Just Lucky that Way (6 page)

Kitty suggested a game of I've Never, which involved drinking a shot of whiskey every time someone mentioned something you had done. Phil refused to give up his 'good whiskey' for a silly game, so they made do with shots of beer. Zed figured he'd still get drunk quickly.

The game started sedately enough with statements like, "I've never kissed a girl." and "I've never kissed a boy."

Zed drank a shot for both of them, and both he and Becca had to explain how Zed had taken her to the prom as a favor to Alex and she hadn't known he was gay when she kissed him. Then the debate of whether Becca kissing Zed was the same as Zed kissing Becca came up, and Zed had to admit that he had, in fact, kissed Becca back. For some reason, Mel kissing her best friend Dina when they were both fifteen didn't warrant as much interest.

The game continued the way it usually did. I've never: cheated on a test, shoplifted, run away from home, broken a bone, lied, watched porn, read porn, got drunk, been videoed having sex, masturbated in public, had sex in public, had a threesome, had a foursome, been tied up during sex, used sex toys, fucked a stranger, been to a BDSM club...

The group around the campfire were watching every movement each other made, learning more and more as the night went on. Kitty was the most sexually repressed, and Travis said he liked it that way. Zed, it seemed, was the most sexually liberated. Whether Alex liked it or not, he wasn't sure. Probably not. But he was having a good time, especially now the questions had become more interesting and he was quite drunk.

"My turn again." Jon looked squarely at Zed. "I'm beginning to think there's nothing you haven't done."

"Oh, there's plenty," Zed answered. He raised an eyebrow, almost daring Jon to say something filthy. He doubted his friend would, given the girls' company. He also wondered when their friendship had deteriorated into this game of thinly disguised innuendo and insults.

Maybe he was reading too much into Jon's comments, but Zed couldn't shake his unease. The whole evening had an underlying layer of edginess to it. Maybe he'd watched too many horror movies, but he felt like he was being watched, which was ridiculous. However he still scanned the area behind him, finding it pitch black with quick flashes of green and yellow from the fireflies.

"I've never," Jon started, his eyes fixed on Zed. A smile touched Jon's lips, and Zed became wary. There were some people who knew way too much about him. "I've never tried to commit suicide."

Becca and Mel gasped and the silence was sharp. Very deliberately, and aware that it was only him doing it, Zed drank his shot. "Because of assholes like you," he muttered, before getting unsteadily to his feet and walking into the darkness.

"You fucking prick!" Alex's voice carried in the still night, as did the thwack of a fist hitting flesh. "What's gotten into you?"

The beam of a flashlight cut through the darkness surrounding Zed. As much as he wanted to be alone, he needed Alex. Alex could always be counted on to pick up the pieces.

"Zed, you okay?" Alex asked closing the distance between them.

"What's the fucking matter with him?" Zed turned on Alex. "He's been having digs at me all afternoon."

Alex held up his hands. "No idea. Don't take it out on me."

Zed relented. "Sorry. I know." He reached out and pulled Alex to him. "Did you hit him?"

"He deserved it." Alex wrapped his hand around Zed's wrist, his thumb tracing the scar. "He knows better than to bring that up. Probably just had too much to drink -- that's why I only hit him once."

"My hero." Zed's lips sought Alex's. "Can we just go home?"

"We're drunk, can't drive. Let's see how things are tomorrow. I'd hate to bail on Phil and Tania -- they did nothing wrong."

Zed looked around again. He was so aware of someone watching him that he was ready to go back to the bonfire and count everyone, just to make sure everyone was there. "This place is creepy."

Alex laughed. "It's the country. As long as we don't hear dueling banjos we're safe."

Zed shivered. "Fuck off, that was one awful movie. I'm going to get you back one day for making me watch that." Even if Zed had had his eyes closed through most of it. "Besides, that was the South. Don't think we're there... quite."

"You made me watch Pirates of the Caribbean how many times? And you'll drag me to see Stranger Tides how many times? I think I can 'force' you to watch a movie every now and then." Alex wrapped his arms around Zed. "So... wanna go sit in the car and neck?"

"Change the first two letters in neck and I'm all yours. Just not in the car though, it's not very comfortable."

"Wouldn't want to risk ruining our leather seats." Alex's lips brushed over Zed's.

"Takes a lot to ruin leather." Zed pushed Alex against a tree. "Or we could just stay here, and I'll fuck you against a tree."

"Don't think we've done that before."

"Didn't think you'd want to." Zed breathed against Alex's neck before biting and sucking hard.

"Always up to try new things."

Alex's voice hitched slightly, and Zed stopped biting so he could pull the T-shirt over Alex's head. His fingers trailed down Alex's chest. "You sure? They're just over there... can hear them still." A thumb rubbed Alex's nipple -- back and forth until Alex gave a low moan and closed his eyes. "Any one of them could come looking for us... or just wander this way..."

"They know better than to follow us." Alex grabbed Zed's shorts, hurriedly working the zipper. "Can't fuck, stuff's in the tent."

Zed dropped his head to Alex's shoulder. "Yup, that's about the way my luck's going." He unfastened Alex's shorts and pushed them down in one economical movement. His hand curled around Alex's cock. "So, what am I to do with a naked boy?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something," Alex said, thrusting into Zed's hand.

Zed's hand stayed loose around Alex's cock and gently moved in time with his thrusts. "Nope, I'm out of ideas," he murmured against Alex's lips.

"You could put that mouth to better use."

"You like my mouth?" Zed nibbled Alex's bottom lip. Oh fuck, his cock was aching. Why wasn't Alex doing anything about that? Zed pushed his own shorts down and took both their cocks in hand.

"Your mouth, your hands, your ass... everything about you."

"You're still making sense." Zed dropped to his knees in the soft leaf litter beneath the tree, and hoped that there wasn't an ant nest under it... or anything worse. "Don't come before me." He gradually drew Alex's cock into his mouth, alternately sucking and licking, while moving his hand along his own cock in a loose fist.

"Oh, fuck, that's good." Alex's fingers threaded through Zed's hair, tugging gently.

Zed snorted and took Alex's cock back into his throat. Of course it was good; he didn't waste time on shoddy head. Determined to make it impossible for Alex not to come before him, Zed sucked hard before drawing back and letting his tongue play around the head.

Alex groaned and his fingers tightened in Zed's hair. "Don't... ah... don't try so... oh, fuck, nono..."

Zed laughed softly. It looked as though Alex would blow within seconds, so he was free to give in and wank as he wanted. And fuck, that felt good. His hand tightened as he worked to get himself off just after Alex came.

His fingers echoed the touches of his tongue. He pulled his lips from Alex's slick cock and licked the head, musk saltiness on his tongue. His thumb rubbed the head of his own cock, encouraging a small rush of precome. He licked Alex, his fingers closed around himself, his lips closed over the crown and slid to the base, his hand pulled his cock.

Oh fuck... oh fuck... oh fuck. Alex first. It was so difficult to keep details straight. Zed groaned. There was no way he was going to last; not while Alex's cock was heavy on his tongue, and the precome leaking down his throat added to the stimulus of jerking himself off.

"Fuck, yeah!" Alex shouted, gripping Zed's hair for more leverage as his thrusts became wild, frantic.

No way their friends hadn't heard that. Not that Zed gave a damn. Making Alex lose control was something to relish. Fuck all that were bothered by it.

It was a race to see who would outlast the other. Zed had set the rules; Alex knew the game. It was rare that Alex ever came before Zed, but this time the circumstances were different. Their friends were just a few feet away and could probably hear them. Zed wondered if he was about to find out that Alex had a public sex kink as well, as much as he denied it.

He pulled off Alex's cock and gave it a hard lick. Alex shuddered and whimpered. "They can hear us, you know? Does that turn you on?"

"Fuck, don't stop."

Zed laughed. Obviously it didn't bother Alex. Well, not right now, anyway. "Me first." Zed guided Alex's cock back between his lips, giving it a few strokes for good measure.

Alex thrust into Zed's mouth. "Don't think I'm... Fuck, yes." He stilled, breathing heavily as his orgasm hit. "Oh, that's good... Ah!"

Zed swallowed, sucking a little more at the cock already softening in his mouth. He was still jerking off, but very close. Until then, Alex's soft, and nonthreatening cock would stay in his mouth. He knew that Alex became very sensitive after he'd come and that his continued teasing would be very close between pleasure and pain.

"Your turn." Alex ran his fingers through Zed's hair. "Come for me."

Always for you. Zed groaned and spat out Alex's cock. He was so close, teetering on the edge. Drugs were never this good. He had one clear thought. "Love you, Alex." He grunted and thrust into his fist, come shooting up, landing in rustling pats on the dry leaves covering the ground.

"Love you, too."

Zed leaned his forehead on Alex's knees. "How are you still standing? That was intense."

"I have a tree supporting me." Alex knelt and rested his arms on Zed's shoulders. "You ready to go back, or do you want to hang here longer?"

"They had to've heard us." Zed laughed. "I'm surprised the girls aren't there scoring us." A light-hearted giggle came from behind him. "Or maybe they are."

"They heard us last night too." Alex leaned in and nuzzled Zed's ear. "You're wondering how they scored you."

"Oh, I know my score. I'm just hoping they scored you as high." He heard the giggle again, sharper than before, and turned around. Nothing there, not even a shrub to hide behind. "Who's there?"

Silence.

"It's probably just the girls by the fire." Alex stood and zipped his shorts. "Sound does carry more at night."

"You heard it?" For some reason, Zed felt as if it had been meant for him alone. "Nah, it definitely came from behind me." He pulled his shorts up and stood, feeling for Alex's hand. "And there's no one there."

"Probably just someone else out enjoying the night, and it just sounds closer than it is." Alex threaded his fingers through Zed's, holding tight. "Just ignore Jon, don't let him get a rise out of you."

Zed snorted. "Fuckwit."

"Exactly."

A sudden chill, icy feathers, brushed across the back of Zed's neck. He didn't look behind him; there would be nothing there. He clenched Alex's hand tighter. "Let's go back, I need a drink."

"Me too."

Alex led the way back to the others. Stopping at the cooler Alex grabbed two beers, handing one to Zed.

"Where's Jon?" Alex asked as he sat down.

"Went to bed," Travis said. "Said something about being punched being a buzz kill."

"He shouldn't have been such a dickhead, then."

"I don't think he understands." Mel shrugged and looked at Zed. "You weren't there when we heard. We had no idea anything was even... wrong, then suddenly you're in therapy, and we didn't see you 'til the prom."

"It was years ago."

"Doesn't matter. I still don't think he actually comprehends why it was so bad for you that you felt you had to kill yourself -- try to." Mel finished in a rush.

"The only one that saw you during that time was Alex," Rhys added. "And he wasn't telling us anything."

Zed smiled. That was typical of Alex; guarding him fiercely. "To be honest, I don't remember a lot." It'd been a haze of prescription drugs and alcohol. Alex had been there almost constantly, as had Scott -- first boyfriend; older and hot. Zed did remember he'd been a brat for most of the time, the drugs affecting his sleeping and eating habits, and had been on somewhat of a downward spiral.

"I remember enough for the both of us," Alex whispered before taking a long pull of his beer.

"Well, don't. That part of my life is over." But even as he said it, Zed wondered if it was. What had made him try the suicide option when things got bad, while other people would react to the same situation differently? Alcohol had always been freely available to him, and drinking to make himself feel better had become a bit of a weekend ritual when he was in his teens, home alone on Friday and Saturday nights, knowing that Alex was out with nameless, faceless bimbos. Even now, when things got bad, he drank more than if he was just on a night out with friends.

"I can't believe Spain and Germany are playing each other in the semi-finals," Alex said.

Zed figured it was a not so subtle way to change the subject, and was glad of that. He didn't need to go to sleep with those memories assaulting him.