bare from the short-sleeved tee he wore.

“What would you do if I said I wasn’t teasing?” he asked softly. “If I told you that I want to touch you?”

Gavin began to tremble but he still didn’t move away, which Adam chose to take as a good sign. He ran his hands down to Gavin’s waist and pulled him close to his chest, waiting for the smaller boy to respond.

“But, you’re not like me,” Gavin protested weakly, turning in Adam’s arms to face him. “You’re straight.”

“Guess again,” Adam smiled as he leaned in and dropped a few chaste kisses to the smaller boy’s lips.

Something inside of Adam snapped at that moment. Gavin tasted so sweet and warm, just like he’d dreamed. He sat on the bed and pulled the boy down into his lap, deepening the kisses.

“Please,” Gavin murmured against his lips. “Please.”

“Please what, Gav?”

“Please don’t be lying to me,” the small boy choked out and Adam felt the small tears run down Gavin’s cheek.

He reached up and brushed them away with the pads of his thumbs then kissed each cheek carefully. He pulled the boy down to lay beside him on the bed and stared into his troubled silver eyes.

“I’m not teasing,” he finally said. “I swear to you I’m not teasing you.”

Please don’t let this be another dream, Adam quietly prayed. Please let us really be lying here together. He was losing himself in those soulful eyes again and this time he knew there was a very real possibility that he wouldn’t be found again. And that suited him just fine.

Gavin watched him carefully, too, and Adam knew the boy was searching for any sign of impending betrayal. He knew Gavin had every reason to believe there would be. But there wouldn’t. He had known the first day they’d started speaking that it would change his life, and he decided he was ready for the change.

They didn’t need to tell anyone they were seeing each other, but Adam couldn’t stand by and let his friends abuse the boy anymore. Ted and Dave would be difficult, but he would have to make them understand that they couldn’t pick on Gavin. They might even decide not to hang with him anymore. It was a risk he was willing to take now. Suzie might be a problem though. That girl scared him.

“But, you hated me not long ago,” Gavin whispered.

“I never hated you,” Adam explained as he pulled Gavin closer to lay the boy’s head on his chest. “I was an ass when you first moved here, and all the years since, but I never hated you. And despite not physically making my asshole friends leave you alone, I never agreed with them and always tried to talk them out of it. I know you might never forgive me …”

“I already did,” the boy sniffled as he burrowed his face into Adam’s neck and clung to him. “You spoke to me. You laughed with me. You gave me books. It made up for it.”

“No, it didn’t. But I’m going to fix things.”

Gavin suddenly pulled his head up and gazed at Adam in alarm. “What are you saying?”

Adam traced the boy’s delicate lips with his fingers. He hadn’t worn his make up today, Adam supposed, in order to impress the parents he was meeting. While Adam liked the eyeliner and lipstick, he had to admit that this natural look turned him on even more. He could feel the evidence growing between his legs and hoped he could keep Gavin from noticing it. It was too soon to contemplate that, and the last thing Adam wanted the boy to feel was used.

“Just that I’m going to work hard to make sure Ted and Dave leave you alone.”

“No!” Gavin begged. “Please don’t do that. They’re your friends and I don’t want to cause you any trouble. Please don’t.”

Adam shrugged and brought Gavin’s lips back to him with his hand behind the dark haired boy’s head. He kissed him lazily and softly, punctuating it with a few small pecks.

“I can’t stand by and watch them do it anymore,” he sighed. “You never deserved it, and they need to leave it already.”

“Suzie protects me enough!”

“Gavin, I know this is sudden,” Adam reasoned with him. “And I know I have very little right to make you agree with this, especially since I stood by for years and watched it, but I can’t anymore.”

Gavin stared at him through misty silver eyes, and Adam knew he was trying to marshal some arguments, but he steeled himself. Gavin couldn’t go through this alone anymore. Even with Suzie around, the boy was alone. And now it would hurt too much to see.

“Why now?” he finally asked Adam honestly.

“Because I want to take care of you,” he replied simply.

Gavin’s eyes widened and he sat transfixed.

“What?” Adam asked in concern.

“N-nothing,” Gavin pulled back a little, but Adam wouldn’t let him go, pulling him back down to his chest.

“Yes, something,” he breathed as a wave of understanding washed over him. “You know what I mean by that, don’t you?”

Gavin gazed mutely at him, a look of wonder and fear washed over his features.

“We said that in our dreams,” Adam clarified.

The shudder that passed through Gavin was unmistakable and Adam took advantage of the boy’s shock, rolling him beneath his larger frame.

“Say it, Gav,” he breathed against his lips. “Tell me.”

“I don’t …”

“You know. Tell me!”

“I was hoping you’d want me,” the boy finally murmured, a tear running down his cheek. “Will you take care of me?”

“Say my name,” the larger boy coxed, pressing his lips to the boy’s briefly. “Say it.”

“Adam,” Gavin breathed with another shudder.

“Yes.”