Bare-Back Mountain

Chapter Ten:

"Joe...?" Joe was sitting along the riverbank, a fishing pole lying next to him, line tangled. He wasn't particularly concentrating on anything, simply staring out at the glittering waters. "Joe? We need to talk..."

"Huh?" He turned, his concentration snapping in half, looking over his shoulder at me. "Oh. Ray..." He smiled but his eyes were the betrayal, telling (nay, confirming) my fears. I made a step toward him.

"Joe. What happened last night-"

"It was nothing. Heat of the moment." More like heat in my pants. Moment? You're making our make-out session into a 'moment'! Oh HELL no!

"Joe, c'mon! You can't say that!" Aha, so Ray finally speaks his mind. Chibi-cheerleading-me pumped its pom-pom fist into the air triumphantly.

Joe was silent, staring back at me. He took a deep breath to clear his mind, then spoke.

"You know what Ray... I didn't think it'd be that simple. When I kissed you..." He shook his head. "I was right. It isn't simple. It can't be simple."

"Well... why can't it? We both love fishing." I took another step toward Joe, lowering myself on the ground and curling my legs underneath myself. "We both like to have fun... I'm quiet, you're loud. It's... it's perfect." Joe looked like he was about to laugh. Or cry. Or both.

"We're guys, Ray! Dammit!" He kicked his foot into the water, disturbing its even course. "We can't. We won't."

"This is about me and you! Not genders, not Katie, not anyone or anything else." I lowered my eyes, feeling guilty. But he had kissed me first. It was his fault for being so... being so...!

"Damn sexy!" I finished my statement, completely unaware that I'd spoken out loud.

"Damn sexy?" He repeated blankly. "You think I'm damn sexy?" He grinned wide, laughing, and I relaxed. A moment of smiling silence passed between us before his grin finally dropped along with mine.

"Joe..." I whispered quietly.

"Hm..?"

"Why didn't you tell Katie?"

"...I don't know." He leaned back, dropping fully onto his backside, hands behind his head. "It just... wasn't any of her business. Plus, it's not like we're serious." His laugh turned sour.

"She had a right to know though... Joe?"

"Hm?"

"I don't know."

"Well neither do I." I knew I looked hurt. I couldn't help it. I was hurt. He sighed and propped himself up on his elbows. "You homo. Don't you dare go soft on me." I laughed weakly and so did he until it ended up that both of us were laughing.

"I just don't think this can be serious."

"And why not?"

He didn't answer though. He sat up, hand on his knee, staring into my eyes.

"Let's go climb the mountain."

"Wha-" He was kissing me. He was kissing me! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! My chibi self died, reincarnated, then died again, going to heaven each time, doing a small happy dance all the way up.

I could definitely get used to this.

When he pulled away, out of breath, I was still staring into the distance, a happy grin planted on my face. "Okies let's go."

"Okies? "He laughed and shoved me away, running up the mountain in mad glee.

Hey, the faster we go up there...

eh? Eh? We are going to do it... right? My chibi self was poking my ribs, imploring, wanting to know an answer that I didn't have.

Damn chibi cheerleader.

We stood in front of a large cave.

"Where do you think it goes..?" I was simply wanting to know but Joe...

"Let's find out." His voice was full of a joking passion, eye brow raised.

"Ok!" I ran after him, allowing the darkness to engulf our bodies.
Damn hormones.

We got in the cave, just enough to conceal our whereabouts, when he pushed me up against the wall.

"Wait- Joe-"

"What?"

"I can't do this if you aren't being serious." I was frightened by my words. But to be honest, I didn't want to spend the rest of my life hurting for him, spending the rest of my life alone...

"Ray-" He stopped talking, lowering his head. "You're making this really hard."

"You're making me really hard!" I pushed him back and he grabbed my wrist, mid-shove, pulling me towards him.

"I can't promise anything Ray. Just give me more time." He kissed my neck and I shut my eyes tightly. It was scaring me- this relationship. It had no beginning and no end, but it wasn't a circle, wasn't fool-proof...

wasn't anything?

Or was it something?

I sighed and let hormones run their course, my hand trailing along its own path down his back all the way down to cop a feel.

(Which was very tight by the way.)

I smiled and looked down into his hair. He was about two inches shorter than me, yet liked to do all the commanding. I was gentle and he was rough. I was quiet but he was loud, grunting and giggling as he kissed.

"You are so the feminine figure in this relationship." I murmured, chuckling.

"Uh! No way!"

"You are."

"Are not."

"Are too."

"Would a girl be this hard, Ray?" He took my head and I reddened as he guided it down.

"JOE! Jeeze!" He laughed and I pulled my arms around his smaller frame, giving himno where to go but into my chest.

"You're such a bitch, Joe."

"Thanks much." Total bitch. Bitch squared.

"I'm hungry." I said after a while.

"Want some-"

"STOP TALKING DIRTY DAMMIT!" I shoved him and walked outside. He trailed closely behind until he ran forward, jumping into a small lake, clothes and all. "You are so weird." I rolled my eyes but had to admit,

he looked good when he was wet.