You're Not Better Than Me

Eric's brother comes home and friction arises that could either strengthen Eric and Bart's relationship or have a put an end to it.

This is a fictional tale of sexual relationship between two teenage boys. The characters are made up and are not based on any person, living or dead. You must be eighteen to read this story. If it is against the law where you are to read stories like this you are kindly requested to leave and not read this story. It is only a fictional story for your reading pleasure.

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You're Not Better Than Me

Chapter Ten

Eric knew this wasn't going to be easy telling Pete that he and Bart were boyfriends. He figured it would be best to start from the beginning. Eric told his bother to follow him into the living room and sit down.

"Do you remember Bartholomew, the boy I played pranks on?" Eric started.

"Yeah, we really screwed with him, literally."

"We did. He wasn't coming to school the next few days so I thought he was just embarrassed but I found out he was in the hospital. I felt bad so I went to visit him to make sure he was okay. I didn't realize it at the time but he had tried to commit suicide. My visit made him change his mind. From there we slowly became friends."

"With that jerk? You got to learn to get better at choosing your friends."

"Sure, like you have done?" Eric threw a dig at his brother's legal problems.

Pete just glared at Eric, not having a good comeback.

"Anyway, we were at the park and Bart got kidnapped. I tried to stop them and they took me too. On the way to their hide out I tried to tackle the one guarding us. He got pissed and threw me out of the van and shot me. If Bart hadn't kicked his arm as he fired, I'd be dead. Bart got loose the next day and I was in the hospital recovering from two gunshot wounds. Bart came to the hospital and stayed there for several days until I was out of danger and sent home."

"Asshole felt guilty, that's all."

"No, he wanted to make sure his friend was going to live. From there, one thing led to another and we became closer. We really bonded. Then his Father took the family t5o Europe for six months. I really missed my best friend. Mom and Dad decided we would go and spend Christmas with Uncle Jack and Aunt Betty."

"Man, that Crystal is hot. Is that who you fell in love with? You can't marry her, but shit, you can have a lot of fun in the meantime."

"No, I'm not in love with her. She tired to molest me for being her hero.:

"Her hero? She was going to molest you? My skinny little brother?" Pete laughed. "Why the hell would you be her hero?"

"We were shopping downtown and a armed robber held up the jewelry store we had just left. He was shooting randomly ass he ran away so I tackled him and knocked his gun away."

"That was you! What the hell were you thinking, Eric," Eric's father yelled from the kitchen. "You could have got killed!"

"Just a reaction, Dad. The sheriff taught me that a gun is just a piece of steel and the person holding it is the evil one. I didn't feel evil when I shot his gun, remember?"

"Wait, you shot a pistol?" Pete asked in astonishment.

"It was just to get over my PTSD from being shot."

"But that doesn't mean you're invincible and can go around being a one man posse. Promise me you won't do anything like that again!" his father demanded.

"Okay, so if you didn't fall in love with her, then who did you fall in love with?" Pete asked.

Eric looked at his father and then lowered his head, knowing Pete would flip out.

"Bart."

"You fell in love with that 'better than you' fancy pants jerk? No, you just like him but you don't love him, right?"

"No, we love each other. We're boyfriends," Eric said proudly looking straight at Pete.

"What the fuck! I'm gone for six months and he turns you in a god damn faggot!"

"He didn't turn me into anything. He's my friend and we care for each other."

"Dad, you've got to do something about this. This has to stop, and stop now!" Pete screamed at his father.

"I seem to remember a bright young man telling a judge that your friends would be loyal to you long after he was out of your life. I dare say the same thing applies here. You'll be graduating this year and moving on with your life while Eric and Bart will still be together. You may not like it but your mother and I are not going to stand in their way."

"Well I'm not going to stand for it. I'm not staying in a house with a homo! I'm out of here," Pete yelled as he headed for the door.

"Where do you think you're going?" his father asked.

"Anywhere but here, I'll go stay with Frank or Johnny. I won't have to worry about being raped in the middle of the night, that's not going to happen any more," he screamed. Then his face turned red, realizing what he had said.

"You are a minor and you're paroled to our custody. You have to live here or you're in violation and could get sent back to jail." He reminded him.

"Then make the call and send me back," Pete snarled over his shoulder as he ran out the door.

"You have to go after him,' his mother implored her husband.

"He'll be back after he cools off."

They both looked at Eric, tears rolling down his cheeks but determined not to cry out loud.

"If that's the way he feels, then I'll go live somewhere else," Eric said firmly.

"No one is going to live anywhere but here. This is your home and his home. We love both of you boys equally and we'll work this out," his mother said as she hugged him.

Eric wiped his face, gave his mother a faint smile and left to go to his room.

He threw himself on his bed and let his emotions take over, sobbing into his pillow. He was so happy when he saw his brother was home and he had ruined everything by being honest about his relationship with Bart. Somehow his brother was just going to have to accept his relationship with Bart. There was no way that was going to change. He had been in this room for about an hour when his mother came to tell him Bart was on the phone. His mother and father went into another room to give Eric some privacy.

"Eric, is everything alright? When your mother called me this morning and asked me to bring you home after school, she sounded nervous."

"It was okay but it went to shit real quick. My brother was paroled and they picked him up from the county jail and brought him home."

"That is wonderful. I know you never talked about him but you have missed him none the less."

"I did miss him, we all did. I was so excited to have him home. He asked me what had been happening in my life and I think I told him too much."

"Oh, you told him about us and he did not take it well?"

"Not at all. He called me all kinds of ugly names and left. He refused to stay in the house with me here."

"You should not have been so forthcoming with him."

"I'm not ashamed of you and I'm not going to hide it from those close to me."

"Then you are ready to come out at school?"

"Hell no! My own brother freaked out so I can only imagine what would happen at school. We'll keep this quiet at school. I hope you're not offended."

"Not at all. I can identify with your feelings. Will you be okay tonight?"

"I'm not sure. If he comes back home tonight there will probably be more crap from him. I'll just have to deal with it. Maybe I'll lock myself in my room."

"You are quite welcome to stay here tonight, and for as long as you would like for that matter."

"I don't want my family problems to spill over on you and your Mother by imposing on you."

"So when I stayed overnight at your house, I was imposing on you and your family?"

"No. That was totally different. You were staying with me to get me through some tough times."

"And that is what I am offering you again, only we sleep here instead of your house. I would come and sleep at your house to protect you from your brother if you thought that would help."

"You know that's not going to happen. He'd kill both of us."

"Then it is settled. I will be over and pick you up shortly. Pack some clean clothes. My Mother is home so the usual dress code at my house will not be allowed."

Eric chuckled at the 'usual dress clothes comment.

'See, you are feeling better already."

"Don't you think you should check with your Mother?"

"Mother, can Eric come and stay for the weekend? I did not hear her say no so she is fine with you coming over."

"Did she even hear you ask her?"

"Does not matter, she did not object."

Eric laughed again.

"I think I've thrown in with an evil scheming young man. I do have to ask my parents."

"You ask them and I will be there in thirty minutes, regardless."

Eric's parents agreed it might be a good idea for him to spend the night at Bart's to give Pete some time to adjust to everything. Bart came to the front door to get Eric. His parents thanked him for going out of his way to help.

"That's what friends do," Bart replied

"Yes, we know. You are a true friend to Eric."

Eric and Bart sat in the back of the limo holding hands.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Bart asked.

"No, I want to leave all that shit at my house."

"Okay, that is not a problem. So . . . how about those Philly's?"

"What?"

"The Philly's. It's a baseball team from Philadelphia."

"I know who the Philly's are. I just didn't think you followed baseball."

"I do not. But it seems to be a popular rhetorical question that people ask when they have nothing else to say but need to talk about something."

Eric laughed and shook his head.

"You're a nut case, you know that?" Eric asked him.

"Yes, sometimes I am a shell of my former self when you are not around."

Eric had to think for a moment to make the connection with a nut case and a shell. He laughed out loud and hugged Bart.

"Your sense of humor is getting sharper. I think I could get used to hanging around with you."

"You better because this taxi doesn't run again until Sunday night."

The boys kissed a few times while the driver kept his eyes glued to the road. They arrived at Bart's house and were greeted by Bart's Mother.

"I am sorry to hear about your issues, Eric. You are always welcome here for as long as you want to stay. Does your mother know you are here?"

"Yes, ma'am. She thought it would be a good idea to give my brother some space. I'm sure she will call you in the morning to check up on me and thank you for letting me stay."

"I look forward to talking to her. She is such a wonderful person."

"Eric, before we go upstairs, I want to show you something. Mother, will you join us?"

"Yes, of course, dear. I think I know what you have I mind," she smiled and followed Bart and Eric down the hallway to the solarium. Bart took Eric's hand and showed him a table filled with small plant starter cups.

"My Mother bought me some unique seeds while we were in Vienna. She helped me plant them and we will nurture them until they have grown enough to plant out in the garden."

Bart and his Mother were both smiling, enjoying the bond that been rekindled between them over their love of flowers.

"These are going to be the prettiest flowers in five counties," Eric proclaimed.

"I hope so. At the very least, they will be our flowers that we have grown together," Bart said, then reached out to hug his Mother.

"Bartholomew, be careful, you will make Eric jealous," she giggled. "Let me show you what Bartholomew bought for me for Christmas."

She led the boys back to the formal living room where she had he figurines on display. She pointed to the boy figurine on the shelf.

"The original one fell and broke years ago. Bartholomew saw this one and knew it was the perfect match. The girl figurine had been so lonely all these years. Now as I look at the two of them together, I can not help but think this is symbolic of the fact that I had been so lonely these past years but now Bartholomew is back at my side. The void in my life had been filled."

It was just a porcelain figure but the symbolism she had attached to it had everyone's eyes watering.

"Enough about me, let me fix you something to eat and then you boys can go upstairs for the evening."

"Damn, Bart, you are one thoughtful guy," Eric told him. "That gift wasn't big or expensive but I'll bet it was one of the best gifts she ever received, if not the best."

"When I saw it, I knew it was perfect."

They had only taken a few more steps when Bart stopped in his tracks.

"Shit!"

"Where, I don't want to step in it," Eric joked.

"No, I bought you a special gift and with all the excitement of coming home, I forgot to give it to you. I am such an inconsiderate person!"

"Don't beat yourself up. This makes Christmas last a little longer. Let's eat and then we can go upstairs and you can give it to me then."

Bart was fidgeting all the while they were eating. Finally they cleared their dishes and went upstairs to Bart's room. He went to his closet and got out the box the bronze sculpture was in.

"I am sorry I did not wrap it but here it is. Again, when I saw it, I knew it was right for you."

Eric took the box and slowly opened it. He pushed back the wrapping and took out the sculpture.

"Oh my god, this is beautiful!" Eric exclaimed.

Bart explained that the artist had made it in honor of his gay lover who had died. There was a sticker on the bottom of the base identifying the artist and the date it was made. On the front of the base, Bart had a brass plate attached that read,

"Eric and Bart, together in body, mind and spirit, today and forever."

Eric's hands started shaking so badly that Bart had to take the piece before Eric dropped it. He tried to stifle it but he began to cry.

"Bart, I love this. The sentiment if perfect but this must have cost a small fortune. I can't accept this," Eric protested.

"Love does not have a price tag. If it is a bracelet from the dollar store or a million dollar yacht, if I feel it is something you would like, I will procure it."

Eric picked up the sculpture and read the inscription again. He wiped his tears with his free hand and looked at Bart.

"This is my million dollar yacht. I don't need anything else."

"I am glad you like it."

Eric set the piece back down and the boys make out passionately.

"Is it too early to go to bed yet?" Eric asked.

"It is always a good time to go to bed with my lover."

The boys stripped their clothes off and got into bed. More passionate kissing and rubbing naked bodies and stiff cocks together. They stopped to catch their breath.

"That gift is the most precious thing I'll evrn own, I will treasure it forever," Eric spoke after nestling his head against Bart's shoulder.

"I am glad you like it."

"I want to give you something almost as precious. Do you have any lube handy?"

"Yes, of course."

Bart got up and got a tube of lube from his nightstand.

"We have never needed this to masturbate before, why now?"

Eric looked at Bart and smirked, wiggling his eyebrows.

"We're not going to jerk off," Eric said in a sultry voice.

"Oh my, are you thinking what I am thinking?"

"Maybe, depends on what you're thinking."

"I am thinking you want to make love to me in the most intimate way."

"Sort of, but it you who will be making love to me. I want to give you my virginity tonight."

"Are you sure? This is not some kind of a payback for my gift, is it?"

"No, it's time that you and I took the next step in our relationship. And this is the way I want to take it," Eric said, then added, "I want to take it up the ass."

Bart didn't know if he should laugh at that or be offended that Eric was being so crude about something so special.

"I'm sorry, that didn't come out right," Eric apologized.

Trying to get back on track, Bart said in a flippant manner,

"As long as it comes out clean it will be alright."

That comment pulled Eric up for a second.

"The infamous Bartholomew sense of humor," and hugged Bart.

They kissed some more to get the mood back. Eric asked for the tube of lube but Bart insisted on doing the honors. He squeezed some on his fingers and rubbed it along Eric's ass crack, circling his pucker as he past over it. He applied some more to his fingertip and press against the hole and slowly slid a finger in. Eric inhaled quickly at the cool feel of the lubed finger entering him.

"Did I hurt you?' Bart asked.

"No, just had to get used to this. I'm fine."

Bart pressed his finger deeper. Hearing Eric moan in delight, Bart knew he was doing it right. He moved his finger back and forth and side to side then in and out, trying to loosen up his virgin ass. Bart pushed his finger in as far as he could them curled it, hitting that special spot.

"Fuck yeah, that feel so great. Take your finger out and put your cock inside me. I'm ready."

"You are far from ready, Eric. My penis is much larger than my index finger. It will be too painful if I try and enter you this quickly."

"That's what I want."

"You want me to hurt you? I do not think I can do that. I would much rather take my time to prepare you properly so the pain in minimal."

"But that's why I want you to do it now. I've read up on this and the first time can be very painful at first but then when the pain goes away it feels so awesome. I want the pain so I can enjoy the pleasure that much more."

"I think your reasoning is flawed but I will still be as gentle as I can. You should just want the pleasure without the pain."

"Okay, okay, whatever. Just fuck me will you?" Eric smiled.

"What position would you like to be in?"

"I want to be on my back with my legs in the air so I'm facing you. I want to look at your handsome face as you take my cherry."

"I like that idea."

Eric positioned himself on his back and raised his legs. Bart moved up in between them and took a hold of his slippery cock, aiming it at Eric's pucker. Bart slid himself closer to Eric's ass.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I've never been more sure of anything else in my life. I've been dreaming about this ever since you went to Europe. I promised myself if you ever came back I was going to give myself to you."

Bart smiled and bent down to kiss Eric. He caressed Eric as he sat back up and once again placed his cock at Eric's hole. He pressed forward, applying a small amount of pressure. He could feel Eric tighten up.

"Relax and push out, it will make it easier," Bart advised.

Eric did as he was told and just the head of Bart's cock went inside. Eric inhaled quickly again, his smile turning into a grimace.

"I knew this was going to hurt too much. Let me loosen you up some more with my fingers before we go any further."

"No, I don't want to start over. Push in a little more."

Bart pushed a little harder and got past the first sphincter muscle. He stopped so Eric could get used to the discomfort.

Discomfort, hell. Eric felt like someone was pushing a hot poker up his ass. He knew it would hurt but this was beyond anything he could have imagined. But he was determined to go through with this. He was taking little short quick breaths and doing his best to put a smile on his face.

"I would ask you if you are okay but I know you will lie and tell me it is fine," Bart said sarcastically.

"I've seen you cock and I know it's longer than what is inside. Rip the band aid off." Eric ordered.

Bart felt bad that Eric was in pain, but knew he would be disappointed if Bart didn't go through with it. He braced himself and made one steady forceful push to get past the next sphincter muscle and gain entrance to Eric's bowels once and for all.

"Oh Fuck!" Eric screamed out. He put his hand up to his mouth and bit down on his fist.

"I knew it, I knew you were not ready," Bart confirmed.

"It's too late to stop now," Eric joked. "Just don't move for a minute so I can get used to this."

Slowly the pain subsided to a tolerable level. Eric's whole body relaxed, including his pucker. Bart felt the change and smiled down at Eric.

"Shall we continue?"

"Yes, of course. SLOWLY."

Bart pulled back gently being careful not to pull out too far. Then back in as deep as he had gone on the first thrust. He kept up these slow short strokes, letting Eric get used to the intrusion.

"Yeah, there it is," Eric announced.

"What?"

"The threshold from pain to pleasure. I'm getting used to you and it feels like nothing I've ever felt before."

"Well, obviously. This is the first time you had sex with anther guy."

"With anyone, except my left hand, that is," Eric giggled.

Bart began to pull back further and thrust back in quicker and harder now that Eric felt more at ease.

"Damn, Bart. Damn it all to hell!" Eric screamed.

Bart stopped moving, afraid that he had hurt Eric again.

"What is wrong, Eric?'

Nothing, not a damn thing. It had gone beyond pleasure to sheer rhapsody. Please keep going just like you were."

Bart resumed ramming into Eric as he was asked. Bart legs were cramping so he moved to get in a more comfortable position. When he did, he changed the angle that his cock was entering Eric, now rubbing up against Eric's sweet spot.

"Holy mother of god! I didn't think this could feel any better, but it sure as hell does. If you keep this up, I think I'm going to cum without even touching myself."

Bart looked down at Eric's cock and saw a drop of cum, not precum, leaking from the tip, the result of the prostrate massage he was getting.

"Yes, I do believe you are on the cusp of your first anal induced orgasm," Bart advised Eric.

It only took a few more strong thrusts and Eric's cock exploded, shooting seven strong pulses of cum all over Eric's chest. The sight of that and the tightening of Eric's ass around Bart's cock, pushed Bart over the edge, depositing the first of many loads of his sperm into Eric's insides.

They both remained still, trying to catch their breath.

"So, was the experience as good as you anticipated?" Bart finally asked.

"No, not at all."

Bart looked a little puzzled at Eric's response.

"It was better, no, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me! I've never felt so connected to anyone as I am to you right now."

Bart moved back to pull his softening cock out but Eric asked him not to move.

"I want this to last as long as we can."

"In all probability we may do this again, you realize," Bart said with a grin.

"Okay, sure. So don't pull out, get hard and let's do it again," Eric said.

"Not now you horny young man. I need time to recover and your ass needs time to rest. I think my Mother will suspect what we have been doing in here but I don't want to confirm her suspicions by having you walking bow-legged to breakfast in the morning. We have all weekend to enjoy more if this. Next time we can trade places if you like."

"Yes, I like, I like," Eric smirked.

The boys cleaned up and turned in for the night. They kissed briefly then Eric turned his back to Bart so they could spoon. They woke up in the same position the next morning. Bart's Mother knocked on the door on her way by to announce that breakfast would be served in thirty minutes. The boys got up and took quick showers then headed down to breakfast.

"Good morning boys. I trust you had a good night's sleep?"

"Yes, Mother, thank you."

"I have set out some juice for you. I will get the eggs and bacon from the warming tray."

Eric smiled and nodded, then quietly said to Bart,

"I didn't have a good night's sleep. Something was sticking onto my back all night."

Bart almost spit out his orange juice laughing.

"Something humorous, Bart"?

"Eric said you sounded like his teacher when he fell asleep in class last week," covering for Eric's remark.

"You will not learn anything sleeping in class. That is what your bed if for."

"Among other things," Eric mouthed to Bart.

This time Bart was able to contain his laughter.

After they finished eating, the three of them went to the solarium to tend to the plants. When that was done, Eric asked if he could use the phone to call his parents.

"Of course you can. You are welcome to stay her again tonight if you wish. If so, check with your parents to make sure you have their permission."

Eric called home, hoping his brother wouldn't answer the phone. Luckily his mother's voice said 'hello'.

"Hi Mom, it's me, Eric"

"Hi son. I'm so glad you called. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah. I just wanted to call to see if Pete came back home last night or stayed with his friends."

"He came home around midnight. I guess his friends weren't as good of friends as he thought. None of them would let them stay at their house. They are on parole too and were told to stay away from him. He was so depressed when he came in the door. He didn't say anything to either of us and just went up stairs and went to bed. We checked on him all night but he never woke up. I'm going up to wake him up now."

"I want to stay another night with Bart if that is okay with you and dad." Eric asked.

"I suppose. Be home for supper tomorrow night and hopefully by then we can sit down and talk about all of this."

"Thanks mom."

Eric hung up the phone and told Bart he could stay another night.

"I wish I never had to go home again and face my brother," Eric lamented.

"That would not be a good idea. You are stronger than all of this."

"What do you mean? My brother is bigger than me and he is the stronger one."

"I do not mean physically, Eric, I mean mentally and emotionally."

"What the hell makes you think that?"

"When you first saw me at school you made the assumption that I was better than you. But instead of most other boys I meet, you set out to show me I was not better. After all the pranks you played on me, you went against all odds and tricked your way in to see me in the hospital to make sure I was okay. You tackled our kidnapper to try and save us and then you fought through the PTSD in the aftermath of your shooting. Not to mention tacking the gunman on Christmas Eve."

"Sounds more like being stupid if you ask me."

"No, each incident had an end game, you were being strong emotionally to overcome an adversarial situation you found yourself in and acted to protect someone close to you,"

"I suppose. But what does that have to do with my brother?"

"If I had had the courage to confront my Father when he shut me out, our relationship might have turned out much different. But I didn't have the courage. The first time I showed a glimpse of courage was breaking out of the boathouse. That made a profound change in me. You need to go and try to open a dialogue with your brother and talk this out. There is an old saying that jail changes a man. I don't think your brother was confined that long to make any life altering changes but something may have happened that we don't know about. He may not come to accept out relationship right away. It might take weeks or months, or maybe never, but you have to try to reconnect with him. For both your sakes."

"How did you get so damn smart all of a sudden?"

"I hang around with a guy, cute as all hell and great in bed, but also someone I can look up to and learn from. Someone I really love with all my heart."

Eric grabbed Bart and gave him a big hug.

"Yeah, well I think that guy loves you as well."

Eric was unusually quiet the rest of the day. Bart was hoping when they finally went to bed that night that he could cheer him up. He was looking forward to giving himself up to Eric. Although he had already lost his virginity to Pete on the dare, it was never mentioned again. This would be a fresh start of sorts.

Just before supper Eric told Bart he had to talk to him.

"I think you are right. I can't let this fester or my relationship with my brother will never get any better. Would mind terribly if I didn't stay here tonight and went home instead?"

"I would be dishonest if I told you I would not miss you but your right. The longer you run away from this, the worse it will get. I will give you a ride home."

They hugged and exchanged a quick kiss. Bart went to arrange for a ride while Eric sought out Bart's Mother.

"I want to thank you for your hospitality. Bart and I have talked and we think it would be best if I went home and tried to straighten things out with my brother."

"Bart is right, you are a special young man. It is not the easiest thing to do but it is the right thing to do. If it does not go well and you need to come back, just call. For your sake, I hope I don't hear from you tonight."

She gave Eric a hug and sent him to wait for the car. He didn't want to call home and tell them he was returning so Pete could have a chance to bolt again.

When he got home, he came in the front door and said hi to his parents who were sitting on the couch..

"Hi mom, dad. I'm home."

His mother jumped up and ran to hug him.

"We're so glad you came home. We weren't expecting you until tomorrow."

"I know, but I was hoping Pete had calmed down and we could talk."

"That would be nice but I doubt it will happen. He came home late last night and locked himself in his room. He hasn't come out all day."

Eric went upstairs and down the hall to Pete's room. He knocked on the door several times.

"Hey Pete, its Eric. I want to talk to you."

"I've got nothing to say to you."

"Ok, but I've got something I want to say to you. Can I come in?"

"NO! Just leave me the fuck alone!"

"I know you're upset but we really have to talk about this."

Pete whipped open the door and stuck his face inches away from Eric.

"I don't want to talk to you ever again. You've got nothing to say that I want to hear. Now, get lost!"

Pete slammed the door shut and locked it. Eric walked back to his room, meeting his mother in the hallway.

"Eric, Pete had been through a lot in the past few months. It will take him some time but I'm sure his love for you is stronger than his dislike for homosexuality."

"It's not dislike, mother, it's hatred. Hatred for me and Bart and every thing we stand for. I don't think he'll ever be the same brother or that we will have the same relationship again."

"Be patient and don't push him. I know it's difficult but sometimes the things that mean the most are the most difficult to obtain."

Pete stayed in his room with his door locked and didn't come down to supper. He snuck out after everyone had gone to be to get something to eat. Sunday morning Eric parents told both the boys they were going to church as a family.

"You go, I'm staying here. I don't want to be seen in public with him," Pete objected.

"We're still a family and as long as you're living under my roof you'll do as I say. Get up, get dressed and be ready in 30 minutes. You going if I have to physically drag you there myself!" his father ordered the boys in a stern voice.

His father slammed the door and gave Eric the same ultimatum though it wasn't necessary. Eric was already up and getting ready.

When they got to the church, his father lead Pete into the pew first so he could sit next to him, then his mother, then Eric on the other end. Grudgingly they got through the service without any incidents. As they were going through the line to leave, the priest welcomed Pete home.

"It's good to see you home again and back in church with us," The priest said.

"Not as good as you might think," Pete mumbled.

"PETER! Show some respect," his father growled.

Pete glared at this father, then his mother and finally Eric. He turned to the priest,

"Thank you, Father," and slinked out of the church.

When they got home, Pete locked himself in his room again. His father had won the battle on going to church so he wasn't going to push it any more for the rest of the day. After Eric and his parents had lunch, Eric asked his mother if she could give him a ride to the Botanical Gardens.

"Do you want to stop and pick up Bart on the way?" she asked.

"No, I think I just need some quiet time to think."

"I understand. But don't let your brother's feelings drive a wedge between you and Bart. You love your brother and you love Bart but you don't have to make a choice between them."

"I know, mother, thank you for the advice."

Eric's mother dropped him off at the Botanical Garden and told him she'd be back in two hours. Eric walked in the front door and began to wander around, checking out some of his favorite flowers. He had been there for about twenty minutes when he turned a corner and came face to face with Bart. Both boys were startled and just stood speechless for a few moments.

"Oh, hi," Eric said quietly.

"Hi. I didn't expect to see you here today."

"Nor I you. I needed some quiet time to think about my brother."

"I came to calm my nerves. I am so concerned about you and what you are going through. I almost called you this morning but I did not want to intrude on your family."

"You are part of my family now so don't ever think that you're imposing. We were at church this morning so you wouldn't have gotten any answer."

Bart looked around then took Eric's hand in his.

"This place grows on you does it not?" Bart said looking into Eric eyes.

Eric giggled.

"What did I say?" Bart asked.

"Oh come on, you're telling me that wasn't intentional? The infamous Bart sense of humor?"

"I don not understand."

"The garden 'grows' on me?"

Bart's face lit up and they both had a laugh.

"It is good to see you smile. I like that look on you," Bart said.

Eric and Bart hugged for a few minutes.

"Do you want me to step back from your life for a while so you can sort things out with your brother?" Bart asked.

"I lost you out of my life when you went to Europe. It was the worst few months of my life. I never want you to leave me again."

"What about your brother?"

"I always assumed that when he graduated he would either go to college or settle down with a girl and start a family. We would drift apart and not be as big a part of each other's lives as we are now. I guess its just happening sooner than I thought."

"Would you like me to leave you alone so you can continue your quiet time?" Bart asked.

"Hell no. I came here to feel better and I couldn't feel any better than I do right now."

The boys walked amongst the flowers hand in hand, not saying much as they pointed out one flower or another. They were sitting on the bench in the front when Eric's mother showed up.

"Can we give you a ride home?" Eric offered.

"Thank you, no. My Mother is coming for me and I am sure she will want to spend some time inside. I share my special place with the people I love"

"Eventually we won't have to come here to look at the beautiful flowers. Your solarium will soon rival what they have here."

Eric gave Bart a quick kiss and headed to his mother's car. Bart waved at Eric's mother who waved back with a smile.

"So, was that planned?" she asked Eric with a grin.

"No, he was upset as well at this thing with Pete and he came here for some tranquility."

"I guess the two of you really are suited for each other," she commented as she drove away.

Supper was more of the same, Eric and his parents eating together and Pete locked in his room, sneaking down later for some food.

Monday morning Eric got a ride to school with Bart. To avoid any confrontation, he walked to the next corner and Bart's driver picked him up there. Pete got a ride to school with his mother. He was adamant that he wasn't going to go to school but once again his father put his foot down and insisted.

Pete and Eric managed to avoid each other most of the day at school. Pete's friends also avoided him, leaving him by himself as he walked from class to class. When school let out, Eric and Bart were headed to Bart's car when they saw Pete on the edge of the school grounds, up against a tree as three of his friends were yelling at him and poking him in the chest with their fingers.

"It looks like your brother is in some kind of altercation with those boys. They are the same ones we encountered in the hall a while back."

Eric didn't hesitate and ran over to his brother. Bart felt he had no choice but to join Eric.

"Well, look it here, your faggot friends have come to your rescue," the leader of the group said. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Here's my brother. You fight him, you fight me."

"And what about you, pencil dick?" he asked Bart.

"I am Eric's friend. You fight him, you and your friends fight me."

"Get the fuck out of here, I don't need any help from you," Pete snarled at Eric.

"Yeah, fairy boys, we don't want to see you cry so you better leave while you can still walk," the leader warned.

"I thought we had that settled. It is the three of you who are inseparable, calling into question your sexual orientation. Your baseless aspersions are no more valid now than at our last encounter," Bart spoke up.

"What the fuck is he saying?" the leader asked with a frown.

"He is still saying we're queer, not him," one of the others spoke.

"As soon as we finished with this asshole, you two are next!"

"This is a very unfair fight and I would suggest that it is you who move along," Bart stated.

"Unfair, it's three against three. But the two of you probably only count as one real man."

"Eric and Pete will stand aside but it will still be unfair. I have been trained extensively in four of the major martial arts disciplines. Although it will be blatantly unfair, I shall spare you no mercy to put this to an end once and for all."

As Bart said that, he extended his fingers flat and curled his thumb into his palm while holding his arms at his side, then took one step forward with his left leg, planting it firmly on the ground.

Eric and Pete looked bewildered, totally unprepared for Bart to challenge all three of the other boys. There was a look of fear in the three boy's eyes as their glances darted back and forth between each other. They curled their fingers into fists, getting ready to rumble. Bart lifted his two arms into a classic defense mode for any martial arts training. No one moved for several minutes as the stand off continued. Finally one the three boys had an inspiration. He called out to the leader.

"Hey, didn't you say your father wanted you home right after school today. He had something he wanted you to do."

A look of relief fell over the leader's face.

"Yeah I forgot. If I'm late he'll be pissed and probably ground me," the leader said. "You asshole got lucky but don't press your luck again," as the three of them walked off.

"I didn't need any help from the two of you. I could have handled them myself," Pete shouted.

"That is a mute point now. Let us go Eric, the car is waiting," as Bart walked away.

Eric looked at his brother hoping for more than being admonished for trying to help him. Instead Pete just shook his head and walked in the other direction. Eric joined Bart and they got in the car and drove away.

"You crazy bastard, you did it again!" Eric complained.

"Did what?"

"Put yourself in danger with those assholes."

"We were never in any danger. I had it all under control."

"Maybe, but you never told me you knew all that karate stuff."

"Oh, I do not. That was a bluff."

"A bluff!!"

"Yes, of course. I am a lover, not a fighter. You of all people should know that," Bart said with a grin.

"But if they didn't fall for your bluff, we would've been creamed."

"Eric, my dear boy, I was on the debating team at boarding school. I started in fourth grade and by the time I was in eighth grade I was debating against our senior team and winning every time. I fight with words, not fists."

"Give me a clue next time you pull something like that."

"Your brother did not seem very appreciative of our help. Considering the way he is treating you, I am surprised you got involved. "

"He's my brother. That's what brothers do. Why did you get involved?"

"You are my friend. That's what friends do. So I guess he has protection whether he wants it or not."

Bart dropped Eric at work and headed home. Looking back on the confrontation, he saw that Eric was still loyal to his brother. He wondered if at some point the loyalty to his brother would be stronger than his relationship with him.

That night Eric had gone to bed after supper. He was lying in bed when his brother banged on his door.

"You and your faggot friend keep your noses out of my business. Understand?" Pete growled.

As he was walking off, Eric said loud enough for Pete to hear,

"Your welcome."

A tear formed in Pete's eye as he slammed his door shut, then punched the wall.

Thank you for staying Eric and Bart on their journey through life. I have been enjoying being with the boys and hope you have as well.

Please reach out and let me know your comments.

Tryitlikeit27@aol.com

Jonathan Perkins