The boys ordered three large pies, one Hawaiian, one Meat Lovers and one mixed veggie and meat topping. The pizza place had outdoor seating and they commandeered a picnic type table with bench seating to layout and enjoy their feast to be washed down with oversized sodas and bottled water.
The gang sat and engaged in a lively, sometimes boisterous but good natured exchange of conversation, antics and ribbing as they devoured the repast (a fitting end for pizzas that didn't stand a chance).
Connor and Jude sat side by side shoulders brushing, they shared the bench with Matt and Andy who were equally joined at the side, Jesus and Miguel sat across from them. They did not sit as close to each other as the boys but close enough for their thighs to be touching. Each aware of the contact but neither taking any action to move apart. Ever so often one would cast a quick side glance at the other.
"No, no" said Jude with a chuckle as he turned his head and scrounged his face.
"Come on take a bite" pressed Connor as he taunted Jude with a slice of pizza from which he had taken a few bites.
"I don't want to, stop trying to fatten me up" said Jude squirming away from Connor who was waving the pizza in his face.
"Jude, seriously, fat and you in the same sentence?" Replied Connor as he flipped his brows. "Come on babe take a bite, please."
"Whatever" said Jude as he relented and took a quick bite. "Satisfied?"
Connor nodded and placed a quick kiss on his lips.
"Is that my reward?" Asked Jude.
"Yep, plus you had a little sauce on your mouth." Connor returned.
"In that case let me get a couple of more bites" Jude said with a glint in his eyes.
The rest of the boys who sat observing broke out in laughter.
As they laughed at how adorable Jonnor was being, Jesus noticed Miguel looking at him and then to the slice he was holding.
"Don't even think it" Jesus muttered as he narrowed his eyes at Miguel.
"Whaat? I didn't say anything" protested Miguel throwing up his hands.
"Dude just give him a bite already so he can claim his reward. He obviously wants to" Andy chimed in as he addressed Jesus.
This time Jesus was surprisingly calm and deliberate. He had a smug look of resignation on his face as he spoke.
"We've been there done that, not happening"
Everyone at the table suddenly got quiet and looked at Jesus with wide eyes.
And just like that the tables had turned (no pun intended).
This time it was Miguel's turn to squirm, and for the rest of the boys to be shocked.
Jude recovered from his shock quickly and the look in his eyes turned to one of admiration for his brother.
The boys returned to their banter and antics and though it seemed that Jesus had momentarily gained the upper hand, something had remained constant, his thigh was still pressing against Miguel's. But, now it seemed more deliberate.
Miguel made a mental note and he had smug smile that barely showed and belied the warmth and fuzziness he felt inside.
'This kid doesn't miss anything' Miguel thought to himself. He can't be upset though, because truth is, Andy is right. The longer he's with and around Jesus the stronger the urge is getting to pin him down and kiss him into submission. He's never quite understood why this boy has this effect on him. No other person whether girl and certainly not a boy has ever got under his skin the way Jesus had.
'Don't you understand you big fool, I'm afraid of what might happen if I dare to go there with you again' Jesus thought to himself. 'The first time I kissed you I lost myself, my whole world was about you. It took time, a long time to get you out of my system and establish myself again.'
His head trip was interrupted when Andy asked a question in a most innocent and non-judgmental way "I don't get it, you're not gay, so how?"
"What? No, I'm not, I'm not into guys" Jesus responded.
"Okay" replied Andy still sounding confused as he looked over at Miguel questioningly.
"No, I'm not either, I'm pretty sure and if I was I'd be out and proud." Miguel volunteered.
"That's why I'm confused, so why and how did you guys end up kissing?" Andy asked in a most unassuming tone.
"Andrew let it go" Matt admonished gently.
"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't mean…" Andy said quickly, sounding sincerely apologetic.
"It's ok" Jesus said in Andy's defense. "We were young and things happened."
"Things?" questioned Andy. "What thing… OWW!"
"I'm sorry babe, I stepped on your foot" Matt apologized.
The rest of the boys tried to stifle the laughter that was threatening to erupt.
"Whatever, well you guys might not be gay, but there is definitely something there" Andy resigned. "Maybe you might be demi sexual, at least where guys are concerned." Andy muttered. Shrugging his shoulders, seeming to be ready to let it go.
"Demi… what?" the boys all chimed.
"Oh boy, here we go" groaned Matt.
"Whaat? It's real, google it" Andy exclaimed as he threw up his hands.
"Please forgive my boyfriend, he doesn't mean any harm, really" Matt groaned. "Maybe it has something to do with being so tall at fourteen, the blood doesn't flow all the way up."
"Hey" Andy protested. "What are you trying to say?"
"Its ok babe, you know I love you, foot in mouth and all" Matt cooed as he snuggled little kisses onto Andy's cheek. "You're my big baby."
"Oh God, save the extra cheese for the pizza" Jesus blurted as he rolled his eyes.
"Dude, don't get jealous, not when you got Mr. tall and gorgeous over there looking at you like you hung the moon." Matt retorted as he gave Jesus a sly wink.
"Ditto to that" Andy chimed in.
Miguel's face reddened instantly at the comment and he looked away to conceal his embarrassment and bit his lip to contain the smile that was forming. 'Am I that obvious?'
Jesus who was himself flushed in the face, just looked at Miguel, his eyes panning him up and down. Then a feeling he was all too familiar with started spreading through him. He had felt this way before, but then he was twelve and idolized the boy that sat next to him.
"Somebody said something about ice cream" Jude spoke up in an attempt to break the awkwardness that had suddenly developed.
Everyone quickly agreed and got up, cleaned up their mess and headed to the truck.
As they drove, Miguel could feel Jesus's eyes on him and when he turned and met them briefly, the look he saw made him warm all over and the fluttering in him stomach more severe.
His hand once again wandered cross and rested on the boys thigh and squeezed gently.
