A/N: So, JasonDragon64 replied to me a little bit ago with "The more you write, the more I get to read and enjoy!" I hope all my readers feel that way, and if you do, to you I say: The more you read and enjoy, the more I write! Thank you all for the support you've given me so far, and hopefully in the future.

Liberty

Chapter 3 –

Dave suddenly found himself trying to push Colton away. Too many thoughts going through his head about what was happening. The top contenders being, He's kissing me! This is why things got awkward! He's kissing me! Fuck this is nice! He's kissing me! Mmm, he tastes good! But only after Dave had pushed him away, and saw the crushed look on his face, did the most important thought win over all the others.

Oh my God! YES! He's GAY! Dave's inner voice, which was doing some sort of jig while chanting, he's gay, he's gay, he's gay, over and over again, silenced when he noticed Colton moving away. That's when he realized his face must look a little contrary to his inner thoughts, having pure shock reflecting in his wide eyes and open mouth.

"I shouldn't have done that," mumbled Colton, moving away.

Dave took a step forward but didn't follow. "Colton?"

Colton stopped, hand on the door eyes on the window. "I'm sorry about that. I shouldn't have done anything. I must have read the signals wrong." He opened the door and climbed in, still not looking at Dave. "We can leave the bike at the junkyard or your house. I'm sure Charles would help you with it."

Dave shook his head, finally walking up to the blonde in the driver seat. "I don't want Charles," he said.

Eyes straightforward, Colton put both hands on the wheel, knuckles turning white. "Then I'm sure Charles would be able to suggest someone else."

Dave planted a hand on the door, keeping it open, and one on the frame, leaning in slightly. "I don't want anyone else." When all he got was a deep breath in return he hardened his voice just a tiny bit. "Colton." The firmness finally got the blonde's attention.

Dave made sure he had the full attention of the boy before him. Eyes locked with eyes. "I want you," he said, letting his own hope filter through to the outside.

It was almost tangible, watching Colton realize what those three words meant. Slowly he turned to towards Dave. "You mean…?"

Dave nodded. "I am completely into you," he answered, smiling a little.

Colton leaned closer, pure joy taking up his entire face. He paused, inches from Dave's mouth. "Can I…?"

Dave licked his lips. "Third time's the charm," he mumbled before closing the gap himself.

He made sure Colton wouldn't want to ask about that comment, tentatively running his tongue along the older boy's lower lip. Surprisingly that pulled a small whimper from the blonde and his mouth opened. Letting go of the car, Dave put a hand on the back of Colton's neck and one on his hip.

Colton also put his hands on Dave, opting for grabbing his shoulders in an attempt to take charge in the kiss he didn't have any hope of controlling. But he did manage to separate their lips for a second, just long enough to say, "We should talk."

"Yeah," breathed Dave, honestly agreeing, but not caring at that exact moment.

After another deep kiss, completely controlled by Dave, Colton managed to pull back again. This time to say, "We should probably go inside."

"Yeah," repeated Dave, pulling Colton back to him. He didn't plan on stopping, but he did step away from the truck, his unwillingness to release Colton bringing the blonde with him.

Colton, having more control over his senses then he did over the kiss, managed to close and lock the truck before he was pulled towards the garage. Once there he waved a little towards a door that led into the kitchen.

Dave took lead again and Colton just had enough time to flip the switch to close the garage door before he found himself being guided through his own house. As they approached the living room he once again pulled away.

"My parents aren't home."

"Figured," said Dave.

Then Colton managed to hold them apart a second longer, adding, "My bed is very comfortable."

"Not yet," replied Dave before pushing Colton onto the couch and going in for an even deeper kiss.

"But the couch is surprisingly comfortable, too," mumbled Colton once they came up for air.

Dave nibbled on the blonde's lip before pulling away himself. "Colton?"

The boy in question looked up, breaths deep, lips already red, wet, and kiss swollen. "Yeah?"

"Shut up," grinned Dave before leaning down to continue the make-out session.

Apparently, when encouraged to stop talking, Colton did so completely. He simply hummed in response seconds before his hands started to wander. Dave continued to concentrate on the moldable lips, wandering to the neck, but always returning to those lips. Colton, meanwhile, figured he could use this time to memorize Dave's muscles.

Just as his hands were getting close to exploring below the waist, both boys jumped at a tap, tap, tap, CLUNK, sound that came from the direction of the front door.

Dave sat up, panting from what he had just been doing and from the momentary scare. Colton, though slower to follow, was faster on recovery, but he was still panting slightly.

"Mail's here," he said, chuckling.

Dave couldn't help but chuckle in return. Everything about this boy was infectious. He took a deep breath to calm himself before looking to the blonde. "It would probably be better to go out and work on the bike while we talk."

Colton nodded and grinned, standing up and offering a hand.

Dave took it and didn't let go until they were outside and forced to separate in order to release the bike. It wasn't until the bike was in the garage that either spoke. And it was Colton who started the much needed conversation.

"So, third time?" he asked softly, picking up a wrench, before setting it back down and turning to Dave.

Dave nervously wiped his perfectly clean hands on his jeans. He knew they needed to talk about this, but why did they have to start with that particular subject? Didn't Colton realize where that would lead? He sighed and shook his head, of course not, that's why they were talking about it. "That was third time I'd kissed a guy," he finally mumbled.

Colton grinned, considering this. "So, since that was only the second time we kissed that means I wasn't your first." He leaned over the bike, curious. "Was it your first boyfriend?" His voice was playful, trying to keep the mood light, but Dave still frowned.

He turned away and sat on a random lawn chair being stored in the garage. "I've never had a boyfriend." He ignored the soft gasp, crossing his arms across his chest protectively and staring at the floor. "And you're only the third person to know that I'm gay, including me."

Colton moved closer to Dave, kneeling carefully at his feet. "So your first kiss is the third person?"

Dave nodded. "And he only knows because I kissed him."

Colton misread the pain in the young man's face. "He's straight isn't he?" The loud, sudden laugh that followed caused Colton to fall back, butt on the floor.

"He's gayer than anyone can imagine," said Dave. "God, I swear the entire town knew he was gay before he did."

Colton frowned in confusion. "So what was so bad about kissing a gay guy? Did he not like you?"

Dave sobered at that. "That's an understatement. Kurt hated me, probably still does." He slouched further into the plastic chair. "I wouldn't blame him, though."

Carefully, unsure of what was going on, Colton laid a hand on Dave's knee. "How could anyone hate you? You're the sweetest guy I know."

Dave stared at the hand, holding back the need to touch it in return. "I bullied him," he said softly. "I made fun of him and his friends, making homophobic remarks about all of them." When the hand remained, though tensing a little, Dave continued. "When he confronted me one day, blowing up in my face, I kissed him. It wasn't the way you first kissed me, though. I kind of grabbed him and… attacked."

"Why kiss him? Why not something a little less obvious?"

Dave released a sardonic chuckle. "I had a crush on him. The fact that he was so girlish confused me even more. But the only other options I had were to run or hit him, because he wouldn't shut up like I wanted him to. There was no way I was going to hit him. I may have pushed him around, violently even, but I didn't want to hit him. And of course, running wasn't an option. So I kissed him."

"How did he react?"

"He didn't, he was just shocked, terrified. I'm sure it didn't help that I leaned in to do it again, but he pushed me away. That's when I realized that I should have run sooner, and I did."

"What happened later? He obviously didn't tell anyone about you."

Dave put his face in his hands. "That's because he understood how hard it was for me. I knew he wouldn't tell, not on purpose, but that didn't stop me from threatening to kill him if he did." He finally looked up this time when Colton's gasp was accompanied by his disappearing hand.

"Go on," he mumbled, looking away again, angry at himself for saying so much. "Tell me what a hypocrite I am, and how lucky I am to even be allowed back at school." He jumped, startled, when a hand landed on his shoulder.

"I'm not going to tell you any of that, Dave," said Colton, his voice soft, gentle, and soothing. "There's no point in repeating what you already said." He pulled gently on Dave's arm, "Let's work on your bike for a bit. I think we can finish this talk later."

Grateful, and holding back tears of relief, Dave nodded, standing. "Thanks, Colton."

The blonde just smiled, handing over an oil rag and a wrench.

TBC...