9. TEENAGE REBELLION

It was Friday. I hadn't seen Timothy at school today at all. We didn't have any shared classes today but I usually saw him during the breaks. Charlie and the other freaks were there, though. He was talking to the red-haired girl and texting on his phone.

I wanted to text Timothy and ask where he was but realized how faggy that sounded. Plus, I... didn't care.

Jennifer walked up to us. "Hey." She smiled when she saw me. She looked stunning. "Did you get my text?"

She'd been texting me about how excited she was all week. After Thursday I'd begun to ignore her texts.

"Sure did. Can't wait." I smirked.

Jennifer laughed and joined her girls. I couldn't wait for the day to be over. It suddenly felt so long.

✪

The final bell had rung and I'd decided I would check up on my little emo nerd myself.

I was about to knock on the front door of Timothy's house.

"Hey, Josh!" Joe said surprised as he came from his car. "What brings you here?"

"Oh! Nothing. I just.. didn't see Timothy at school today. I thought I'd check on him."

"You're an angel." Joe chuckled. "Well, not to worry. Timothy had a doctor's checkup this morning. They're usually pretty intensive for him. They weigh him and ask questions.. It's a tough time so I usually make sure he gets the whole day off."

I nodded.

Joe opened the door of the house. "I was going into work but it wasn't very busy so I decided to go home anyway. Knowing Timmy he's in his room reading or doing homework."

I closed the door behind me.

"I'll go tell him you're here. I'm sure he'd love that." Joe went up the stairs. I followed after him.

"He thinks I'm annoying actually." I said.

"I'm sure you're wrong. Timmy isn't really that easily annoyed."

Well.. I was sure I was the exception.

Trashy rock music was blasting from Timothy's room. Guess he was alive. That's good.

Joe chuckled. Maybe he thought the same thing.

"Hold on, let me take off my shoes first." Joe went into his room.

I decided to check on Timothy now. I wanted to see how he was doing. Especially since he had a checkup today and after hearing his story I was kinda nervous about him being alone.

I opened the door and in flooded the loud rock music. What was trashier than the music was the sight I was beholding.

Charlie lay flat backed on Timothy's bed, obnoxious combat boots still on. Legs spread just enough for Timothy to be positioned between them. Timothy was laying on top of him and they were hardcore making out. Lip biting, hair tousling, and where Timothy innocently had his hands on Charlie's face, Fangs's hands where all over Timothy's ass, between his legs. It was shameless. It was obscene and I couldn't stop staring at them.

They didn't even notice me.

Charlie pulled up Timothy's shirt revealing his slender back.

"You're so sexy," He whispered in Timothy's ear. Timothy giggled and kissed him sweetly. Charlie released a pleasured moan.

It was strange. I wasn't disgusted as much as I was angry and confused. I wanted to do nothing but pull them apart and perhaps beat the shit out of Charlie but I was mounted to the floor. I found myself wanting to know what it felt like to have Timothy in my arms.

My thoughts scared me.

I felt a presence behind me and soon enough heard Joe's hysterical voice.

"TIMOTHY!" He screamed as he pushed his way inside.

Timothy finally noticed us and nearly fell off the bed in surprise. "Dad!"

He got off his boyfriend and pulled down his shirt. Meanwhile Fangs was only very slowly, perhaps a little irritated swinging his legs off the bed.

"I- I thought you had work." Timothy stammered, his eyes wide and cheeks fiery red.

"I left early so that I could spend time with you." The amount of disappointment in Joe's voice.. If I had a dad that cared I'd feel awful right now.

"And then I find you alone, with him after I told you weren't allowed together without supervision!"

"We weren't doing anything, dad." Timothy rubbed his face.

"YOU CALL THIS NOT DOING ANYTHING?!" Joe exploded. "And you! How dare you!" Joe came up to Charlie who nearly yawned.

"Look Mr. N, We're together. You can't blame us for wanting alone time."

"I sure as hell can! He's fifteen! The reason I don't want you guys to be alone is because of this!" Joe pointed to the bed.

Charlie honestly seemed really disinterested, even distracted. "Alright. Sorry."

"No, sorry isn't gonna fix this!"

I looked at Timothy and even he seemed to not be totally there. He was staring at the floor, turning his head. Joe was going on and on about boundaries and age but it seemed like neither of them were listening.

"TIMOTHY!" Joe screamed.

Finally he looked up. "Huh? Oh, I'm sorry, dad."

Fangs bit his lip to keep a laugh from escaping.

"What's the matter with you? Did you hear a word I just said?"

"No. I mean, yes. Yes, of course, dad." Timothy agreed seeming incredibly confused.

This time Charlie couldn't keep it in and let out a light chuckle.

Joe frowned and took a step forward. "Are you high?"

Timothy's eyes widened. Then he looked at the ground. "No! Of course not." He spoke very fast. Much faster than usual. "I mean how- why would I even? I'm not- I don't.." He wasn't making any sense.

"Timothy Nightingale, look at me right now."

Timothy nervously glanced at his dad.

Joe grabbed Timothy's chin and lifted his face up. Then he leaned in and smelled him.

"Jesus Christ. You drugged him?!" Now the anger was directed at Charlie again.

"What? No? We.. we found it somewhere and just.. thought we'd try." Charlie lied terribly.

"You found it somewhere? What, do you think I'm stupid?"

"Alright, so we smoked some pot.. It's not a big deal." Charlie shrugged.

"Are you insane?! You drugged my son and you don't think it's a big deal?!"

"I didn't drug anyone! We both decided to take a hit!"

"He can't decide anything, he's just a kid!"

They continued arguing back and forth. It was clear to me that Charlie obviously got high often since he didn't seem that different from his usual self. Timothy on the other hand..

He was staring at a poster behind me with big bright eyes saying nothing other than a quiet 'wow'. He was high as a kite.

"Charlie, you're leaving and you're grounded!" Joe pointed at Timothy who suddenly paid attention again.

"Yeah... alright. Sorry, dad." He mumbled mindlessly.

"We'll talk about this when you're sober. You, with me." Joe grabbed Charlie by his black sweater and dragged him down the hallway.

I closed the door behind them.

When I looked back at Timothy he was still staring at the poster, his head turned sideways, eyeing it in wonder.

"How much did you smoke?!" I asked.

Timothy looked up. "Uhm.." He looked around the room like that would give him an answer. "I don't know.." He mumbled. He seemed really confused.

"Maybe you should go lay down.. You don't look so good."

"Oh, okay." Timothy sank down to the floor slowly. "Oh.."

I frowned as he continued to put his head against the cold floor.

"I- I meant on the bed." I said stunned.

"Oh." Timothy chuckled. Then he was just full on laughing. God, he was weird when high.

"So is this what your mind usually looks like?" I asked, scooping him off the floor. He was so light it was almost like picking up a kid or a pet.

Timothy didn't reply. He just leaned into my neck and sniffed me.

"Hmm." He nodded. "You smell like grapes."

"What? No, I don't."

Timothy sniffed me again. "Yeah, you do." I suddenly felt his wet tongue against my skin. I nearly dropped him in surprise. "You don't taste like grapes, though." Timothy bit my neck quite hard.

"Ow!" I dropped him on the bed. He bounced up and down once but his eyes looked like his brain was spinning inside his body.

"You're such a fucking weirdo, Timothy."

"I am." Timothy answered suddenly dead serious.

I lifted his chin up. His eyes were completely dilated. The usual blue was now mostly black. He looked like a cat or something.

I smacked his forehead. "Idiot."

"Ow! That really hurts!"

"Good." I smiled. "Go sleep it off."

"I'm not tired!"

I put my hand in front of his forehead threateningly. "I said.. go sleep."

Timothy pouted and lay down on his side turned away from me.

Within five minutes he was passed out.

I hated myself for this but.. I watched him sleep. I watched him sigh. I watched him twist and turn. I wondered what he dreamed when suddenly he said my name..

I'm kidding. He didn't. He said Charlie's. It pissed me off more than it should've.

✪

I'd helped Joe with dinner. And when I say helped I mean I tasted everything. I was starving.

"Go call Timothy, alright?"

"Sure." As I walked up the stairs my phone started ringing. "Hello?" I picked up.

"Hey, where are you?" Jennifer asked.

Crap! I completely forgot!

"Uh.. I'm.." I looked down the stairs and smelled the fantastic smells coming from the kitchen. Nothing could beat this.

"Hey, how about some other time? I'm really busy today."

"..Busy? But we had plans."

"I know but there's just so much homework I gotta catch up on. Talk to you later." I hung up the phone and ran up the stairs. If I was completely honest with myself I didn't really want to go on that date at all.

I didn't even bother knocking and opened the door to T's room.

I heard the sound of his shower and the bathroom door was slightly ajar. I didn't know what he was using in there but it smelled fucking heavenly. I couldn't see anything from outside, though. It wasn't that wide open.

Suddenly Timothy began to hum. It was such a nice sound. I stood there and just listened to the beautiful melodies leaving his mouth.

It was only when he walked by the door that I realized how weird it was that I was just standing there. I took a few paces back. It had been too fast to be sure but... I think I just saw a flash of Timothy's naked body.

Timothy opened the door and came outside. He was only wearing a towel now. Before my eyes could wander any further he'd jumped back into the bathroom. "Josh?!"

"What?!"

"H-how long have you been here?!"

"Oh, don't flatter yourself I just walked in when you did."

I heard a relieved sigh.

"I'm here to call you for dinner." I shrugged.

"O-okay. I'll be right there."

I went out of the bedroom and ran back down the stairs. Holy shit.

"He's coming." I told Joe.

"Good."

I helped Joe set the table and he filled all three plates with fresh chicken, potatoes and broccoli.

Timothy came out wearing an over-sized black sweater with the hood on. He was wearing some loose fitting black sweatpants and fuzzy white socks.

He lingered by the door and looked up uncertainly.

We both looked at Joe.

"Do you think I would ever punish you by making you skip dinner? Come on. Sit down." Joe gestured to the seat across from him.

I sat at the head of the table.

Timothy sat down next to me..

He smelled nice. Like... fresh strawberry pie or something..

"What are you doing?" Timothy mumbled.

I didn't realize how obvious it was that I was inhaling his entire scent.

I pulled away. "Uh... nothing!" I was suddenly defensive. "Mind your own business." I grumbled.

"Come, come. No fighting, boys."

We all dug into the legendary meal. The meat was just... amazing! So rich in flavor and juicy as hell!

"Mmm!"

Joe laughed. "It's good isn't it? Premium chicken."

"It's fucking awesome! Best I've ever had, easily!"

"That's good to hear." Joe nodded. He peered over at his son who was even more quiet than normal.

"Tim?"

Timothy carefully looked up from his meal.

"About what happened today.."

"I'm sorry, dad." Timothy said quietly, playing with his food.

"Just sorry is not enough, kid. I'm starting to really wonder if you should be going out with this guy,"

Timothy's eyes widened.

"I mean, before he came along you had never touched a drug in your life, your grades were better-"

"My grades are fine."

"Okay. You're right. But still.. Don't you think you two are too different?"

"Especially in age." I chimed in.

"Yeah." Joe agreed.

"You don't know anything about him!" Timothy said to his dad.

"And you have nothing to do with this." He said to me.

I was shocked. The little soft spoken emo had something to say today.

"Of course I do." I said. "I'm the one that had to put you to bed when you started acting crazy today."

"You didn't have to do that."

"Well, it's nice enough he did." Joe said. "Why can't you just date someone like him? No drugs, no age difference.."

"I-I'm not gay, though." I clarified.

"I know, I know. It's just an example."

"Why don't you just say what you really think?" Timothy laid down his fork and looked into his dad's eyes. "You don't want me to date someone like him. You want me to be like him. Straight, football-playing, meat-loving-"

"Is that what that boy told you? Is he the one putting these crazy ideas into your head?"

"See? You can't even say his name." Timothy got up.

"Sit back down, right now, Timothy!"

He didn't listen. He just walked off and ran up the stairs.

Joe sighed.

I patted his back.

My phone buzzed. A message from Jen. I rolled my eyes and shoved my phone in my pocket.

"Teenage rebellion." I smirked.

"Yeah, well. I don't like it." Joe shook his head. "I swear, that guy can get him to do anything. Before you know it they'll be.." Joe closed his eyes. He gulped.

Then he looked deep into my eyes.

"I really appreciate you coming over here. Looking out for him. He needs someone like you. Someone his own age, responsible..."

That's me. I smirked proudly.

"Josh, I have a favor to ask. I'm going out of town this weekend. There's a.." Joe leaned closer. "Don't tell Timothy but, there's a woman that's caught my eye."

"Seriously! That's sick!"

"Oh. You think it's too early?" Joe looked concerned.

"No, dude, sick totally means a good thing! You're going to.." I wriggled my eyebrows. "This weekend?"

"Well.. No! Not per say. We might.. Anyway.." Joe began to stutter. He was actually nervous talking about this woman.

"Show me a picture!"

"A-alright, then.."

He opened his phone and went through a secret map in his gallery.

"Here she is," Joe showed a photo of a beautiful woman. She had pitch-black hair, olive skin, deep brown eyes and a killer smile. Even though she was just smiling at the camera, her eyes had something naughty to them. She was totally hot.

"Dude! Nice catch!" I raved.

"Keep your voice down! Timmy can't know."

"What? Why? It's been three years, man."

"I know, but... Timothy is sensitive. He's not ready. I know he's not. I have to wait till it gets serious, you know?"

"I guess." I crossed my arms. "So.. what's the favor?"

"I need you to watch Timothy for me. It's only two days and obviously I'm paying you. It's just... You're the only one I trust with him so.."

"Yes. I'll totally watch your hormonal son so you can get laid. You don't have to pay me just.. make sure the fridge is stocked with meat." I grinned.

"Really?"

"No problem."

"Thank you." Joe slapped my arm and giggled. "I'll go pack!"