The Start

From your Author.

I find it more difficult to write stories in the length I like. I’m a five-thousand-word guy, if not more. Writhing three fiction stories at the same time is trying but I haven’t picked the one that will get the majority of my time so I will go on giving you fifteen- hundred-words of so and post often. 

Two of my stories, like this one, are in the style of POV, and one is told by one person. I would like to focus more on Something Different, and The Bug, and let The Start, simmer for a while. I see so much in all three of these stories; so much than sexual. RJC.      

RJ’s POV

We talked after the show until Niki took my hand saying we needed to go. We boarded what looked like the same plane I flew in on and were air born minutes later. She sat across from me on her tablet and I was ready to have a cow. Finally, Finally, she looked at me and smiled.

“From what I can see; this came out great. You need to stay off all social media, everything goes through me and the Foundation. Shit is lighting up and all of this will work to our favor.” And I was looking at her in business mode.

It’s one thing when you look at someone like Niki. But when you look at someone like Niki; seen, everything covered with clothes, heard the sounds she makes with no clothes, you just can’t look at her in any other way ever again. At least I couldn’t.

I saw the look on her face and all I could do was smile, my eyes closed, and my head shook back and forth. “You’re too much; you know that???” And I smiled.

Then I got serious. “Robby has texted me and I have NO idea what I’m going home to, but.”

“I’ve been emailing back and forth with him and even talked to him for a minute before I walked out on Don.”

“What the fuck, Niki?”

“Look. He’s seen everything and is ok knowing how things get blown out of proportion.”

Robby’s POV

I do know how things can get blown out of proportion, pictures of Ryan surfaced all the time. But when I saw them walking after, I knew. Pictures can capture people in compromising things; take last New Year’s Eve. It was a string of pictures and it was obvious they didn’t see because of the natural way they were with each other.

He texted me when they landed and I was waiting on the couch with music playing softly when he came in. I didn’t turn when he came up behind me kissing my neck and his hands ran over my chest. I wasn’t pissed and I didn’t want him to think I was so I kissed his palms then patted the seat next to me.

He sat next to me resting his head in my lap and I started stroking his head. “Rye?” I started.

“I know how much you love me and you know how much I love you.” And he started to raise his head as I showed him it wasn’t necessary.

“Do you remember the first promise you ever made to me, Ryan?” And he nodded.

“I told you I’d never lie to you. I promised.” He confirmed.

“I believed you then and I believe that today. I will not make you keep that promise; I won’t ask. Now let’s take a shower and go to bed.” I felt guilt wash over him but that’s what we did.

The next day was Halloween and all of us took Dean Dawg to the other houseboats to trick-or-treat, dressed in Dawg stuff. The neighbors were a little pissed with the addition of a security guard checking everyone who got down to the dock, but kind of liked it. Good thing because there were all kinds wanting to get close enough for a picture.

Ryan was still working and the rest of us still had classes but we worked it all out so one of us was home with Dean. I had started doing school visits with Donny through The Foundation and it was satisfying beyond words. Donny was one of Lil Dean’s dads and I was RJ’s husband. We did as Dean did and spent lunch with high school kids walking around, sitting for a minute, and we had passes for any kid who wanted to stay behind and talk to us.

One guy should have never stayed behind. He stood in front of Donny, and said, “You a fag too?” Donny stood and they were evenly matched.

I walked over, hearing what was said and not wanting Donny to do something stupid. I touched his arm and Donny calmed. “Who hurt you? Or what are you ashamed of?” I asked looking at the kid who was way bigger than me. That was all it took.

He crumbled and I took his hand leading him to a corner and we sat Indian style in front of each other. I told him whatever it was it wasn’t his fault. He said it wasn’t like that. I understood then. He was under pressure from all sides and I assumed the boy in the corner had something to do with that. I motioned him over.

As I said, Donny and this guy were evenly matched. The kid I flagged over was not like them, scarred, shaking, and I reached out my hand. “Sit.”

I held his hand and watched the interaction between them. I saw something special and something scared. We had found our two and Donny apologized sending the rest away. We didn’t question them instead Donny and I talked between ourselves. We told them about us, Jeff and Ryan; along with Niki and her son.

“Look, guys. We both know what it’s like. You know my husband, RJ?” I wanted to go on but didn’t know how to start.

“My, Jeff. He saved my life and I love him more than air.

“Guys? We don’t want to pick your path, but you need to be true to yourselves and each other. Life is too short, trust me. Here’s your pass.”

As we were walking out of the high school a kid walked up and I recognized him. “Could you give RJ my number?” And I took it as I smiled back.

Rye was all over the map and by December 1 he was a headliner for New Year’s Eve. His idea was welcomed by Seacrest and RJ started making calls to young people who had been on Idle, AGT, BGT, and a few others. We did Thanksgiving at our place and there was talk about spending a few days before Christmas with Barry, then off to England and the John family.

Ryan’s POV

Things between Jr. and I were good. He knew and I knew he knew I knew. Things about my night with Niki had been haunting me for some reason and I tried staying clear of her. Thanksgiving was a great night and we served for thirty with all staying for the after-party on barge 1. And it was loud late into the night.

The neighbors were invited and we assured them we would hold it down after midnight, but that didn’t happen. I did invite Benny; we’d talked after Rob gave me his number. I wanted him to go with us and it took some convincing for his parents. BJC and Stone were with us as well. He held my hand when I introduced him to The Last Gibb Standing. Barry hugged them all.

We’d all been here before but not, B and the others. Niki took over for me and she held his hand walking and talking, B holding the little guy’s hand walking in the sand. The food was wonderful and the conversation was better. This kid was more than the norm and I knew it from the start; Barry saw it as well.

We spent time in the studio; all of us. Everything was recorded then Jeff and Donny did something. ‘Down Stream.’ “Just one year of love is like a shooting star right through my heart.”

It was just me and Barry in the studio when Niki walked in with Dean. It was late. “The others have tried, can you put him to sleep?” As she walked towards me.

When I put my guitar down he reached for Barry. The boy knew who he wanted to fall asleep on and the look on the old man’s face was priceless. He turned Dean in his lap and leaned back so the little guys back was to his front and both looked at me as Barry’s knees started to bounce.

“Somewhere over the rainbow skies are blue,” I started moving to the keyboard.

Niki pulled out her phone and recorded until Dean fell asleep. Barry and his high falsetto singing so softly to a little boy who’d fallen asleep was something. When Niki went to take him Barry said he wanted to put him to bed and he followed Niki.

From your author:

Again I apologize for the short chapter. The last thing I posted was about my Renegades. After a day it sits at 9.8. Thanks to all my readers and a big thank you to those who comment and vote; it means a lot. RJC.