Boone was seated at his desk, auditing a docket for a graduation party when he became aware of someone standing in the entrance to his office. He looked up just as his visitor reached out to knock on the open door.
"Hey! Terry," His enthusiastic greeting was returned in kind. Boone frowned a bit, "You're not scheduled to work tonight, are you?" The last two words came out in an uncertain tone.
Terry shook his head, "No. Actually, I came to see you, if you've got a few minutes. Hey, Andrew," The boy was sitting at the small meeting table over by the window, assembling more company folders. While he spent a lot of time with his friends, he was also something of a permanent fixture at the office as well. He liked being useful, like his dad, and also the company of adults.
"Yeah, sure thing," Boone closed the window on his laptop and waited in curiosity as Terry took a seat in one of his guest chairs.
The kid looked a bit unsure how to start. "I've been thinking, actually more than just thinking, I've done a bunch of research, some inquiries," he rambled on a bit then looked up at Boone. "I really like the cooking thing."
Terry was Boone's favourite assistant; he loved working with the teen. It was almost as if the kid was just as psychic as Shannon. It seemed as if every time Boone needed something, Terry put it in his hand just as he was about to request it. Boone had had a general sense, back at Christmas when he'd first started Terry off in his kitchen, that they'd work well together and, once again, his innate ability to read people hadn't failed him. Terry was a natural in the kitchen and a great sous chef, Boone had no doubt the guy would make an excellent head chef one day, if that was the career path he chose.
"You're good at it." Boone commented, sincerely.
"Thanks. Glad you think so; because I've decided it's what I want to do, as a career I mean." Boone smiled as the guy echoed what he'd just been thinking himself. "I would never have even considered it if you hadn't seen something in me and given me a chance. I owe you, big time." Terry shared the direction he'd envisioned for this future. "Hard to believe that this time last year my entire repertoire consisted of KD and toast. Now when I'm home I do all the cooking. Mom thinks she's died and gone to heaven."
Boone was floored that he'd influenced the kid so profoundly. "That's great." He realized how lame that sounded. "I mean, whoa thanks. I'm…that's great." He repeated, unable to come up with anything better, still a bit flustered. "So, tell me your plans."
This was Terry's last year of high school, but he was far too late to apply for a scholarship for the coming fall, and being awarded a subsidy was the only way he could possibly afford to go to college. The school he'd approached had some openings still available for the fall semester as well as residence spaces, but all scholarships and subsidies had already been awarded. His parents could contribute some funds and, so far, residence was the least expensive housing solution he'd found. His uncle owned a grocery store near the campus of the school he'd selected, and had promised to give him as many hours of part time work as he could, but it would still be tight.
"Kevin already agreed to write me a letter of recommendation and I wanted to ask if you'd write me one too. It'd really help when I apply for scholarships and admittance for next year."
"Sure, of course," Boone agreed immediately. "But I don't know how much weight it would carry; I'm not a real chef like Kevin."
"That's not what he says." Terry contradicted. "He really talks you up when you're not around. And even if you don't think so, I know the board would, so thanks again."
Boone considered Kevin to be a technically excellent chef, as least as far as he could tell, but he was unfortunately very pedantic. He just didn't seem to have the creativity or ability to think outside the box that Boone did. Boone thought that maybe it was because of Kevin's years of professional training. He'd been taught certain methods, blends of ingredients and recipes and had become conditioned to a set of rules. Boone, of course, had no such preconceptions and was limited only by his own imagination and natural talent. On more careful consideration though, he thought that it was probably more that it was Kevin's natural inclination, given that he figured most professional chefs were undoubtedly creative.
As a glimmer of an idea sparked in Boones' head, a slight smirk lifted a corner of Andrews' lips over at the table. He'd put his work to one side when the conversation had started, openly eavesdropping, and had been waiting for his dad to come up with the more obvious and immediate solution to Terry's problem. Though they didn't live ostentatiously and Boone had always made his son earn his allowance, the boy nonetheless, knew that they were very, very wealthy.
"So you've figured out a plan?" Boone asked, while he mulled his idea over.
Terry reached down into his messenger bag and pulled out a folder. "I've done my best. I showed this to my dad and went over it with my economics teacher." He handed the documents to Boone.
There was an admissions package and several scholarship applications tucked into the left side of the folder, the right side was filled with notes and calculations. Boone looked them over while the kid waited. Terry had factored in his own estimated savings by this time next year, the amount of the scholarship he hoped to secure, his parents' contribution and his own on going earnings. Boone was impressed that he'd even thought to consider a contingency fund.
"So you figure your grades are good enough to get in?" He quickly ran a few numbers in his head while he listened.
"Yeah, they've always been good, but this last semester, they've been even better. I guess working with you just inspired me to do my best with everything." Terry looked a bit embarrassed at the admission.
Boone got a bit flustered again at the scope of the impact he'd obviously had on the guy. "And they have openings for this fall?"
Terry nodded.
"And available rooms in residence?" Boone continued.
Terry was starting to wonder why Boone was rehashing things he'd already told him. It was pointless anyway he wasn't going till next year.
Boone committed to memory a couple of figures from Terry's notes and handed the folder across the desk. "It sounds great! And you've certainly done your research. You'll do really well, no question." He picked up a piece of paper on his desk and frowned at it. "I can't believe she didn't pay this." He muttered as if viewing an unpaid bill. It was, in fact, a spam fax from a cleaning company; he was just using it as a diversionary tactic for what he was about to do next. He reached down into his bag and pulled out a small leather folder, enjoying himself immensely.
"I hope so. I hope it all works out. I've been saving my wages since I started with you and got the idea. And I'll have all the money from working here full time this summer, too." They'd already discussed it and Boone had assured the boy full time employment through until the end of August. "I was hoping that I could stay on in September?"
"Oh, Jeeze Terry, I'm sorry." Boone shook his head as he started writing. Andrew grinned widely and even giggled a bit, Boone shot him a warning look but there was a mischievous glint in his eye as he did it. "We won't have any full time openings."
"Oh…oh well…" The kid was crestfallen, it made Boone feel a little bad that he was playing him, but knew that it would only be for a minute longer. "I guess I can always work for my dad at the gas station," he said, like he'd just resigned himself to a year of exhuming corpses.
"No, I don't think the gas station's going to be an option either." Boone's casual tone continued.
"Huh?" Terry's confusion was evident.
"No, I think you'll be too busy working at your uncle's grocery store." He snapped the cheque out of his chequebook and held it out between his index and middle fingers. Andrew snorted once then covered his mouth with both hands, in an attempt to hold in his laughter.
Instinct urged Terry forward to take the slip of paper. His eyes widened as he realized what he held. "No, no, no way. I didn't come here for this. No way, Boone, I can't take this. I only wanted a letter."
"Too bad, you've got it now, and I'm not taking it back." Boone told him calmly. "Though I should warn you, you now belong to me. Every school holiday, anytime you come home, you're here. Consider yourself the modern equivalent of an indentured servant." He finished smugly.
Terry realized that there was no changing the man's mind, knowing Boone well enough to realize that he wouldn't be swayed. He gave into the inevitable and jumped from the chair, rounding Boone's desk and pulling the smaller man into a hug, clapping him on the back and almost lifting him off his feet, his enthusiastic gratitude causing Boone to blush furiously.
Terry put him down and returned to the front of the desk, continuing to mutter his thanks. "Oh man, holy shit, fuck! Wait till my folks find out." Terry suddenly realized what he'd just said. "Oh, man, I'm sorry." He looked frantically between Boone and Andrew.
"Relax it's nothing Andrew hasn't heard before and completely understandable given the circumstances." Boone dismissed his outburst, "Just don't make a habit of it," he warned with a chuckle.
Terry looked at the cheque again like it was a gift from the gods, then his face clouded, "Uh, what about Shannon?"
"What about Shannon?" Boone didn't understand the question.
"I mean, you didn't, like, ask her first before you gave this to me. Won't you get in trouble?" Shannon's ire was legendary.
Andrew snorted laughter again.
Terry looked at the boy as Andrew lost control of his mirth and started laughing openly, causing the older boy to follow suit.
Boone glanced between them looking unimpressed at the implication of their laughter at Terry's warning. "I case you didn't notice, one of us is not laughing here."
They just laughed harder, Boone finally joining in.
When he told Shannon a little hesitantly at dinner, she just chided him for being such a pushover, she thought just as highly of Terry as he did. Heaving a sigh of relief, he considered that it really could have gone far worse for him. He grabbed his notebook and jotted down a reminder to call his lawyer to set the monies up in a scholarship fund, thinking of naming it after Shan's dad, knowing that would make her happy. Given the tax advantages, he'd already envisioned it as an annual award.
Grateful that he wasn't in the shit, he snuggled her close when they went to bed.
Sometime in the night, Boone awoke to the feel of her fingers tips describing little whorls on the sensitive skin at the inside of the top of his left thigh, and drew a shaky breath. The slight indication that he had awoken was what she'd been waiting for. Her hand moved between his legs to cup him, gently playing with the two small orbs as he spread his knees further apart granting her easier access.
His heart hammering in his chest, Boone managed to ask in a whisper, "What are you doing up?" His mind such a jumbled mess at the state he'd found his body in when he woke up that he didn't want to let her into his head.
Shannon lifted her head from his shoulder and smiled slyly, "On the contrary, brother dear, I think it's you who's up."
"I won't dignify that pathetic attempt at humour with a laugh." He pressed himself into her touch. "What are you doing awake then?"
"I had a wet dream." She slid her hand up and grasped him.
Boone's back arched. "Women have those?"
"It's not unheard of, though that was my first." She admitted as she ran her palm up and down.
"What was it about?" He tried to focus on the conversation as his body moved in response to her ministrations.
"A little girl on girl action," Shannon kissed across his collarbone, licking and nipping.
"Not me then." A whimper escaped his lips.
"You're very, very pretty Boone, but you have certain equipment that kind of eliminates the possibility that you're a girl." She continued to tease, both with her words, and her hand.
'Tell me about your dream.' He gave up on trying to vocalize his words as he gasped.
She slid on top of him, and guided him into her; then leaned down and started whispering; knowing her warm breath against his skin would drive him crazier than just forming her words inside his head. She chose not to share the residual montage of pictures that still lingered in her memory from the dream, this way he could let his imagination run amok as he created his own visual images to go along with her murmurs. As her hips rocked against his, she described her dream in detail, adding a few embellishments, her lips brushing his ear, her tongue and teeth teasing now and again at the secret pleasure centre of his ear lobe.
When they finished, and Shannon had wrung every ounce of strength out of him that he had, all Boone wanted to do was fall back to sleep, but there was still one more question that he had. As she slid back to her regular place at his side, nestled under the comfort of his arm, he asked, 'So, have you ever really done that?'
'Yeah, I've gone all the way with a girl. Not quite as wanton as in my dream, but you know me I'll try anything once.' She snuggled into him. Knowing that he wanted more than just a confirmation, Shannon continued. 'High School, senior year, with Cindy,' She named the other participant overly casually and waited for his reaction.
"Cindy?" Boone said, a little louder than he'd intended.
She nodded, enjoying the perplexed feeling he was exuding; she loved putting him on the spot.
He squeezed his brows together, looking disturbed. 'I've had sex with Cindy too.'
'I know, she told me. She said you were really good, and once I had you too I certainly had to agree. She was pretty good herself. Though,' she mused, 'I've actually got nothing to compare it to.'
'Oh god, this is really too much. We've both had sex with the same person, could we possibly get any weirder?' He posed the question rhetorically, but Shannon chose to answer it anyway.
'Yeah, if it had been the same guy,' She offered in amusement.
Boone pulled the pillow off her side of the bed and pretended to smother her with it for a second in mock indignation. After putting it back in place, he ran his hand down her arm. 'Maybe next time you have a dream like that, you could dream I'm there so I can watch,' he suggested in jest.
'Actually, when I woke up, I looked at you and you had a bit of a smile on your face, I thought maybe you had dreamt my dream with me.' Shannon kidded him, though it wasn't impossible, they'd certainly shared dreams, and nightmares, many times.
Boone shook his head slightly, playing along. 'Believe me if I'd shared that particular dream with you, I sure as hell would have remembered it when you woke me.' Of that he had no doubt whatsoever.