Beautiful Run

A Beautiful Run: Chapter 5

Throughout the night, I could hear the cold thrashing of the rain against my window. The thought of Eric was enough to keep me warm facing any extreme. I suppose the heaviness of the rain outside reminded me of his strength and how his companionship had the ability to help me recognize my own. The phone rang. - "Hello" I said sluggishly. - "Oh sweets! I didn't mean to wake you. Just wanted to know how my boyfriend was doing." Eric said. - "Better now that you called!" - "I was about to go for my run and thought I would take a chance and see if you were awake" - "Well I am now, and I seems like you've got me standing at attention too. But let me get this straight, it's 8:30 on a Sunday morning and you're taking a run? Don't most normal sleep at this hour?" - "It's nice to know that the guy I love thinks I'm just `normal'" - "Hardly" I laughed. - "I just can't sleep now knowing that there's a whole new world to discover, particularly yours." - "Good answer" - "I'm probably going out on a limb, but I'll assume you haven't had breakfast yet" - "What are you thinking in that pretty little head of your?" I asked. - "I'll be over in a bit, and leave breakfast up to me" Considering that there was no possible way I could object to seeing Eric, I agreed. I found just enough time to brush my teeth and clean up after the night that I had with Eric and Sam. After the film I kissed them goodnight, making my way into my bed and falling asleep soon thereafter. After about an hour since we spoke, I heard a few light knocks on the door. Opening it I saw Eric holding what seemed like a picnic basket covered in a plastic bag. He was wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt and a pair of running shorts, all of which were completely soaked by the rain. I grabbed the basket and gave Eric permission to run upstairs and change as his clothes dried in the laundry room. I set places at the table for us while he changed, and let him present the contents of the basket when he returned. It was well worth the wait. I stood there in awe when Eric walked into the kitchen with my bath robe tied around at the waist. His smooth chest was exposed, feeding my desires. His cheeks reddened by the chill of the rain, he had just walked out of the storm and into my arms. I held his soft face to warm his flushed cheeks and looked into his rich brown eyes. I was immediately lost in their warmth. Eric began to pout his lips, leaving me no choice but to harbour some of their chill by placing mine upon them. They were cold not from the shower outside, but from the separation from my lips. I had no problem organizing this reunion. - "You have no idea how badly I want to continue this, but we should have something to eat first" Eric said. - "If we must" I replied. "You know you don't have to do this" - "I know, but I want to. And it's my job to take care of my Little Man" He said, tousling my already ravaged hair. Pulling out a mushroom omelet and half a grapefruit on a platter in the basket, he filled my plate. I grabbed us some juice from the fridge and returned to the table with a puzzled look. - "What's wrong?" Eric asked. - "Oh nothing really, but how'd you know that this is my favorite breakfast?" - "I've just had a few years to notice that it's the only thing you order from the cafeteria in the mornings. And for lunch, it's the chicken fajitas with the bottle of water. I've even noticed in Miss. Davies' class you bring a pack of M&Ms to snack on anytime you have something to do after school." - "Wow I'm so creeped out right now!" I said sarcastically. With those words, Eric made me feel so incredibly special, as though I held his undivided attention. Seeing the impact that he made with his confession, he grinned with false arrogance. I reached out and gently took hold of his chin and pulled him toward me in a sloppy kiss. After parting from the embrace, Eric licked around his lips, cleaning up the remnants of my kiss. - "Boy do you taste good in the morning" he said. - "Just leaving my calling card" I responded. - "And a sweet one at that." We began eating the meal and I once again took notice of Eric sitting in my robe. The thought of his strong body against the material was hardly unexciting and I could only just control my thoughts from going rampant. I hadn't yet finished my breakfast when I was overcome with another hunger. I grasped Eric's hand, drawing his attention away from his plate. He could recognize the feeling in my eyes, and quickly took cue of my intentions. Eric stood up and held out his hand, reaching for mine. I held it out when he pulled me toward him and swept me from my feet into his strong arms. I leaned forward and passionately locked my lips to his, and guided our tongues in a heated embrace. Eric walked up the stairs as I lay overwhelmed by his presence. We entered my room and he placed me on the bed. Managing not to break out embrace, Eric laid atop me. I pulled the robe from around him, revealing his strapping shoulders. My hands slid down his back and pulled his body into mine. He moaned. Pulling the t-shirt over my head, Eric began to kiss my neck and lean in closer to my ear. "I need you. I've needed you for so long" He said, breathing harder from the anticipation. Guiding his tongue from my chest down to my stomach, he pulled my shorts out from under me. I had never felt such sensations as I pulled Eric's hair, guiding his head in a rhythmic motion. I could only endure such pleasure for a few moments, wanting to prolong our connection to infinite lengths. I untied the robe and threw it on the floor. Holding Eric's body, I supported him and turned him over to face the ceiling. I returned the favour, kissing the length of his torso and moved down. Eric gripped my shoulders as we moved in a unified pace. Placing my hand on his chest, I could feel him breathing faster than ever before, harder than any run could cause. Eric pulled me up, locking me in a kiss and we ground our hips in unison. We both breathed deeply and then it stopped. I collapsed, with my head on top of his chest. Kissing my brow in between deep breaths, he pulled the covers over us and secured my position with his arms. We closed our eyes.

• • • Eric and I awoke mid-afternoon and realized we slept without as much as moving an inch. I was formed to the grooves of his body, and sunk into him. I pulled myself up and kissed his soft lips. It was difficult breaking the intimacy we shared, but I knew it was time. As I got dressed, I heard movement in the sound of the bed behind me, and felt Eric grab my waist and hoist himself up. His touch was rejuvenating and caused my nerves to tingle as it once did. Clothing himself in the robe, we walked downstairs. Eric's things had ample time to dry and he got dressed once realizing so. The rest of his stay was short, realizing that we both had some work to do before school commenced the next day. We gathered the rest of his belongings and Eric left after we kissed goodbye.
• • • • "Con, there's something different about you!" said I voice from behind me as I rummaged through my locker before class. I recognized the voice immediately. Mina was a friend from kindergarten that I lost touch with after going to a different elementary school. We had our reunion in ninth grade when our paths led us to Mayfield, and Mrs. Marshall's history class. Standing less than five feet tall, she came in a small package but rarely went unnoticed. Her big brown eyes possessed great wisdom and her full lips a lot of appeal. Her wavy hair was pulled and pinned on top of her head, and she wore her soccer uniform from the morning practice. Whether it was a prom dress or a grass-stained jersey, Mina was always in her element. - "If anyone, you'd notice with those tennis balls you call eyes'" I replied. Mina sneered. - "I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over your lips" She replied. We always managed to tease each other and treat it as a form of affection. "No seriously, what is it? Oh I know! You made volleyball didn't you?" She asked. I nodded, confirming her suspicions. "I knew you would, especially since you learned everything from me". For the last couple of years, Mina would always find time to help me with my game and practice whether or not she felt like it. At this point, she could tell just by the face I gave her that I wanted her to set me up for some hits or rally a little. Mina was the epitome of a well-rounded' student. If she wasn't preoccupied with some kind of school activity, then she'd either be effortlessly working on academics or traveling to some part of the continent with her soccer team. She was a dream-come-true for parents worldwide, and I couldn't help but love her. "You know what? Lunch is my treat today, just to say `congratulations'". With that, she was off down the hall. * * * To my surprise, Eric sat beside me in Miss. Davies' kinesiology class. It was comforting to feel the warmth of his body beside me, despite the filled classroom and our agreement to remain discrete about our relationship. Instead of teaching us about rigor mortis, she spent her time describing the pitcher she had been scouting over the weekend. "Lindsay Rawlings is by far the best pitcher I've seen in many a year. Her technique is more developed than girls playing in their senior year of college ball, and she's still only a minor." Miss. Davies' spoke for the duration of the class about her wonder child and the "fine addition she'll make to any college team". Softball hardly being a sport of interest for me, watching the excitement in Miss. Davies' eyes and the exhilaration in her voice held my attention as she was occupied with her passion, and the source of much of my mine sat right beside me. After the class was over, I was able to speak with Eric for a few moments as we packed our things. - "Yesterday was incredible!" I confessed. - "Better than words could describe. I'm glad you were my first!" I stood there in shock. I had been thinking about Eric for quite a few years, but the thought of him remaining a virgin never crossed my mind. How could someone so beautiful both inside and out gone so long without having sex, especially when having so many admirers? This discovery helped me realize the virtue of Eric's heart, and the commitment he had to remaining true to himself. If I could

fall in love anymore than I had, this had done it. At volleyball practice, Coach Armstrong mentioned a tournament being held at a neighboring school the coming Friday. The idea of an entire day playing volleyball excited me to the bone and I could hardly contain myself. The rest of the practice went quite well, with the team beginning to show signs of a new level of unity. Some of the other players mentioned the improvement in my hitting, making the day an even more memorable one. I helped take down the nets and changed out of my practice gear. As I left the locker room, there stood Eric in front of the door. - "I didn't see your car parked out front. I wanted to leave this for you." He said, holding out a black-stringed choker with a volleyball charm on it. - "How observant of you" I smiled in delight. - "Let's go, I'm taking you home" - "I'll just follow that cute little tush of yours" I said, grabbing his rear. On the way to the parking lot I explained that my dad took the car for an oil change, and I'd have to walk if it weren't for his hospitality. Eric just looked at me as though I just said the silliest thing in the world, and I blushed at his demeanor. After opening my door and entering the sports car himself, Eric tied the choker around my neck and complimented how it looked. I was impressed beyond words at his gesture, and showed him so with a kiss. As he started up the car, Eric spoke. - "I spoke to Will last night before bed" - "What did he say?" I asked nervously. - "He knows about us, and don't worry I know you didn't tell him. We had a long talk about the things that are going on between us, and he's completely supportive." - "That's wonderful" - "In fact, he's invited us to dinner tonight if you're interested" - "That sounds good, I just have to ask my parents first" - "Just give me a call when you know for sure" he said, and I agreed. * * * My parents agreed to my going out to dinner with Eric and Will, taking into account I finished all of my homework. Considering there wasn't anything due the next day, I agreed to their terms. I rested for a while just laying on my bed and letting my mind wander, I unsurprisingly began to think about Eric and Will soon thereafter. How were Eric and I supposed to act around Will? I knew that he was comfortable with our relationship, but at what point would things become awkward? There was much more grey area in this situation than Eric and I had first realized and it led to another question. Were Eric and I going to curb our feelings and relationship around the people we cared about most according to how they felt, or us? I realized that this night was going to be quite a learning experience for all of us, and held many more implications that even we could imagine.