"Are you sure?" Milton whispered. They were sitting on his bed, each only wearing their underwear.
"Trust me, guys do this all the time," Jack replied. He put his arm around his friend and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Let me teach you everything."
"Wasabi code?" Milton asked.
"Wasabi code." Jack assured him.
One Week Earlier
Not even a discussion about sex could keep the first period Health class focused with just five days of class left. The teacher was reading from her state-mandated curriculum, which was full of misinformation.
"I fully disagree with everything I am about to say, but by law I have to tell you this stuff," she warned. Then she read off a list of statistics in a sarcastic voice. Only one caught Milton's attention: males who indulged in the "homosexual lifestyle" lived to be, on average, no older than 65 – about ten years less than their straight counterparts.
With a mind for numbers, Milton did the math and reached a simple conclusion: he was willing to lose those ten years only if he could have his virginity taken by one Jack Brewer. He sat behind Jack all semester and spent an embarrassing amount of time dreaming about his friend's cute ass. Jack wore his pants low enough to give a glimpse of his colorful boxers, and his chiseled physique was always on display whenever he practiced his martial arts. And Jack was not like other popular kids, he was super nice and not stuck-up at all. As a popular song went, Jack was a real hero... and a human being. No wonder he could have any girl he wanted!
The bell rang and the sleepy class shuffled out of the room. Milton felt about the same as his teacher, whose look of dismay seemed to express an inability to fulfill her deepest longings.
At lunch, the Wasabi Warriors discussed their summer plans. Eddie was staying with his aunt in Georgia. Jerry was going to an outdoor music festival and then touring Mexico. Kim was blah blah blah blah – Milton tried to tune out the sound of her voice, which annoyed him more and more lately though he didn't know why. It was Milton's turn to share.
"I think I'm going to be –" he stopped as Jack finally arrived and set down his tray. He had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, chips, and a cup of vanilla ice cream that was a 'special' dessert for the last week of school. Jack ate like a little kid and it was miraculous that he stayed in shape.
"Didn't mean to interrupt," Jack said.
"Oh, we were just talking about our summer plans," Kim volunteered without giving Milton the opportunity to finish his thought.
"Cool. I'm just spending the summer in Japan – no big deal!" Jack exclaimed with a smirk.
"Japan?!" the group collectively cried.
"Yeah – Rudy wants me to do this training thing out there," he explained, "I leave a few days after school's out." Then he dug his plastic spoon in the frozen ice cream, only able to scoop out a tiny amount.
"God, it's so hard," he mumbled to himself.
"That's what your mom told me last night," Eddie joked. Jack playfully flipped him off.
"We're all going to miss you while you're away," Kim said. Then she patted his back. "A lot," she added.
With that, it was time for next class. Milton hurried to the bathroom, knowing he would get in trouble for being late. He entered a stall and locked it.
Damn, his hair looked so good today, Milton thought. He imagined following a trail of rose pedals from outside his house, up the stairs, and to the bathroom where the door was slightly ajar. He would push it open and there would be Jack, lying in the tub surrounded by candles. Only bubbles hid Jack's naked body.
"Help me wash up, Milton," Jack demanded in the fantasy, "I'm so dirty."
Milton came all over the toilet seat. He knew the janitors would come up with some profane nickname for him, but he didn't care. Then a wave of guilt washed over Milton. Jack would probably find what just happened really creepy. Milton hated himself for being unable to shake this horrible crush.