July 2, 1976

 

“Shit, it’s so fucking cold,” Jake complained.

 

Dan replied sarcastically, “Really?”

 

Jake turned as he shivered and wiped the water from his face pointlessly while looking at his best friend incredulously. He was used to the smart-arsed rhetoric but under the circumstances, it seemed uncalled for.

 

“Fuck you, Dan. Maybe I’m stating the obvious considering the circumstances but I’m freezing down to the bone…”

 

Dan laughed loudly, which interrupted what Jake was saying and then he looked at Jake and said, “Have you got a bone in these conditions?”

 

“Shut up, Dan,” Jake said with an irritated shake of the head before continuing, “As I was saying; I’m soaked through from top to bottom and we’ve still got another ten minutes before we get home, so tell me oh great literary giant, what alternative description would you like me to use to explain what’s happening and how it’s making me feel?”

 

“How about something funny that would take our minds of this fucking torrential rain and the fact that this cold-arsed, gale force wind, is causing the rain drops to form stalagmite’s on every part of our exposed bodies? Anything other than it’s fucking cold,” Dan replied.

 

“Stalagmites? I didn’t think you took notice of anything we learned at school. I thought you were just there for the social breaks between classes. Who’d have guessed that anything other than sport, the beach and the desire to one day have sex, ever crossed that mind of yours? Anyway, Stalagmites and Stalactites are to do with rock and minerals and growing cave formations. What you meant to say was icicles,” Jake threw back sarcastically.

 

“Fuck you, Jake! I know what they are, I was just being clever, not that that’s hard for someone as intelligent as me. For your information, my marks at the end of the year will be high and I bet they’ll be better than yours by a mile,” Dan replied condescendingly.

 

“Well, considering that outdoing me scholastically wouldn’t be a difficult task, I’d say that’s no gleaming recommendation,” Jake said.

 

Dan turned and looked at his friend’s face in profile. Jake’s teeth were chattering and the blood was flushed throughout his face, as it tried to combat the extreme conditions and temperature. He then noticed that Jake’s whole body was shivering wildly as well.

 

Dan had looked at Jake because he heard the usual self-deprecating words, which always frustrated him. Dan hated that Jake could not see himself the way he saw him. Jake was the best friend a guy could have. He was kind and supportive and would do anything to help him if the need arrived. Jake was always there for him. He was also funny and smart and it bugged Dan that Jake did not seem to know how smart he was.

 

Dan said sincerely, “You know I wish you wouldn’t talk about yourself like you’re stupid. When are you going to realise how smart you are?”

 

Jake said dismissively, “Is there someone else walking and talking with us that I can’t see?”

 

“Jake, how many other boys of thirteen do you know that use words like scholastically or say things like it’s no gleaming recommendation? It’s only when we’re at school or in class that you become this other person but when you’re alone with me away from school, you’re like the smartest person of our age that I know,” Dan replied.

 

Jake turned and looked at Dan. Dan was still looking at him and his expression was serious and compassionate. Jake thought he was lucky to have a friend like Dan but he wondered if Dan would ever grasp that he was such a popular boy and had already become one of the most popular boys in high school. Jake believed Dan was like some superstar while he was just an average Joe. Somehow it seemed wrong that Dan still wanted to be his friend. They only had two years of school left or four if they went all the way but whatever the case, Jake did not want anything to change between them or to interfere with the closeness they shared.

 

Previously, after a type of analysing, Jake had come to the conclusion that the only reason the other boys they hung out with did not tell him to fuck off was because Dan was his friend. Jake believed that if he were not Dan’s friend then the others wouldn’t want to know him and they would ostracise him from the group. Jake had decided that if that happened, he would become like the other less fortunate boys, who existed like extras in the background of a film shoot. He would be just another face that would forever remain nameless in the scheme of things. Sometimes he wanted to say something to Dan about it but he figured that Dan would not understand because he could never walk in his shoes.

 

With fear and insecurity leading him, Jake concluded he could not let anyone see he was smart because that would open him up to attacks from the mentally deficient boys, who he now had to associate with to remain at Dan’s side. Dan’s popularity attracted boys like moths to flames and it seemed the more people that showed interest in Dan, the more confident Dan was becoming. During high school Jake had realised that deep down, Dan’s self-esteem was not high. It made little sense to Jake, considering the pedestal he placed Dan on, however, Jake knew he would do anything for Dan and so putting up with those other boys was a sacrifice he was willing to make.

 

Jake was not about to give any of those boys a reason to attack him. He had seen them bully the smart boys and the weaker boys when Dan was not around. They called them nerds and scientists and pussy faggots and then they push them around like they were worthless. He hated those mindless bullies so much but he could not allow anyone or anything to separate him from Dan. He sort of believed that because he and Dan had been friends forever, he should not worry about losing Dan but at the same time, Jake knew they were getting older and somehow that knowledge seemed to entertain possibilities of Dan walking away.

 

Things were changing and people were changing and he did not want to risk losing Dan under any circumstances. It was because of all of those reasons he had chosen to learn silently but to never let it be seen. He even talked like those other boys to stay in the group.

 

All of those old thoughts rushed through Jake’s mind in a split second and he decided at that moment that he had to make a joke, like he always did under these circumstances. It was the solution he used to change the subject and to make Dan forget what he was talking about.

 

“What do you mean boys of our age? Dan, I’m thirteen but you’re only twelve. You need to wait until you get older before you start acting like an adult like me. Anyway, I only seem smart to you because you’re a dumb-arse,” Jake said and as he smiled, he gave Dan a light punch to his arm and then turned and looked away.

 

Dan looked back at him and he knew Jake was avoiding again. He rolled his eyes and shook his head but let the matter drop. He then turned his face back into the driving rain that pelted against them. He lifted his arm that was closest to Jake and wrapped it around Jake’s shoulders. He pulled Jake close as if to warm him and then told him to run again.

 

Synchronously and like they were two parts of a single unit operating as one, both boys ran in spite of the horrid conditions they were in. They both began to laugh at the situation they were forced to endure, simply because they were side-by-side and doing it together.

 

It was the middle of winter but an unusual storm had come from the west around midday. It brought with it heavy rain and colder temperatures but as the day continued, the rain got harder and then gale force winds had followed. The boys had hoped it would clear before school ended because they had spent all their money and they could not catch the bus. The storm continued to wreak havoc regardless and so they had no alternative but to leg it, all the way home.

 

Soon enough they were turning into their street and though they were tired from running, they were so cold and saturated and frozen to their cores, somehow it did not seem to matter. They ran hard along the footpath but it seemed like the closer they came to their houses, the further away they were.

 

“Let’s go straight into my place,” Dan suggested.

 

“Whatever, just get me out of this fucking rain and wind,” Jake yelled.

 

The moment the key opened the door, Dan grabbed Jake and pushed him inside, following him in immediately before slamming the door hard behind them. He grabbed Jake’s hand and told him to run and then they were sprinting up the stairs and suddenly they were in the bathroom across from Dan’s bedroom. Dan closed and locked the door and then started to rip off his clothes, which hit the tiled floor with heavy, waterlogged splats. He suddenly looked at Jake who was standing frozen to the spot and looking at him with a slightly fearful expression.

 

“What are you doing, Jake? Strip off those wet clothes and get in the shower. We need to warm up our bodies,” Dan said.

 

Jake said anxiously, “Together?”

 

Dan knew what he was saying about raising their temperatures was right and he also understood the attitude behind Jake’s apprehension; however, one needful voice in Dan’s mind whispered the desire to see Jake naked. He thought this was probably the only opportunity he would ever have to be naked with Jake and though he did not plan on doing anything and did not know for sure exactly what he would do if he could; still he wanted them to be naked and he only wanted to be that way with Jake. He turned and assertively dragged the school jumper off Jakes body.

 

“Jake, you’re my friend,” Dan said but that was all.

 

Jake looked at Dan and wondered what that meant exactly. It certainly did not explain anything to him but for some reason it seemed like a reasonable response. He started to remove his shoes, socks and pants and with a smile, Dan stripped naked, stepped into the shower recess and then turned on and adjusted the heat of the water. He swivelled beneath the water, as Jake continued to get undressed.

 

It was not that Jake minded getting naked and showering with Dan. In fact, he wanted to do it so badly, he thought he would never forgive himself if he let the opportunity pass. What was bothering him was that he was worried that if he did, he would get an erection and that if Dan saw it, he would attack him and hate him. Jake could not stand the thought of that happening.

 

When he was finally naked, he turned and watched Dan beneath the shower. Jake thought this must be what was meant when adults used the word sexy. Seeing Dan naked distracted him from how cold he was and it also gave him a hot feeling inside. Even though it was the middle of winter and Dan’s skin was not deeply tanned, Jake noticed that even when everyone else was white, Dan’s olive skin was still a light, creamy caramel all over. Even his bum was not white. He stared at the side of Dan’s handsome face and he wanted to kiss it.

 

As the steam clouded throughout the room, Dan turned and saw Jake standing still and watching him, as he shivered violently. One fist was cupped inside the other, as they rested against the top of his chest. Jake was literally shaking as he looked at him. He was just standing there frozen like a statue in an earthquake but all Dan could think was that his friend needed his help.

 

Dan pushed the door open, reached out and grabbed Jake’s wrist. He dragged him in with him and closed the door. He pushed him in front of him and under the water and as he heard Jake sigh from the sudden rush of wet heat, Dan stepped to his side and rubbed his hands up and down, over Jake’s back and chest to get his blood flowing and to heat his body quicker.

 

“Are you feeling a bit better now, Jake?”

 

“Yeah, much,” he replied.

 

“Just stand there for a bit and close your eyes and let the heat get into your body,” Dan said.

 

Jake nodded and closed his eyes and as he did, Dan looked down at Jake’s dick. He desperately wanted to reach down and touch it but then he let his eyes move up onto Jake’s chest, before gazing at his tiny, frozen nipples and then up to his face.

 

Staring at his face, Dan thought that Jake seemed to be becoming more handsome everyday. As he looked at his lips, Dan wondered what it would be like to kiss them. He looked away and then stepped behind Jake and his eyes dropped down to take in the sight of his small and firm, round bum. He turned around when he was directly behind him and he rested his hands on Jake’s shoulders and began to massage them.

 

Jake moaned as he felt his body not only warming up but also relaxing into Dan’s touch. He really liked the feeling of Dan’s hands on his skin and it made him feel nervous inside. The nervous feeling made him think that maybe this was wrong. Still the thought did not really bother him because he liked it and he wished he could feel Dan touching him all the time. He sighed as he wanted it to continue but then he thought that Dan was as cold as he had been. He turned around and looked at Dan.

 

“Come on, your turn, I’m not going to let you freeze when I feel good now,” Jake said.

 

Dan smiled and nodded and as Jake stepped to the side, Dan moved in beneath the hot water. Jake felt weird standing naked next to his best friend in the shower and just watching him. Dan did not seem to think anything about it though and he did not seem to care. He just kept glancing at Jake with his big smile that always made Jake feel so good. Jake felt like a fifth wheel and felt like he should be doing something. He thought about what Dan had done and then he took a step closer and he also ran his hands up and down over Dan’s chest and back.

 

“Thanks, Jake. I like it when you do that. It feels really good,” Dan said softly.

 

Jake liked it too but something in the way Dan looked at him and also in the softness of his voice, made him feel uncomfortable. He stepped behind Dan and began massaging his shoulders like Dan had done to his. He then started looking at the smooth and tight, young body of his best friend and it happened instantly. Jake felt his dick twitch and he knew at any moment it would be hard. He dropped his hands, opened the door and after he reached for a towel, he stepped out of the shower recess. With his back to Dan to hide the additional thickness of his dick, he began to wipe himself dry.

 

Dan turned and watched Jake’s departure disappointedly. He was not angry or frustrated; he just wished that Jake had stayed there with him and that naked beneath the wonderful warmth of the shower, he could have held Jake in his arms. He looked down at his own dick, which was thicker because Jake had been touching him. He wanted to touch it but he knew if he did, it would get hard instantly. He turned his back on Jake, thought of something else and a minute later, it returned to normal.

 

“Pass me a towel,” Dan said.

 

As Jake handed him the only white towel in the bathroom, he asked, “When are your parent’s getting home?”

 

“Same as your parents, not for at least another two hours,” Dan replied and then he added, “Good call. Of the five towels in the bathroom, you chose my towel to give me.”

 

Jake remembered that summer’s night and Dan wiping his body in front of his bedroom window. He thought he would never forget that towel for as long as he lived. He wished he could take the towel home with him so he could smell it and sleep with it and wipe Dan all over his body.

 

They wiped themselves dry and after Dan hung the towels back on the racks, he opened the door and both boys cried out, as the icy air of the house rushed in and slapped their naked bodies. Dan grabbed Jake’s hand and pulled him across to his bedroom. He closed the door and then opened a drawer and pulled out sweat pants and sweatshirts for both of them. They were both feeling very cold again, despite the hot shower and Dan told Jake to get into his bed and get warm. He did and moments later to Jake’s surprise, Dan got into the bed with him.

 

As they lay in Dan’s bed and the warmth of a heavy, pure, goose down doona, slowly removed all considerations of the cold winter weather above the covers, the boys talked and laughed and even snuggled a little closer, though not too close. Eventually and unexpectedly, they both fell asleep happy and satisfied in their comfort.

 

“Jake!”

 

Dan’s voice sounded as if it came from some distance away. Jake did not understand how that could be possible when he was lying naked in Dan’s arms on a beach.

 

“Jake!”

 

The voice called again and Jake opened his eyes to the sight of stars looking at him through the window.

 

“Shit,” he said, as he realised where he was and that Dan’s chin was resting on his shoulder and looking down at the side of his face. He instantly became afraid that Dan would throw back the covers and discover that the dream of being naked in his arms, had given him a raging erection.

 

“It’s okay,” Dan said before continuing, “Mum was just in here and she woke me up.”

 

Jake whispered fearfully, “Your mum? She found us in bed together?”

 

“It’s okay. Let me tell you,” Dan said and then he slid his arm around Jake and held him close.

 

Even though Jake was anxious about Dan’s mother, he instantly relaxed into the warmth of the front of Dan’s body, pressed against his back. He also loved Dan’s arm around him with his hand on his chest.

 

“She came in and turned on the light and I woke up immediately. I freaked and told her it wasn’t what she thought and then I told her what happened on the way home from school. I told her I made you come in and take a hot shower after me and that because we were still cold afterwards, I made you get into bed with me so we could warm up. Before I had a chance to say anything else, she told me she found our soaking clothes in puddles on the bathroom floor and when she came in and saw us she realised what had happened.

 

“She asked if we were both okay and I told her we were. She told me I was smart for making us take a hot shower and then getting us to get into bed. She said that she was going to ring your mum to tell her where you were and to explain to her and suggest you stay here the night. She said that now that the storm has passed and the sky has cleared, allowing any heat to rise, the temperature has already dropped to five degrees. She thinks it’d be better if you stay here tonight rather than go outside when your body is so warm, even if it’s only next-door. She reckons it’ll give you a cold. You don’t mind sleeping with me tonight, do you, Jake?”

 

Dan’s expression comprised excited eyes and a hopeful grin.

 

“No,” Jake said and smiled back.

 

Dan tightened his grip around Jake and as his body pressed more firmly, Jake could feel that Dan had an erection and was rubbing it against his bum. Unfortunately, Dan pulled away when he heard his mother returning to tell him that Jake’s mum had said it was fine.

 

The boys got up some time later to have dinner but as soon as dinner was over they returned to Dan’s bedroom. They did their homework that had been given for over the weekend and then spent the remainder of the night talking and laughing and enjoying their time together. For Dan it was like a fantasy come true and it only deepened his imagined desire of having Jake living with him and sleeping in his bed. He could barely believe it was happening at all.

 

For Jake it was the best thing that could have happened and he had a burning desire to get back into bed and feel Dan’s body pressed against him. He also hoped that when they did go to bed, Dan would get an erection and that he would feel it pushing against him again.

 

There was a certain degree of change in conscious awareness from that evening onward. Dan believed Jake must have felt him pushing his hard dick against his bum and so he assumed Jake’s silence and inaction, meant there was an even better chance that he and Jake were the same. Even with that assumed knowledge, Dan was still too afraid to say what needed to be said. Jake, on the other hand, though surprised by the way Dan held him so close and rubbed his dick on his bum, still struggled with the idea of a chance existing at all. In spite of a feeling of certainty, Jake’s overriding thought repeated, “Nah, Dan couldn’t be like me.”

 

The boys agreed that when they went to bed they would stay awake past the time when Dan’s parents went to bed. It had been Dan’s idea because he hoped that maybe in the dark quiet of night, something might happen between them. When Jake had agreed excitedly, Dan’s hopes had been raised very high. He did not know what they would do but he thought that maybe they could touch each other and kiss each other.

 

Dan’s father told them to go to bed at ten o’clock and though they had planned to stay awake late, an hour later they were sound asleep and Dan was once again spooning Jake, as they snuggled together peacefully.

 

***