Bare-Back Mountain

Chapter Eight:

He took a deep breath. Sapphire against mahogany. Crimson blush to crimson blush. I took a deep breath. He paused.

"Ray... have you ever..." I'm going to shit my pants. I'm going to crap everywhere and the diarrhea joke will come crashing down on me and Joe and I will drown in my own shit. He took another deep breath. "Have you ever had sex..?" There seemed to be more to this, as though he hadn't finished his statement.

"Sex." I stared blankly back at him. Guys asked other guys about their sex lives all the time, right? (Right?) So why had he seemed so nervous, just now?

"Yeah. Sex. Have you ever... done it with...?"

"Who?"

A firework exploded in the sky and the deep night sky danced through the leaves in the trees, creating a rush sound, like a secret being whispered in the darkness.

I stared at him. Why wasn't he answering? Wasn't this an easy question for any one to ask? Anyone to answer?

I cut off my previous question with another. "Have you ever had sex...?" He turned onto his back, eyes finally tearing away from mine.

"No." YESSS score one for me! Katie might be a slut but she still hasn't won yet!

"Me either." I smiled as though to reassure him. "Came close though." I laughed at the memory then immediately wished I hadn't brought it up. I blushed and grimaced, ripping my eyes from his face and mimicking his stare into the night.

"With Maria?" I could feel his eyes draw back to my own, almost like a young child pleading to hear his favored story. I couldn't help it. I glanced over to him (at least I had intended to.) The moment I did, we were back, staring at each other.

"No."

"Then..." He grew sullen and once again those orbs drifted off of mine reluctantly. "... with Eve." He said it so quietly and almost painfully. Was this bothering him?

"Yeah." I murmured back, staring at the same place he was, right on the small strip of grass that lie between us.

"But you came... close?" He asked as I smiled weakly, really wishing I hadn't spoken.

"Yes." Let's not talk about this Joe. Hey! I got an idea! Blowjobs make every one shut up!

"Oh." A silence deep as despair fell between us, landing on the soft grass and mocking us into conversation once more.

"But you haven't done it either?" He shook his head. "But-"

"No. Katie wouldn't do it with me." He had begun pulling at the strands of grass between us making the distance between us shrink.

"You wanted her to?" He looked up in confusion. Oops. They were dating, you dumbass! Of course he wanted to! "I- I mean..."

"No. You're right. I really didn't want to uh... do it" lose your virginity, Joe? "with Katie." He sighed. "I don't think she really wanted to do it with me anyway though. She seemed kind of... playful... but that was about it." It's ok. A kiss makes everything better! I know! We'll just make out! Problem solved.

Wishful thinking bites.

"So... why'd you ask?" Way to be frank. Seriously, this honest thing is amazing. He was surprised by this question but behind those cavernous crystalline eyes lay the truth. He knew why he asked. He asked for a reason. But what was it, I wonder?

"I... I was curious." Oh geeze, if someone doesn't give me a frickin' blowjob I swear to god I'll do it myself. I sighed at the same time he did and we both returned gazing at each other. "You know... it's weird but I feel like I can actually talk with you, Ray." He smiled and shut his eyes, humming a techno song.

"...I know this song!" I sat up and began to sing. He too sat up, singing the words along with me.

"Cuz every time we touch, I get this feeling! And every time we kiss, I swear I can fly!" We were singing together, badly mind you, but singing. Together.

"Need you by my side..."I trailed off as I realized he had stopped singing a while ago. I raised my eyes to meet his, and there we were, staring at each other again. I went from tickle-me-pink to the deepest shade of scarlet imaginable. His face copied the color and he bent his head.

"Ray...?"

"Joe." I sounded so certain. Why was he questioning? Why did he ask my name? It wasn't my name I wanted to hear... I wanted to hear...

Blowjob! I laughed and he looked up in surprise.

"Ray?" I couldn't help it. I laughed again. This entire thing was utterly ridiculous. If I knew the song Every Time We Touch and he did too, then it was fate. He was gay as hell but didn't know it, and hell, I was just gay. We were singing a love song to each other in the middle of night as we lay next to each other in the grass. If that doesn't shout homo I don't know what does.

"Joe. You're so gay." I said jokingly, making it sound as though it wasn't meant to be taken seriously, even though I kind of wish it would've been. But just kind of.

"You're the gay one!" He laughed and punched my arm.

"OH NO YOU DIDN'T!" I tackled him, punching his arm back.

"ACK! FAGGOT ATTACK!" I laughed as we rolled in the grass, kicking and screaming "FAGGOT ATTACK" in our raucous laughter. Rolling, kicking, punching, screaming, biting...

kissing...

My eyes shot open as I felt the shock of his lips against mine. I didn't want to pull away but had to in my surprise.

"Joe?" He frowned and blushed. "You are a homo!" I laughed and smiled. "And you know what, so am I!" Faggot attack! I was down and he was further down. He rolled making me be underneath him instead. Ah, so he likes to be on top? I can take it. I laughed in delight, my heart full of bursting as brilliant fireworks dancing and erupted above our heads. The grass was soft, the night was cool, his lips were hot. I closed my eyes as he fell back next to me.

"Ray... was that real?" Another giggle from the Peanut Gallery. But I wanted to be poetic. I made my eyes meet his face, which was staring up at the sky, body taking in air in gulps.

"If it wasn't, then I shall sleep so deeply so as to dream it again." He turned toward me, eyes wide. Then he laughed hard.

"This is a dream! That was way too smooth to be Ray." He smiled and laughed as and pushed me away but I grabbed his wrist, my eyes shifting into a serious glare. He almost seemed frightened for a moment until I pulled him in for a long kiss.

Ray: 3
Katie: Zip.

I win. My cheerleading fantasy version of myself did a million back flips while shouting "F-A-double G-O-T! ATTACK!"

"IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII DIIIIIIIID IIIIIIT!" I shouted in a sing-song voice.

"You got laid?"

"Dammit, Eve! Do you have to guess the best news so that whatever my news is seems less important?"

"Unless you did do it. Because then it'd still be good."

"Will you let me tell you what the hell happened?"

"Maria molested you and you got a boner which proves you're straight?"

"WAAAY off." I smirked at my hidden knowledge, ready to unveil the secret. "Katie molested me and I got a boner when I molested Joe, proving I'm gay." I folded my arms across my chest and smiled triumphantly. "You weren't even cl-"

"YOU GOT IT ON WITH JOE? OH MY GOD RAY I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!" Eve bear-hugged me for a while, bouncing up and down and making me giddy with pleasure.

"Isn't it amazing! He's such a good kisser." I sighed and clasped my hands together, eyes shining and tears of happiness running down my face. "I could've died. DIED!" She smiled, then looked confused and slightly disgusted.

"Wait, Katie molested you?"

Ray's Chibi-cheerleading self: I made up a cheer! But then I forgot it because Chibi-Joe distracted me with flowers. Oh, and I bought a new uniform! A school-girl outfit! Isn't it cute? (holds up outfit) I know, you don't have to say anything. Well, I just thought I'd fill you guys in on what happens next chapter! I say some cheers and look adorable in my ponytail and a skirt that matches my eyes. I also shave my legs to make the skirt look cuter! Oh, right! I'm supposed to be talking about Ray and the next chapter!

Silly me! Guess you'll have to wait then! (winks)