Ben drove into town, the slow way home. He wanted to give Gene a chance to think, to understand how he felt about leaving her. The smiles were nice but they only masked what was going on inside. On the way down Third, Ben heard the kid's stomach growl.

"You hungry?" Ben asked.

"Um ... a little, but you don't have to buy anything. I'll eat whatever you have leftover in the fridge."

That did it. Ben pulled over to the curb and turned off the engine.

"What ... did I say something wrong?"

"Gene, I need to tell you something just so we understand each other. My business is doing just fine and I have lots of money in the bank to spend on things I want. What I really want now is to feed you, clothe you and help you get healthy and strong. That's all I want, but you have to be willing to let me help you.

"That means you don't have to worry about what I spend; I'll do the worrying for the both of us. And just so you know, I plan to give you everything you need, but I may not give you everything you want. It might seem crazy but I need to do this ... understand?"

The little speech seemed to tip the emotional scale. The boy sat there with tears streaming down his face and Ben felt guilty that he had caused the dam to break. It broke his heart.

"Gene, I'm sorry ... "

"No ... It's fine ... I am just so fucking happy, Ben."

Oh God, he had misread the feelings ... it was only happy tears. And so Ben cried too. But when Gene looked up and saw those tears he just about leapt in Ben's lap.

"Ben ... Ben ... don't cry ... why are you crying now?"

His fingers brushed across Ben's cheeks, wiping away the tears. It felt like a loving caress which made Ben cry even more. He didn't know why he was reacting like this, because he felt happy too. Gene hugged him and Ben felt the boy's lips kiss his forehead. It was all he ever wanted ... just to know Gene cared brought about the most wonderful feelings.

Ben reached in the glove box and pulled out some tissues, wiping away his tears. But Gene was still clinging to him.

"It's ok, Gene. I'm OK now," Ben said.

"Are you sure? Wow, I didn't know you were so much like me. I cry at everything."

"I'll remember that next time I need the lawn watered," Ben said, and then he started to chuckle.

Gene started to smirk and that turned in to great peals of laughter. They both laughed for a while until the moment passed. And then the boy expressed what they were both feeling.

"This is real isn't it? We're really here ... together. It was all I could think about last night. I had to get away from her and you came to rescue me."

"Somebody had to care for you and I ... you mean so much to me."

And then with new found boldness, Ben leaned over and kissed Gene on the cheek, not once but twice in the same spot.

"And part of that caring says I need to get you some supper," Ben said, breaking the spell they were both under. "What would you like?"

Gene gave up a naughty grin. "I want you to kiss me again."

"Hmm ... OK, but after we eat, huh? I'll kiss you for dessert since you're so sweet."

"Aw, I bet you say that to everyone you kiss," Gene laughed.

"No, in fact I don't ... just you."

Gene was quiet after that. There had to be so many thoughts spinning in his head. Ben knew he had probably said too much already. OK, he was falling for the boy and it was hard to hold back the feelings. If he kept thinking about Gene as a little boy, one who needed affection and protection, then things would be all right. Unfortunately it was entirely up to Gene to keep that image afloat.

They went out for Chinese, something totally new to Gene's palate. Ben was going to get some veggies in the kid if it meant stuffing it down his throat. But the boy loved the sweet and sour chicken, and even ate the vegetable lo mein. Ben was amazed as Gene chewed on the bean sprouts with relish. Maybe he just never had much of an appetite for what his mother served. They ordered enough to take home a ton of leftovers.

Ben took Third Street to the park and then swung down Church towards the old part of town. Turning onto grand old Trent Street just because he wanted the boy to see the fancy houses there with all their gardens lit up. The view was not wasted.

"Wow, look at all these houses ... so big."

"I live up around the next corner," Ben said.

"Your house is this big?"

"Afraid so, but I'll draw you a map of the house in case you get lost," he grinned.

"You said this was your family home, how come you live there all alone?"

"Well I don't any more, now do I?"

"No, I live there too," Gene said.

Ben pulled the truck into the driveway and rolled forward towards the garage door. He stopped and handed Gene the opener.

"This will be your first job every time we come home; you have to open the door for us."

Gene hit the button and the door rolled up. Ben pulled the truck in beside the Vette and shut down.

"Do I have to hit the button again for it to close?"

"Can if you want, but there's also a button over there beside the door to the mud room."

"What's a mud room?"

"Hmm ... no jokes this time, I'll just show you."

The mud room had a shower off of it, and Ben had to explain it was only one of four bathrooms in the house. Gene was in awe of the kitchen, the next room on the tour, and said it looked bigger than his mom's whole trailer. Ben didn't comment ... he was hoping to forget he had ever met Gene's mother.

The sitting room was close by and Ben explained it was now just the television room because it was close to the kitchen. They walked down the hall to the living room where Gene's mouth dropped open.

This was Ben's play room. There was only one couch but the best stereo system he could find, German of course, with speakers stacked to the ceiling and the CD collection.

"Oh ... wow, how many CD's do you have?"

"Um ... last count, about four thousand. You may play them any time you want, but I will have to show you how to take care of them first."

"No way, I won't touch any of your stuff," Gene said.

"Our stuff now, isn't it?"

Gene laughed. "I bet the neighbors go crazy over the sound, huh?"

"Nope, the walls are a foot thick on this old house and I have the windows soundproofed in this room. A thousand watts if you can stand the noise. But don't turn it up that loud, the ceiling might cave in."

Ben took him upstairs to show the boy his room; it had been Ben's for eighteen years and there was something compelling about giving it to Gene. It was a boy's room, complete with model airplanes on the wall and a bookshelf full of adventure stories. Gene just stood there in awe. For once Ben hoped he wouldn't cry. Instead Gene turned and threw his arms up for another hug.

"Thank you ... Thank you ... Thank you ..." he said.

"We'll make changes to anything you want ... "

"No, I love it just the way it is," Gene said. "This was your room ... I can tell. But where do you sleep now?"

"Across the hall from you, wanna see?"

He nodded and Ben opened the door to his room. The king-sized bed he had never shared with anyone, the whirlpool tub that he sat in alone, it was all mocking him now as he took the boy on a mini tour.

"Your parents just gave you this house?" Gene asked.

"Yup, my dad had it all fixed up before they moved south and handed me the keys. Good thing it was paid for or I wouldn't have that Vette, I'd be walking."

"You're rich, Ben ... wow."

"Rich is a relative term, young man. To you I am rich; to others who live around here I am the poor boy down the street." Ben stood behind the boy and wrapped his arms around Gene's slender waist. "But now I feel like the richest man in the world."

Gene reached back and rubbed Ben's head, it felt so nice being like this. But the moment he started developing an erection Ben backed off. No sense in getting himself entangled in that. The affection they shared was a necessary part of their relationship ... but nothing else.

They went back downstairs and opened Gene's suitcase in the mud room. Ben would have done it in the driveway if he'd thought better of it first. A couple of roaches abandoned the suitcase and scurried under the sink. Gene yelped and went after them.

Ben laughed. "They'll be dead within the hour, I promise you. I have an exterminator in here every few months; about time he earned his keep."

"I sprayed and sprayed until I coughed my head off, but those damn bugs kept coming back, sorry Ben."

They stacked a few books on the washer and threw the lot of his clothing into the wash; there wasn't much else to see. No games, no toys ... nothing.

"Sure you didn't leave anything you want behind?" Ben asked.

"I had some PS2 games but my system got stolen right out of the trailer," Gene said.

"No problem there," Ben said. "Follow me."

They went back into the sitting room and he opened the closet door. Gene looked like he was going to faint. "PS2 ... X Box, whatever you need I'll get it." Ben said. "The games I have are in those drawers down there." He didn't know how many, but there were a lot.

"You beat all of these?" Gene asked.

"No way, half of them maybe," Ben said.

He made himself some coffee and a hot chocolate for Gene, and then they settled in to watch a movie on cable. Ben sat on the couch with his feet up, Gene sat in the lounge chair and giggled when it reclined. The film was another one of those Die Hard things. Number five or six, who knows? Would they never tire of making those things?

Halfway through the film Gene got up and took Ben's coffee mug and his back into the kitchen. He ran the water and washed them out. Ben heard him open the washer and throw his stuff into the dryer. The sense of responsibility the boy felt for doing that gave him a warm feeling. Gene wanted to belong here. When he came back Ben took his feet off the couch and patted the seat beside him. Gene sat down and rested his head on Ben's shoulder.

By the end of the film Gene was horizontal with his head in Ben's lap resting on a pillow. Ben stroked the boy's fine hair and rubbed his back until he could almost hear the boy purring. But Ben also saw him sneak a hand down the front of his jeans and rearrange the furniture. After a few more minutes of stroking, Gene got up and excused himself to the bathroom.

Ben knew it was going to happen, it had to happen sometime or another. But he had been the cause of it this time and that made him smile. Hell, Gene was an adolescent; if he didn't jerk off the kid would probably explode. He was a perfectly normal young man in that respect. Ben was almost proud of himself, and that was plain silly.

Five minutes later Gene was back and resumed his position on the couch. Ben wouldn't have uttered a word about what the boy had been doing, but he didn't have to ... Gene did.

"I just jerked off in there," he said. "You made me do that."

Ben laughed. "I appreciate the honesty, but why are you telling me this?"

"I told you I was horny all the time. You rubbing my back just turned me on so much ... I had to do something about it."

"Then I'll keep my hands to myself," Ben said.

"No ... I like it, it feels so ... so nice. But expect me to run out every time you do it, I can't help myself."

"I don't ever want to make you feel uncomfortable, Gene. I love touching ... giving you affection like that. But I don't want you to run to the bathroom every time I touch you."

"Hmm, OK ... I'll work on controlling myself then."

And nothing more was said for the moment, but Ben knew the discussion wasn't over.

At ten o'clock he said they ought to think about going to bed, Gene had school in the morning.

"Besides, you need to apologize to Mr. Hanover tomorrow."

"Huh, what do I say ... just an 'I'm sorry,' will that make him happy?"

"I would say I'm sorry, but then you might tell him, and the whole class, that you were rude and insensitive to his feelings, and then say sorry again just to top it off."

"Yeah, I can do that."

"He likes you Gene. He says you're a good person, but he worries that you don't take your school work serious enough."

"I couldn't study with all the crap goin on at my house, why do you think I flunked a whole year? I'll do better here, you'll see."

"I'll help you with your school work in any way I can, you know that. OK, now it's bedtime. Do you usually shower in the morning or at night before bed?"

He smiled, "Can I do both?"

"It's 'may I do both,' you're asking for permission. Of course you 'can do both,' you already know how to shower."

"I'll remember that ... may I shower tonight and in the morning?"

"Yes you may, we have lots of hot water in this house," Ben said.

Ben got him sorted out with towels, soap and shampoo, then pointed him into his bathroom through the door in his bedroom.

"I'll come say goodnight when you're done; I'm going to shower too."

"Wanna tuck me in, do ya?" Gene grinned.

"Yes I do, so there."

Ben showered and put on a clean pair of boxers, his usual sleeping attire. He heard the water shut off in the other bathroom and decided to give the boy a few minutes. After school tomorrow they needed to go shopping, Gene needed stuff to wear very badly.

Ben knocked lightly on the bedroom door and Gene yelled "Come in." He was wrapped in a towel as Ben entered the room.

"Ready to sleep?" Ben asked.

But Gene was staring at him, his eyes taking a slow look up and down.

"Wow, you're in great shape, you work out?"

"I do, and so will you. When we get the time I'll show you my weights ... do you run?"

"I have ... do you?" the boy asked.

"Only when the cops are after me ... yes, I run a couple mornings a week."

"Can I come with you?"

"Then we have to get you some running gear. We're going shopping tomorrow after school, you need clothes. What do you sleep in?"

"Uh, nothing usually ... is that ok?"

"Naked is all right with me, just don't go shaking your booty in front of the window. Mrs. Henderson next door might have a heart attack."

"Will you leave the door open?"

"Sure. If you need anything just give me a yell. Good night, Gene."

"What, no kiss?"

"OK, sure."

Gene dropped his towel and stood naked for a moment before turning back the covers and crawling into bed. Ben picked up the damp towel and hung it in the bathroom. When he came back into the bedroom Gene was under the covers waiting. Ben pulled the sheets up to the boy's chin, kissing him on the cheek. Gene smiled and kissed him back.

"Sleep well, Ben."

"You too, Gene ... good night."

Ben returned to his room and almost laughed out loud. Gene had flashed him on purpose and the show had been outstanding. But he was so skinny, his ass barely had any meat to it, still ... it was a nice ass. And his equipment was ... was fucking awesome, no wonder he played with it so much.

Ben crawled into bed and turned out the light. Please Gene, just stay in your bed, he thought. It was almost a prayer. Because he knew if the boy crawled into his bed right then that he wouldn't have the strength to say no.


On to Chapter Seven

Back to Chapter Five

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"Gene" Copyright © 27 September 2008 Chris James. All rights reserved.
    This work may not be duplicated in any form (physical, electronic, audio, or otherwise) without the author's written permission. All applicable copyright laws apply. All individuals depicted are fictional with any resemblance to real persons being purely coincidental.

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