Alder Falls: Book One, Chapter IV
In this fourth installment, Grant finds a kindred spirit.
“That's enough, everyone," Mr. Thompson said. His voice was strong and sure like a mountain, and it invited no argument. The vice principal towered over the students, his wide frame covered in coarse hair. His thick arms stuck out from a barrel chest. He was known as Mr. Richards' enforcer.
He put a massive hand on the back of Grant's neck and the fight went out of him. Though he knew that Mr. Thompson was incapable of such a thing, Grant felt that he could snap his neck like a dry twig just by closing his fist.
Jack wiped his hand under his nose and it came back smeared with blood. His eyes widened. “You're a dead man, Miller!" he spat. “You're dead!"
Mr. Thompson spoke again, irritation clearly showing through. “I want all of you in the front office. Now!" The kid with the short hair was trying to sneak away unnoticed. “You too!" Mr. Thompson called after him. The boy stopped moving.
They all made their way down the hall together. Mr. Thompson surveyed the damage to the lockers and shook his head. He and Grant were walking at the back of the group, the vice principal's hand was now on his shoulder, it was not unaffectionate. Grant was surprised by Mr. Thompson's measured reaction to the fight. He looked up at the man. It was the first time he noticed the pained expression on his face and the sweat on his brow.
“You feel it too," Grant said.
Mr. Thompson gave a short nod in acknowledgement.
“What is it?"
“I don't know." Mr. Thompson was quiet for a few more steps and then he stopped. Grant waited. It seemed as if he was considering something that weighed on him. “I'm going to ask you a question," he began. “Have you heard from your mother recently?"
Grant had not heard from his mother in his entire life. Everyone knew it. He tried not to be offended, but the hurt bled into his voice. “I've never even met her. You know it. Everyone knows it. And why bring her up? What does she have to do with this?"
“Calm down, Grant," Mr. Thompson said. “It's nothing. I'm sorry I said anything. I know it can't be easy for you."
Grant resumed walking without saying another word. The sheriff was called and he, Mr. Richards, and Mr. Thompson spoke together for a long time. Then all of the students gave heated accounts of what had happened. After another wait, Mr. Thompson returned and admonished the entire team. He told them, separately from Grant, that nothing would go on their academic records. Mr. Thompson looked at him gravely and returned to the principal's office once more while Grant stayed back waiting to hear his fate. After arguing with Mr. Richards, their tone seeped through the office door, he was informed that he was going to be suspended effective immediately. He would take his final tests, but that was going to be all that he was allowed to do in his final days of high school. They would decide on whether he would be allowed to walk with his class. Grant immediately thought of how he would explain all of this to Alex; how he might have to break his promise to his friend. He felt sick to his stomach. He didn't know how he could have lost control.
After being dismissed, Grant climbed into his truck and got into the driver seat. He was deflated and exhausted, his mind still a jumble. He closed his eyes and rested his head against the back of the cab. He heard a faint knock against the passenger window. The short-haired boy's face was there, but he wouldn't make eye contact. Grant scooted across to the center of the wide seat and opened the passenger door. The boy got in and sat close to him as if they were old friends. “Was it bad?" he asked, not looking in Grant's direction.
“Not sure yet. I can take my finals, but I'm suspended for the rest of the semester. I may not get to walk. They haven't decided."
The boy winced as if he'd been slapped.
“All in all, I think I got off easy. There's something going on here that they're not telling us. The sheriff was there and they aren't pressing charges."
Grant asked the boy for his name.
“Jared. Thanks for having my back. I wasn't thinking straight." Grant took his hand. It was warm.
“I don't think anyone was thinking straight today." He added, “I didn't see you in the office."
Jared wore a guilty expression. “Yeah, well, people tend to forget about me. It's one of my talents." He looked up and smiled tentatively, but shied away when Grant tried to make eye contact. “Do you have any idea what's happening to us? Like, something in the water? One minute I was fine, the next I got this raging boner and could only think about jacking off. I didn't care who was in my way."
“Same thing happened to me."
Grant took the opportunity to get a good look at Jared in his jeans and t-shirt. He had a small mole on the left side of his face. From what he could see, there were more dotting his skin under the shirt. He also had an earring stud in his left ear. His face was still flushed. There was something about his scent that was familiar to Grant. It was different than Lynn's scent, but it stirred something in him. Grant started to sniff at Jared and moved in closer. He smelled sweat; his own and Jared's. Then he smelled his own pre-cum. His cock was stiffened and the pre started to flow again. Grant lifted Jared's arm, taking a long whiff of his damp armpit and Jared's cheek grew redder, if it could be believed. Jared pressed up against his side and rubbed his head against the side of Grant's face. The scent of Jared's pre started to mingle with his own. He began to sniff the boy's neck, and along his collar bone, deliberately running his nose over the skin which was blossoming like a rose.
“It started last night. I had this dream. I was naked, in the woods, chasing a grey wolf. Before I could catch her…"
“That big wolf got in your way."
Grant looked at the side of Jared's face, wide-eyed. “How do you know that?"
“I had the same dream. I mean, I was there. I can make myself small. I told you, people forget me."
“Is that's why you won't look at me? Did you think I'd be upset if I knew you saw me like that?" Grant was emboldened. “Saw how that thing fucked me until I passed out?"
Jared swallowed hard and nodded. He still wouldn't look at Grant. Grant's hand went to Jared's crotch. The boy began to squirm in the seat, his eyes shut tight. He grabbed a handful of jeans as Grant sniffed under his chin, nose touching his Adam's apple. Then Grant took Jared's chin in his hand and turned his face toward him.
“You look young to be a senior. Look at me." Jared's eyes fluttered as they locked onto Grant's. His eyes were light brown. They looked scared at first, then Grant saw the pain there. The loneliness. Their two pairs of eyes darted back and forth, searching for some commonality.
“I get it all the time," Jared said dreamily. “Celebrated my eighteenth a couple of months ago. It was just me and my parents. I kind of feel like a wolf without a pack. You know how that feels?"
Grant didn't respond. Instead, he felt an irresistible urge to lick Jared's face. With the boy's chin still between his fingers he slowly licked Jared's cheek. It was lightly at first, then he licked with more confidence. He licked his earlobe, then the top of his cheek and the corner of his eye, near the temple. Jared began to whine like a pup. Grant licked the corner of Jared's mouth. This seemed to be too much for the boy and he returned the lick, then kissed Grant deeply. The smell of pre-cum was becoming overwhelming and Grant felt a wet spot forming on his jeans. The head of his cock was slick against his inner thigh.
Energetically, Jared climbed onto his lap, his thighs straddling Grant's sides, knees digging into the fabric of the truck seat. Breathlessly, Jared said, “I'm still so fucking horny. I saw this nature documentary once that said males will sometimes fuck each other when there are no females around. To help get it out of their system."
Grant held Jared's lower back with both hands. He moved his right hand over Jared's ass, grabbing a handful, then felt the boy's crotch. Jared's cock was rock hard. It was tucked into the waistband of his underwear. Grant pulled the band down so he could take a look at it, while simultaneously Jared lifted Grant's shirt and exposed his stomach. Jared's pre-cum began to drip onto Grant's abs and pool into his belly button. Grant dipped his fingers into it and tasted it. Then he grabbed Jared by the back of the head and kissed him deeply, sharing the salty pre-cum on their tongues.
A car door shut and Grant heard the start of an engine. He realized they were still in the school parking lot. He placed his hand on Jared's chest and pressed against if firmly.
“We should stop," he said unconvincingly.
Jared only whined and continued to rub his cock head against Grants exposed stomach adding rivulets of pre-cum to generous amount already there.
“We need to stop. At least until we know what's going on here. We can't just start acting like animals.
They sat there motionlessly, exchanging body heat, cocks pulsing until Jared nodded, swallowed deeply, and returned to his side of the truck.
“This isn't over though. We need to talk about last night. You know where I live?"
Jared nodded again.
“Good. Come over tonight. My friend Alex will be there. We need to figure this thing out."
Grant placed his hand on Jared's head, feeling the prickly hair on his scalp. Then he watched as the boy get out of the truck and close the passenger door. Grant took a few deep breaths to collect himself while absentmindedly rubbing his dick. He had nothing to do now, so he decided he would get on early start on his work at Ray's. He could be alone there.