Escaping Perfect

Thanks to Memme and midnighteyes and Anon for the awesome reviews.


The noise in the locker room was deafening. The guys whooped and hollered. Their happiness and excitement over advancing reached new heights. Some of the burly sweaty jocks were engaged in massive bear hugs and high fives, while others were reliving the last four quarters. There was happiness pouring from every person in that locker room.

Coach Olsen entered the locker room. His face was composed and stony. His expression grim. All the celebrants gradually sobered as they caught sight of him.

“Take a knee.” All the young men dropped to the floor. And silence pervaded over the locker room.

“That was a …game.” Noticeable hard swallows were the movements as everyone football players, under coaches, and team staff remained frozen. “I wasn’t sure if you boys came to win tonight! I guess you proved me wrong.” The guys clapped lightly in agreement. “Johnson, you dropped the ball, son. There’s nothing to say about that except make sure the balls secure, before you take off.”

The older man pointed at a huge defensive lineman. “Boggs, you didn’t break that key tackle early on-but you made up for it but getting four sacks. That was amazing.” The guys clapped louder.

“Brick and Larsen. Now, I was very worried when you all seemed to be missing each other in the first quarter. You finally connected in the third, but by then it could have been too late. You all did do better, but whatever you have on your minds before you step on that field becomes mote! Got me?”

“Yes, Coach.” The pair answered.

Coach Olsen surveyed his team. He began clapping and the others joined in on ritual. “ Good game boys, and remember we’ve got two more to go….STALLIONS!” The locker room shook with their roaring cheer.

The players began to dismantle all their equipment. Their cheers and animated talking made the entire feel of the locker room light and joyous. Warren looked over at JD as the other boy did a wild victory dance atop of the bench. Loud whoops and catcalls filled the air. Even Warren had to smile. The coaches enjoyed the display and began to head off to their respective offices. It had been a good night. No matter how Warren tried not to think of it, Jace still managed to cross his mind about every other minute.
***
It had been a late night. The weekend went by in a hurry. The team rolled back into town early Sunday morning, providing the team with just enough time to head home and sleep before the next school day.

Knowing how tired her son was, Mrs. Brick kept her congratulations light and in the form of her son’s favorite cookies. Even little Colby was especially quiet during the day.

The only grumbling words had been from Mr. Brick. Before Warren could climb the stairs up to his room, Peter Brick called his son from the bottom of the stairs. “Hey Champ.”

“Yeah, Dad?” Warren asked tiredly.

Mr. Brick’s expression was partially relieved and stressed at the same time. “Don’t forget I want to talk to you about the game later.”

Warren looked back at his father. “I won’t forget.” He knew the conversation was coming. The older Brick male expected him to be perfect. Especially now, with this part of the season being the most important.

With little more than a nod, Warren finally went to his room. He tossed his gear into a vacant corner, then proceeded to fall into a heavy sleep. One that was particularly active with dreams of a football field morphing into his bedroom. With said bedroom containing a bed occupied by a very flirty and sexy looking Jace, waiting for Warren to make the big score.

Of course, waking up the next morning, Warren was still very tired. A smile played on his lips. A smile that definitely wasn’t from Friday’s win and more from his naughty dream night life.

Walking into school, he and the rest of the squad were greeted like returning conquerors. People ran up to them cheering. Warren received more than his share of claps on the back. More than one cheerleader slinked up to him, offering him some sort of reward, in a physically pleasing sense, for leading the team to victory.

A loud call from down the hall sent Warren’s head spinning. Sarah sidled up to him. “That was quite a game.”

“Yeah well, I don’t want to talk about it.” He grumbled.

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Okay. I’ll back off…So, since you’re a sour puss. I’ll tell you about the greatness that is my love life.”

“You? And Love life? What are you smoking?” The light hearted tease earned him a smack to the back of the head.

“Ow!” Warren fake hissed.

Again, Sarah rolled her eyes. “As I was saying, my love life is spectacular. I think I’m in love.”

“If you’re so in love, why aren’t you showing off your new guy instead of slapping the shit out of me?”

“Because…because what I have is so special it entitles me to simply brag!”

Warren leaned against a block of lockers. “So, start bragging.” His arm swept the air in front of him , giving her the floor.

Her dark eyes were shinning with a light so pure. “Honestly War, I think I’m-- I’m in love.”

Taking in her expression, he was shocked and little breathless. He was also a little jealous, but he would probe that later. “With…um who?”

She swallowed hard. Her eyes locked onto his. Her mouth parted, then the bell rang. “I’ll stop by later.” She said before taking off.

Warren lingered for a few seconds longer. He watched her go. His mind was floating, thoughts not really going anywhere. He didn’t want to go to class. He really didn’t want to pretend to focus on something that he could care less about at the moment. He only wanted to think about what his life was becoming. Just then, the person who could be considered the center of his hurricane walked past, pointedly not looking at him.

For the next few seconds, it was though Warren lost control. A voice a lot like his own called out in the nearly empty hallway. “--Jace.”

The other boy’s steps slowed down. Warren pushed off the lockers. He called out once again. “Jace.”

The dark haired teen turned to face him. They were twenty feet apart. Warren’s feet slowly ate up the remaining distance. Finally, standing in front of each other was awkward. Jace was ready to apologize again, but the look on Warren’s face said not to.

Another strained moment passed. “Warren, I’m really sor--” Warren shook his head, silencing Jace.

He looked down at the other young man. Jace’s smooth cheek begged to be touched. He lifted a hand, then dropped it. Not here. Not in an empty hallway, where anyone could just happen to find them.

“Can we go somewhere quiet and talk?” Warren whispered, despite being alone.

Jace tried to look in his eyes. He needed to go to class, but talking to Warren couldn’t wait. “Can you spare an afternoon?” He asked.

Warren shook his head vehemently. “I’ll just tell coach, I’m feeling sick. But sure.” He moved slightly closer to Jace. Just close enough to catch the other boy’s scent. His belly felt warm.

Jace took a step back. There was too much going on with Warren to risk doing something stupid like kissing him again. “I’ll meet you at my house, if that’s okay?”

“Yeah.” Without another word, Warren turned on his heel and trotted to the class he was very late for.

Jace just watched him go. Feeling more confused by the second. Unlike photography, people had a way of having too many possible interpretations.
***
The day crawled. Warren rushed out of his last class heading to the locker room in an effort to get there before the rest of the guys had a chance to fill in the empty spaces. He knew the coach would yell at him. He’d much rather it be in private than with the whole team as an audience.

Coach Olsen yelled for what seemed like hours, and then he told Warren to feel better. Warren waved to a few of his friends and nearly ran out of the school to get to his car. His mind was on autopilot and his hands just followed their lead. The drive to Jace’s was short. When he pulled up, he wondered if Jace would actually be home.

A Mustang sat in the drive. Warren parked in front and sat in his car, taking in deep breaths. He willed his heart to stop racing, but it refused stubbornly.

They could sit in silence in the house. Or they could enjoy the garden. The garden was nice, warm and sunny.

“We can either stay inside or go out to the garden. If you want to?” Jace watched Warren’s, whose eye contact and total posture told him, that he was more nervous and ill at ease than originally thought.

He approached the house cautious, internally hoping that no one would be home. Really hoping to put off the inevitable. Two knocks on the front door, and then Jace appeared, opening it and pulling Warren into a place where his thoughts were already to crazy to settle.

They stood in the living room, each waiting for the other to make a suggestion. Finally, Jace directed them over to the couch.

“We—We could um, stay here…that’s if …you um want to?” Jumbled. Stuttered and garbled. Warren could have kicked himself for sounding like such an idiot.

“Since, we’re settled, we can stay.” Jace settled deeper into the couch.

“Great!” Faux joy, which wasn’t so faux. Warren really didn’t think he could have moved if he tried. His entire body felt heavy. His feet especially felt like they were encased in cement shoes.

Silence pervaded. Jace just watched Warren. The quarterback had a strong profile. He was what could be termed a perfect example of masculine form, structure and rugged handsomeness. Unlike his own, somewhat delicate and pretty features. “I’m sorry about the kiss.”

Silence was the response he received. “Honestly, I can understand if you want to forget the whole thing. I know I wouldn’t be upset…”

“Jace, please--”

Jace watched Warren’s body stiff like a block of ice. Obviously, the other boy was uncomfortable. That sarcastic, well-wishing voice inside spoke volumes trying to get Jace to realize that snagging a guy like Warren Brick in a small town like Westlaw was--just dream material, incapable of happening in real life. “It was a great kiss by the way, but it’s understandable why it was wrong…It’s not like you’re gay or anything. It was just a stupid kiss.”

“Enough!” Warren twisted around to face Jace. “Enough already. Don’t forget the kiss, because I-- I don’t want to forget the kiss! Don’t you get it?” The sudden outburst stilled the room. The sudden eruption of his anger quelled just as fast.

What was he to do? The solution at the moment seemed to be getting as far as possible from Warren. He’d walk away. Jace rose from the couch silently. His eyes never met Warren’s. Jace pushed off the couch, the need to escape was growing to near panic-like proportions.

He couldn’t do this.

“You can let yourself out when you’re ready.” Jace said without making eye contact with Warren. There was more to be said, but Jace in all honestly didn’t think he could handle it.

Several spaces from his original spot and he was jerked out of his thoughts. But a large hand shot out, fast and sudden; its grip was fierce and unrelenting. Jace stopped where he was and stood calmly.

His eyes stayed locked on the corner of his mother’s newest Persian rug. “Warren, let me go.” The creeping realization that he was in the presence of a rather large predator and he was small prey. If things should turn that way.

“Jace.” Warren’s voice was a whispered plea. He didn’t let go. If Jace bothered to look down at Warren, he’d see that the other boy was just as confused and hurting in a more deep and plainly obvious way.

He tried to tug away. “Warren--let go…”

Warren used his grip around Jace’s wrist for leverage. He stood beside the other boy silently, his breath coming in short bursts, his heart pounding hard within his chest.

The brunette didn’t turn around. He tried to force his body into the smallest configuration to stay away from Warren. “What do you want from me?” His words were little more than a whisper.

“I don’t know.” Warren replied. He was so close. His fingers burned to touch. Just touch, because one touch had been too little for him. A hand found its way into the loosely tied deep brown locks.

The addition of touch shifted something inside. Jace slowly shifted his body, his eyes traveling slowest to meet Warren’s. What he saw there was more telling than any picture he’d ever taken. “Do you want help finding out?”

Warren looked into Jace’s eyes. Space was became a non existent entity. “I--I think so.”

Jace leaned into the land running along the ends of his hair and over his jawline. He still wasn’t sure about what they were doing, but the moment Warren’s head dipped towards his own, he let questions and concerns fall by the wayside.

Warren found Jace’s thick lips to be pliant and willing. They were as soft as their first time.
Jace snaked his arms over Warren’s wide shoulders, while Warren’s hands found nearly bruising purchase on Jace’s lean hips.

“That was even nicer than before.” Jace mused. He was kiss drunk. His body felt light and disconnected. Leaning against Warren’s body was very pleasurable and necessary.

“I’d definitely agree there.” Warren stroked his hands up and down Jace’s lean flanks, his fingers memorized the clothed terrain with zeal.

They stared at each other with lazy happy smiles. Big fingers traced over Jace’s kiss swollen lips. Jace just smiled. A sudden spur of flirtatiousness led to Jace’s mouth pulling the tip of one of Warren’s fingers between his lips and sucking hard. His tongue rolled over the head. The low moan that arose from Warren’s throat finally made him stop.

“Tease.” Warren hissed. The action had gone straight to his groin.

The brunette just smiled. “That’s me.” Jace continued to stare up at Warren. He’d never knew Warren’s eyes were gray. He just assumed they were green, because it just made sense. The feel of their bodies together was intoxicating. He hadn’t had a boyfriend in nearly a year, not since Michael went away to college and decided a long distance relationship wouldn’t work. Thoughts of boyfriends made him realize he was dreaming once again. This thing--this thing between him and Warren wasn’t going to lead to boyfriends…it couldn’t. Could it?

Warren read the change in Jace’s behavior, just like he could read the change in the defense’s strategy. “What’s wrong? Did I do something? Did I go too fast?” All those insecurities were picking a hell of a time to resurface.

Jace shook his head. “I was just wondering what comes next…You, Mr. Superstar, are expected to bang cheerleaders. I, on the other hand, can be as out as I want to be, to a certain extent, here in Westlaw.” He took a breath and retied his hair. “I hope this helped you figure yourself out, but I can’t Warren…I can’t be some fuck buddy--”

Warren nodded adamantly. Jace began to move away, but Warren wisely trailed his fingers down the stretch of skin leading from Jace’s wrist to his hand. “I don’t expect you to be…” He plopped down heavily on to the couch. His head instantly buried in his hands.

His life was just one long cycle of complications. Things never seemed to provide him with an easy way out. “Jace--I’ve just coming to terms with this….with this being--” His mouth closed then opened like he was chewing something sticky. “gay…I thought I could just live my life around it, but..I CAN’T! Seeing you ….then touching… oh my God, I really want this, if you want this.”

“I want this, but I know you’ll have to hide…If you want to be friends, I will be totally fine being just that…”

Warren looked at the other boy as he kneeled before him. “None of this is what I want for my life except--” He gestured between the two of them. “For you and me.”

“If you say so, Warren.” The kiss they shared was sweet. It was just one long kiss, but it said more than the pair had been able to say all afternoon.