Chapter 11

so, in this one, there is another kiss, but it is shorter than any other kiss so far,  but I still thought I should prepare you readers. I think that this is a realtively boring chapter, but it is somewhat important nonetheless. Enjoy!

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Chapter 11: Cole's POV, Monday evening, driving to Kent's house

As soon as I got the call from Kent a few hours ago about how he wanted to invite me over for dinner, I immediately dropped my scheming of how to handle Tyler, and changed into something presentable for the Whitmans and my brother. I was extremely relieved when Kent told me that his dad was considered a legal authority so that I wasn't breaking any of the court's ridiculous orders. I knew that he'd be excited, but I just hoped that he'd be ok with seeing me again.

When I arrived at Kent's house, I checked the car's clock and saw that I was a few minutes early, so I decided to wait out those long, agonizing five minutes in the car.

When I eventually got out of the car and went to ring the doorbell and found Mrs. Whitman opening the grand front door. “Hello, Cole, my husband and I are very glad that you could make it tonight, and I'm sure Kent and Paul will be happy as well,”

I smiled, nodded, and then entered the house and saw Mr. Whitman fixing his tie in the mirror with Kent running in and out of the kitchen with arms full of food to and from the dining room . When he noticed me, he said to me, “Oh, hello there, Cole, I didn't see you for a second,” He chuckled softly as he walked to the dining room, after gesturing for me to follow with his wife behind me.

I was walking across the foyer and taking all of the exquisite decorations placed strategically in the room until I heard a set of feet making their way downstairs. I looked up to see my brother smiling as he raced down to see who was at the front door.

When Paul actually looked and realized that I was the special guest for dinner tonight, his angelic face lit up with the happiest grin that I've ever seen him have. I held out my arms and braced myself for the impact of my younger brother running into me full force. I hugged him as tight as his body would allow as I knelt down to him and let out all of the emotions that I had been feeling ever since my world went into chaos.

After our reunion, all of us, including Kent since he told me that he had finished setting up dinner, went to the dining room and sat at a large, dark red-brown, wooden table. I made sure to leave room for Paul to sit next to me, and surprisingly, for me anyway, Kent sat on the other side of me. Although, Kent's parents did sit across from us, so I couldn't even try to maybe tell Kent how I felt about him, or even tease him a bit...dammit!

“Please enjoy,” Mrs. Whitman said as her husband reached out for a cut of filet mignon steak covered in a butter sauce of some sort; not that I cared, it just looked edible and really tasty to eat.

I helped myself to the gracious banquet that was in front of me and also got Paul his servings of food onto his plate.

Dinner went over rather well, but it was rather uneventful, not like I expected it to be or anything, it's just I thought that we'd have more to talk about other than Paul telling me how school was and how he was doing really well, even to the point of letting him skip next year, fifth grade, and letting him just go straight into middle school, Mr. and Mrs. Whitman talking about how they were more than willing to pay for some of the gas my truck used since I drove a lot, all stemming from me talking to Kent about how gas was expensive everywhere that I went, and me complimenting the food that Mrs. Whitman had prepared.

Eventually, dinner was finished, along with my brother's patience for waiting to talk to me individually with him on the couch. So, I walked with him to the couch, and made sure Mr. Whitman was able to see us from his own chair in the kitchen, but still give us our privacy; I love Mr. Whitman, he is just awesomely awesome.

“So what have you been doing lately, big bro?” Paul was smiling his trademark grin at me.

“Good, but I feel a lot better now that I've seen that you're ok here,” To be frank, it kind of hurt, ok, it hurt like a son of a bitch, that Paul was doing this well without me; was it really better if he was here than me? I'll be he first to admit that I can't provide for Paul like the Whitmans can, and Paul will have someone smart to help him with homework, and he'll finally grow up in the healthy environment that I've only dreamed of for Paul and...fuck, they were way better than me. I pursed my lips and was zoning out as Paul continued to speak; I really wish I knew what he was saying since he asked me another question.

“So, do you?” Paul was moving his feet back and forth over the ground since he wasn't quite tall enough to reach the floor yet.

“Ah,” I really regretted zoning out now. “What again, bro? I'm sorry, I was thinking of something else,”

“Fine, I'll repeat myself,” Paul said with mock frustration. “I was asking you if you wanted to know a secret about someone who likes you, but maybe you don't....” Paul's voice trailed off as he got up and started to walk away from me.

“Wait,” I said suddenly, feeling a huge desire to know. “Please, Paul, who is it?”

Paul smirked in victory as he leaned in and whispered into my ear, “Kent,” And just as he whispered it to me, Kent was walking back and forth from the dining room and the kitchen, taking a fair amount of plates on each journey.

Felt my heart constrict right then and there; Kent did not, nor did he ever, have a crush on me, it was merely the other way around, my brother had just mixed that up, that's all. Right? “Please don't lie to me, Paul,” I said stiffly, flexing my fingers as to relieve them and to not damage the couch. “Tell me how you even got that idea.”

“Well, one night, Kent came home all happy....” And Paul went on to explain how Kent had come home one night, and he had seen Paul out of his room after bedtime, so when Kent tucked him in and looked happier than usual, Paul asked why. Kent merely said something about being in love and how great it was.

For some reason, hearing this made my heart beat faster because of adrenaline and the urge to protect and take what was mine.

While I watched Kent go back and forth for a little while longer, Paul looked at the clock and sighed. “It's my bedtime now, Cole,” Paul explained, leaning in for a hug from me. I hugged him tightly and watched him go up the stairs, although not before saying, “I love you, big bro,” before he was out of sight completely. I saw Kent still cleaning the table, so I immediately got up and offered to help him. Kent agreed and together, we were able to clean up the rest of the table.

Kent practically collapsed onto the couch when we were done and released a huge sigh as he closed his eyes and sank back into the couch completely.

Kent must have been deep in thought, since Mr. Whitman was walking behind us and told us that he and his wife would be going to bed now. I nodded and told them that I would leave then.

“Oh, no,” Mr. Whitman chuckled slightly. “Kent has been dying to talk to you about some things in private, so please stay as long as you need until he has told you what he refuses to tell his mother and me.”

Ok then, good night,” I said, happy to know that Kent had something to say to me.

When I looked back at Kent, he was no longer dazed and in some far-away land from here, he was awake and alert while he was looking at me with pursed lips. “Cole,” Kent murmured gently. “What's going on between us?”

“I think it's called 'having feelings for someone you like', why?” I really hope he didn't say that he didn't, or couldn't like me because of Tyler; if he did, I'd lose all sanity and probably end up killing him tonight.

“I'm not that sure,” Kent was fiddling with a loose string on his shirt. “You know Tyler Robinson?” I nodded, trying not to seem rude and show him how much I truly hated the bastard. “Well, I think that we're going on a date on Tuesday, or tomorrow to be clear. And we've kissed already, but I don't know, it just seems a bit...rushed? Forced? Is that normal; to feel rushed like this?”

“No, no one should ever be able to pressure you into doing anything that you're not at all comfortable with, even kissing. If you don't feel comfortable, just say so; if he really likes you and wants to do more than get into your pants, than he'll understand, I'm sure of it.” Like me, I thought to myself.

“Thanks, but I have another problem that may be a bit more pressing,” Kent looked me in the eyes this time with no hesitation. “You know how you kissed me and both times you started it, not that I didn't like it or anything or that you're not a great kisser, it's just that- dammit, I just don't know how to phrase it....”

I pulled Kent closer to me to the point where his light green eyes were looking into my deep, dark blue eyes, and his chest was brushing against mine. I could feel the warmth of his gentle breath on my lips, and it was driving me mad, making me lust for all of Kent. “Please tell me,” I tried to say in a husky voice, maybe seducing him would work? I don't know for sure, but I was more than willing to try anything to get him to tell me what he was thinking.

“Ok, I'll try explaining it,” Kent brought his legs up onto the couch and rapped them around my waist. As much as I liked him doing that, what was this boy thinking? And then, the moment that I never thought would come happened: Kent Whitman kissed me on the lips. His lips were sweet of fruit and his hands gently snaked into my dark golden locks and tugged them gently, causing me to moan into Kent's mouth from how much it turned me on to him and his sexy actions.

Damn, could Kent make a guy moan. I knew that I had a full hard-on, and I think that Kent did too, but what confirmed my theory was when Kent began to grind his groin onto mine.

“Fuck,” I groaned, pulling him off of myself reluctantly because I just wanted to take all of him right then and there on the couch, and I probably would've but there are parents in the house, and not to mention my younger brother.

“So, you see, you are making me feel a bit...'better' in comparison to Tyler,” Kent said calmly, not even out of breath from what he was doing; damn, what was he doing that mad him like this? “And I think that you understand me a lot more than him, so-”

“Then break up with him,” I said sternly.

“No,” Kent retorted. “I'm not canceling the date for tomorrow because that would be rude, but I may...well, you'll find out later eventually, so I won't tell you.”

I looked at the clock and realized that it was past eleven o'clock. Shit, where did time go when you were being kissed by the guy of your dreams....

So I got up and was about to go out the front door when Kent was behind me still and said, “I do like you, if you were wondering, it's just that Tyler got to me first, so he deserves his fair chance. But if he doesn't work out or if I find out what you've said about him is true, then guess who I'll ask out, Cole.” As much as I hated to be the second-best, I didn't care since it was Kent, he was just too perfect to let go just because I didn't realize my feelings for him earlier.

I nodded in acceptance and hugged him lightly as a good-bye.

I went to my truck and drove back to the hotel and collapsed onto the comfortable bed and fell asleep, not even bothering to take off my shoes or change clothes, still reliving the kiss Kent and I had shared. I guess the third time really was the charm.

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I'll have you people know that i was really, really close to having them 'go all the way', but then realized that their relatioship isn't quite ready for that yet, but more it would've messed up what I had in plan for the future chapters. not to mention that their first should be a lot more special...they deserve that i think.

Anyway, so now both guys have professed their love, or at least some sort of crush, for each other. next chapter, there will probably be a lot of Tyler, sorry Tyler-haters, which are most of you it seems, but it may be one of his last non-violent scenes, because whe Wednesday comes, drama wrill ensue!!!

So yes, as usual, PLASE COMMENT and VOTE!!! I really would like comments on this story on what you all think should happen and then I can make my chapters from your ideas! Come on, doesn't that sound fab? Yeah! so comment and vote, please.