Jess and Bobby didn't bother telling Jack and Ennis about the scuffle that happened at school. It was like some unspoken thing that it was better left in the dark.

Jess had gotten back from school and was doing his chores. It was a cloudy and dreary Wednesday; Jess was so far in a somber mode. Things were still rocky between him and Ennis and Jack but that was okay, who needed them anyway?

As Jess cleaned the stalls, a curious thought cross his mind. He felt so stupid for not thinking about this earlier, considering he'd been here for a month but for some odd reason this little inquiry popped in his mind.

Jess was no ranch expert but if he remembered, didn't ranches usually have…well, ranch hands? Jess had been working on this farm for a month and he had never seen a single helper around the place. At first, it was no big deal for him but now it seemed plain odd that a ranch didn't have any helpers.

"Bobby" he asked.

"Ya?" he said, busy cleaning the stall next to him.

"Um" Jess was unsure how to ask "I ain't no ranch expert and all but…don't ranches usually have, I don't know, ranch hands or helpers or something?"

Bobby shrugged "I guess" he said.

"So" Jess said "why don't you guys have any?"

Bobby gave him an odd look Jess would have to. What was he saying? He had never given two thoughts to the farm besides just getting the chores done and here he was asking questions about it.

"Well" Bobby said, "Ennis don't trust them much, says they…"

"Might find out about…him and Jack?"

Bobby nodded "that's about right". Then Bobby looked at Jess "wait, why do you care?"

Ya, why do I care? Jess said "um, nothing, nothing its just…it strikes me as odd that you don't have other people helping you out around here. I mean, it would lessen the work load a lot and you might be able to get more done and all and…and…" Jess couldn't find the words to go on.

"Oh never mind" Jess said "just thinking, and all, you know, and um…don't ya have work to be doing?" Jess voice had gone steely again and before Bobby could reply Jess finished with the stall and began to walk out.

I must be crazy Jess thought why do I care what happens to this piss poor farm? If Ennis wants it like this then so be it. Why should he care?

The rest of the week past by in a slow, never-ending drawl. Jess slept most of the time in his classes; he knew the material so why go over it again? Chores seemed to take even longer then usual and dinners were just the same, with no end in sight.

It seemed like his stay in this town was like that, a never-ending drawl. Jess was not used to how slow things operated in this town. In New York, everything was always so fast paced and if you took one step back you'd be miss almost five events that happened. If you took twenty steps back in this town, nothings would change. Everything would be the same, same shops, same people, same problems, same everything! Everything was the same in this town.

What Jess so longed for was to see the diversity of New York from the hip-hop area of the Bronx, the sweeping skylines of Manhattan, the melting pots of Queens, the famous Coney Island of Brooklyn, and even the residential areas of Staten Island. Here in Shattuck, there were no skylines or diversity or Coney Island, just small buildings, cowboys, and the quiet.

Lois and Jess had just parked and were now heading up to the stadium. It was Friday night again; the second game of the season and for a week now the entire town had been waiting for some miraculous comeback from last week's failure. When Lois and Jess entered, it was the end of the first quarter and their team was leading six to three. Not what ya called spectacular but pretty close to it.

"Jess! Lois!" Jess turned to see Jack waving them over, Ennis next to him. He seemed a bit happy Jess thought considering we've barley spoken in a week.

"Come on Jess!" Lois said "'fore all the good seats are taken" Lois and him cut threw the crowd and soon came to Jack and Ennis. Lois sat down next to Jack while Jess took a seat next to her.

"I see we're actually in the lead," Lois said, taking out her drawing pad.

"Yep" Jack said, smiling "don't know what that coach there did but whatever he did, sure as hell's workin".

The second quarter was full of ups and downs for the team. For good news, they were able to score another touchdown but bad news was, so did the other team. Jack was on his feet most of the time, yelling his head of at the ref for some call he thought was unnecessary. By the time half time came around, their team was up fifteen to thirteen.

"Come on ref!" Jack yelled "try doin' you'r mother fuckin' job!" he then sat down, still in a huff.

"So, we still winnin?" Lois asked, taking her head up from her sketch.

"Ya" Jess said "barley though".

Nothing really happened in the third quarter, no touchdowns, hardly any calls, just nothing. As Jess looked over, he could make out Jack and Ennis secretly touching each other but then quickly pulling away. Can't they keep that in there own house? Jess thought bitterly.

Then the ref blew the whistle and the game was over. The team had managed a victory of seventeen to fourteen, not the greatest score but they still won.

As the four made their way out of the stadium, Jack was full of enthusiasm "bout damn time" he said.

"Its only the second game" Ennis said.

"Ya but at least that Macarthur kid didn't do anything stupid this time" Jack said "and didja see Bobby tonight? I don' know what that coach did but it defiantly paid of".

"You drivin' home with us Jess?" Ennis asked. Jess didn't want to but it seemed sensible.

So he shrugged his shoulders "I'll talk to ya tomorrow?" Jess said to Lois.

"Of course" she said in a bright smile.

Then as Jess began to walk to Ennis's car, Lois grabbed his shoulder "oh wait! Before I forget, you doin' anythin tomorrow?"

"No" Jess said "why?"

"Well" Lois said "there's this drive-threw in Kellyville, it's a small town thirty minutes north of here, there showin' a movie I wanna see. You wanna come?" that did sound good to Jess. He hadn't been to a movie in a while and he'd never been to a drive-threw before.

"Okay" Jess said, "what's the film?"

"Fast Times at Ridgemont High" she said.

Jess shrugged "high school movie huh? Okay, might as well. I'll ask Ennis and Jack. Tell ya tomorrow?" Lois nodded and then headed off for her car.

The three men then waited until Bobby came walking to them, his face in a big smile.

"Well, look who it is!" Jack said, "If it isn't the football star. You did great tonight bud!" Jack said as he put an arm around Bobby.

"He's right kid" Ennis said, "You were pretty damn good".

"Oh stop it ya two" Bobby said.

"No" Jack said, "You were excellent out there and deserve some praise". Bobby gave a small smile.

"Well, I guess" he said.

"Can we go now?" Jess harsh voice cut in.

Ennis glared at him "n'all right, come on Jack".

Jack gave Bobby one last pat "see ya at the house".

The three men got into the old pick-up truck and started down the road. Since there was no backseat, Jack had to sit in between the two front seats. Jack began to lean into Ennis, whispering something in his ear.

"Could ya not do that?" Jess barked at them.

"This is our car" Ennis growled "we c'n do whatever the hell we want in it" Jess rolled his eyes. A few moments of silence later, Jess decided to ask.

"Can I go with Lois to the drive-threw tomorrow?" he asked.

"What'cha seein?" Ennis said.

"High school movie" Jess replied.

"And if we let ya go, will you come back at the time we set?" Ennis said.

"Yes" Jess said. Jack and Ennis whispered a bit, then Jack turned to him.

"Tell ya what," he said "you do some extra chores tomorrow and we might let ya go" might? Jess wasn't gonna do that unless it was a will. But he figured that would be the closest he would get so he took it.

"Fine, whatever" he said. Guess that'll have to do he thought.

Last nights victory was still fresh in Bobby's mind. He always had this unnatural high after a win, maybe it's the shear enjoyment of a long week of practice that pays of or the natural energy you feel when win. Well whatever it was, it was definitely the reason why Bobby played the sport.

However right now, that high seemed to be slowly ebbing away. His math teacher Ms. Leans gave him extra work to make up for his pitiful test score. It was a two-page worksheet all about simplifying expressions and no matter how Bobby tried he just didn't get it.

Jack and Ennis had already gone out and instructed Bobby to not come out until it was finished. Jess came stumbling downstairs wearing his usual baggy jeans and band t-shirt (Def Leopard). He walked over and poured himself some left over coffee.

Bobby was still trying to work out problem one and he was still not getting it. Okay think he thought the square root of forty-nine is…seven, I think. And the square root of two is…one? No, that ain't right. Maybe it's two? No, that's the square root of four and what is the second equation for? Shit! Bobby was so frustrated that he was about to erase all the work he'd done when Jess appeared over his shoulder.

"You simplify two into one" Jess said, taking the pencil out of Bobby's hand "that makes it seven divided by one, which is seven" he paused for a moment.

"You then do the same to the other equation. So the square root of sixteen is…" Bobby realized Jess was talking to him.

"Um…four" Bobby said.

Jess nodded "then you find the square root of seven eighty four, which is…" Bobby couldn't figure out a number of that size, not without a calculator.

Jess sighed "twenty eight. So you divide four into twenty eight, which is…"

"Seven" Bobby said, the concept starting to make sense.

Jess nodded "you then combine the two sevens to form square root of seven" Jess wrote the answer on the line.

Jess took another sip of his coffee and put it in the sink.

"Thanks" Bobby said. Jess shrugged and headed for the door.

"Why are you being so nice?" Bobby asked. It was strange; Jess had been acting like this to him all week. No threats, snide, or barbed insults, just a simple understanding.

Jess looked at him for a moment, his eyes as hard as steel, lips thin. "I still don't like you" he said "but…I respect you. That's it".

"Why?" Bobby said, "Why do you respect me?"

Jess stared at Bobby and then said, "because of Monday, the fight, if Lois and I had never come you still would have stood up to them. You were outnumbered and knew you get your ass kicked…yet you'd still fight them. All for standing up for me. After the way I've treated you, Jack, and Ennis…that garners respect in my book"

It was the first time Bobby had ever heard Jess sound so sincere. It was in that one small moment of time that all the armor had come off and the real Jess came out.

Jess slipped into his worn brown shoes and opened the door "why don't ya respect Jack and Ennis?" Bobby asked him.

Jess body went rigid; his hand clutching the door, the armor suddenly back on. He then looked at Bobby "because I can never respect them" his voice hard "Not now…not ever" he then shut the door.

Jess was still uncertain why he had helped Bobby with his schoolwork. He wasn't sure of a lot of things that happened this week. He just kept on thinking the entire day why he was suddenly opening up to Bobby. About a week ago, he could barley stay in the same room as him. Now…now, it was different.

Maybe I'm going soft Jess thought. Whatever there reason, it had become clear that Jess and Bobby were no longer enemies. Jess wouldn't say friends, more along the lines of…acquaintances.

Jess finished with his work and walked over to Jack.

"I did my work" he said, "Can I go to the drive-threw?"

Jack nodded "ya"

Jess then shuffled into the house when the phone rang. He picked it up.

"Hello?" he said.

"Hey Jess" it was Lois.

"Oh hi" he said.

"So what did Jack and Ennis say?"

"They said yes," Jess said.

"Well that's good!" Lois said, "okay, well the movie starts at seven thirty, I'll pick ya up at six forty five?"

"Sure, sounds good"

"Okay, I'll see ya then".

"Bye" he hung up the phone just as Ennis came in.

"Who was that?" he asked.

"No one" Jess said. He then headed upstairs. Jess came down for dinner about an hour earlier. He did his usual routine of picking at his food and not speaking.

"So dad" Bobby said, "I was wonderin' if I can go out tonight".

"With whom?" Jack asked.

"Bunch of the guys" Bobby said "we never got the chance to celebrate last night, so were doing it tonight".

"Finish you'r work?" Ennis asked.

Bobby nodded "okay, you can go" Ennis said.

Bobby nodded and went back to his food.

"When's Lois comin' to pick ya up?" Jack asked.

"Six forty five" he replied.

"How longs the movie?"

"Fuck do I know" Jess growled. Ennis tensed up and a muscle twitched on Jack's cheek.

"Well be back by ten" Jack said. Jess shrugged and finished his dinner. He then went into the TV room and flicked on ABC. It was only night news but it was better then nothing. Bobby then finished up his dinner and walked to the door.

"I'll be back around eleven," he said.

"Okay, have fun" Jack said. Of course, he gets a later hour then me Jess thought bitterly. He then headed out of the door and got into his car.

Nothing really interesting was on the news. Some robbery, health tip, and breakthrough technology but that was it. By the time Lois pulled up, Ennis was watching the news with Jess on one of the chairs while Jack was finishing up dishes. Jess soon heard a car beep outside.

He got up and put on his shoes "be back by ten" Ennis said, who walked over with him.

"All right" Jess said in an agitated voice. He opened the door and hurried over to Lois.

"Hey" he said.

"Hey, you ready?"

"Ya, lets go" he then slid into the passengers seat and the two of them drove down the road.

Ennis watched as Jess got in and drove off down the road. Ennis thought it was a bad idea, Jess would probably not show up by ten and once again they would have another big argument over nothing. Ennis sighed and turned around right into Jack.

"Well well" Jack said "look at this, we have the whole house to ourselves tonight cowboy" he wrapped his arms around Ennis and kissed him lightly.

"Got any plans?" Jack said, his blue eyes sparkling.

Ennis gave him lopsided smile "not that I can think of" Ennis returned the kiss and pulled Jack closer to him. Ennis then backed Jack up to the couch were he lifted off Jack's shirt exposing his well-muscled body. It always happened like this; the two men could never keep their clothes on long enough, always coming off after just a few seconds.

They feel on the couch together, heavily kissing. Jack began to unbutton Ennis's shirt while his head was buried into Ennis's neck. Ennis's then flipped Jack over and quickly unbuckled his pants, then without hesitation pushed in.

Jack moaned beneath him. It was that moan that drove Ennis crazy and made him push harder into him and it was with Jack's kisses and encouragement that made Ennis keep going until he was finally pushed to the extreme and just gave it all over to Jack. Ennis climaxed and then felt himself go weak and dizzy from the pleasure and collapsed onto Jack.

Jack twisted his head and kissed Ennis lightly, hands locked together, warm bodies pressed together. It was exactly this thing that Ennis missed so much when they were separated after Brokeback. He would try with Alma a few times but there was never that same warmth he felt when he was with Jack.

"Feel good there cowboy?" Jack said in a whisper.

"Real good" he said.

"We got all night" Jack said, "think you can hold out?"

Ennis kissed Jack "I can if you can".

Lois and Jess began to drive the opposite way to Shattuck's main area. Once again, all Jess could see were the wide-open spaces and could still hear the deathly quiet. It was like some sorta atom bomb went off, leaving the entire world a barren and deserted wasteland. Lois babbled the entire way as they traveled across this strange landscape, almost like walking on Mars.

They soon pulled of the main road and a large sign that read Kellyville came into view. It was bigger then Shattuck but it was still a pretty small town. They drove threw the main area until they came to the drive threw.

Jess saw the movies playing and then spotted their film…that happened to be R rated.

"Lois" Jess said, "You never told me this was R rated? How are we gonna get in?"

"Oh stop ya worryin," she said. They pulled up to the ticket booth were a small, brown hair kid stood, his face covered in pimples.

"Hey there Artie" she said.

"Hey Lois" the kid said in a squeaky voice.

"Artie, this here's my friend Jess. Jess, this is my cousin Artie".

"Nice to meet ya" Artie said.

"Same" Jess replied.

"So Lois, what'cha seein' tonight?"

"Fast Times" she said.

Artie looked at her uncertainty "um, I don't know that's an R rated flick…"

"Oh come on Artie" she said "that hasn't stopped ya before from lettin' us in".

"Ya but my boss says if he catches me sneakin' ya in again I might get fired!" he said, his voice getting higher.

"Come on Artie" she said "just one last time, for me?" Lois eyes went big and she began to bat her eyes.

Artie looked at her, his eyes twitching "oh fine" he said "fine, but ya owe me for this" he then rang them in.

"Thanks Artie" she said, "love ya". Lois then drove into the drive-threw. It was just like Jess imagined it to be, a bunch of cars all lined up with one huge screen overlooking them. They found a nice parking place in the middle of the rows of cars.

"I'm gonna go get some popcorn 'fore the movie starts, want anythin?"

"No, not really" Jess said "just some popcorn…and see if they have some Dr Pepper" Jess loved Dr Pepper, he could barley remember the last time he had a drink of the delicious soda. Lois returned with a large tub of popcorn and a bottle of Dr Pepper that Jess drank in a few famished gulps.

Jess actually enjoyed the movie. It was sorta like a day at Bergtraum high…well if they had some dopey surfer guy and kids who got high off the ink. But there was one scene that Jess and probably every other guy in the theater liked as well.

It was the dream sequence when Phoebe Cates steps out of the pool, body dripping in water, and begins to walk toward Brad. Then from outta nowhere she releases the twins. Jess heard a whole bunch of guys yell out.

"Uh, you need to be alone for a bit?" Lois said. Jess then saw he had raised the flag, right in front of Lois.

Jess was mortified; he quickly covered it up with one of Lois's drawings. She was now laughing hysterically "ah, men" she said "all the same, when one nude scene comes on you just have to sound off the mornin' glory" soon Jess was laughing and he forgot entirely about the event.

The movie ended at nine five. Lois threw away the garbage as they drove out and then said "bye Artie! See ya soon!"

"Bye Lois!" he called back. They then pulled out of Kellyville and once again began their trek across the deserted wasteland back to Shattuck.

Ennis thrust in once, twice, three more times until Jack finally gave in. Jack shuddered and fell onto the couch, Ennis holding him from behind kissed his neck.

Jack sighed, "What time is it?"

"Dunno" Ennis said "probably about nine".

Jack kissed his hand "still got an hour then" he muttered. Ennis pulled out and flipped Jack on his back.

"Again?" he said in a murmur. Jack nodded. Swear Ennis thought he's got some kinda problem but then again, I want it to. So I guess we both have a problem.

So Ennis dove into Jack's mouth, his body pressed against his. Then, another strong urge passed threw Ennis, one he hardly ever got. He grabbed one of Jack's hands and slowly brought it down to his ass.

Jack stopped for a moment, confused "you sure?" he said. Ennis only nodded. He was about to turn when Jack stopped him.

"Wait" he said "I wanna watch ya. Not everyday you wanna do this" it was the truth. Of the nearly thirteen years since they've been here, Ennis had only done this maybe three times before. The first was almost seven years ago, when Ennis just asked him out of the blue. It was rough and kinda awkward, more painful then pleasurable. Like that first night on Brokeback.

The second time was five years ago and this time it went more smoothly but it was still a bit awkward. The third time however was when they finally got it right. In Ennis's opinion, it was the best fuck he'd ever had in his life. He still remembered the potency of it and how his body felt it might tear apart from the shear pleasure of it all. When it reached its climax, a stunning clarity crossed Ennis and for a few seconds he felt weightless and the whole world had evaporated around him with only he and Jack together, the only people on the world.

The reason Ennis hardly ever did this was because of the sheer weakness. To be able to hand yourself over to someone and feel utterly powerless was something Ennis just couldn't do. But every once in a while, he would work up the courage to actually go threw with it.

Ennis felt the familiar sensation as Jack pushed in, the same feeling escaping into his mouth as if gasping for air. He wondered if this is what Jack went threw every time he did it to him or maybe he was just used to it.

The first few minutes are always awkward and it took Ennis time until he found a rhythm. When he did, all he could do was urge Jack on. He flat Jack's muscles flex beneath him and the same feeling as before began to rock his body. He kept on urging Jack on with deep kisses and short labored breaths. He could feel it, the same feeling beginning to tear him apart.

Ennis was moaning and this kept Jack going faster, harder, and it began to feel like they were the only two people on this planet.

However, they weren't and unlike their private world, the real world didn't work out that way. They were so deep into it everything was oblivious to them.

Even the doorknob that was being turned.

It was nine thirty nine when Jess and Lois pulled up to the house. Wow, first time I actually make curfew Jess thought I am going soft he thought.

"Well that was…eventful" Lois said, her voice hiding a snicker. Jess knew she must be referring to the…incident at the drive-threw.

"Go ahead, laugh all you want" Jess said "I can't help it if parts of my body go off without my knowledge".

Lois shrugged "whatever" she said, "hey, mind if I come in?"

Jess looked at her, puzzled "why?"

"I ain't never been in you'r room before and I'd like ta see it," she said.

"My room's kinda boring" Jess said.

"I like borin" she replied "sides, got nothin' better to do".

Jess smiled "all right, come on" the two got out of the car and made their way to the house.

"Bobby home? I don't see his car" Lois said as they climbed the steps.

"He's out" Jess said, grabbing the doorknob and turning it "with some friends I think" Jess opened the door "its only Jack and Enn-".

Jess suddenly stopped in his tracks, his whole body feeling like he'd been shot with tranquilizer. There, on the couch, was Jack and Ennis…both naked and fucking hard.

It was like a bomb had gone of and the white fire came right at Jess, engulfing him and searing deep into his bones.

"Hey, whydah stop?" she said "are you oh-" Lois then saw Jack and Ennis, both men now fully aware of the two. Jack had this extremely shocked face on and Ennis looked absolutely mortified.

"Oh my god!" Lois said in a surprise and horrified voice like she just witnessed an absolutely stunning event "oh my god, oh god" she headed out the door.

"Jess!" Ennis began but he quickly closed the door. He breathed for first time, coming in long, horrified breaths. Lois was on the rail, shaking her head.

I can't believe them! Jess thought I actually sat on the couch! Lois he thought. Oh no, Lois! What would she think? Would she think he was like them? Some butt-munching faggot? And would she tell her dad? Would she tell the whole town? My life is over he thought.

Then Lois did something he never expected. She began to laugh, it was small at first but then it became louder until it seemed like she heard the most hilarious joke on the face of the earth.

"Oh" she said composing herself "don't cha just hate that? Walkin' in on you'r folks doin' the dirty deed? God knows, I thought I'd never go threw it with my momma bein' dead an' all but…I guess it can happen at a friends house to".

She laughed again "so, I guess that whole tour of you'r room ain't gonna happen?" Jess just looked at her with a dumb founded expression.

"Well, guess I should get goin" she said, heading to her car.

"Wait Lois!" Jess said, "Look, I can explain, its-"

She held up her hand "no Jess, its all right" she propped against her open car door "look" she began "I kinda suspected somethin' was goin' on between the two of them just never got the proof to prove otherwise. I mean, a guy who can't go livin' without a mate…biggest load of shit I'd ever heard. Everyone's gotta have some one".

There was a short pause "don't worry Jess" Lois said, "I won't tell no one. I may run of the mouth a lot but I know when to keep it shut. You'r secrets safe with me".

Jess could only look at her. She then smiled "well, see ya tomorrow". She then got into her car and drove off down the road. Jess could only stare as the beat up Vista Cruiser disappeared down the road.

Good old Lois he thought.