In Don't Look Back, Marshall's memories continue, of how he fell in love with Lee. Read more of their story in this week's installment. Then see what the other Briefers are up to. Their links follow my tale. Enjoy!
Marshall’s education came to a complete standstill for five
long years. Always on the run, moving from town to town, lover to lover, Rhonda
never bothered to enroll Marshall in school. She never stayed in one place long
enough for the local authorities to notice. Once he and Lee were reunited,
there was never a question of putting him back into the public school system.
They continued as they had before, with Lee homeschooling Marshall. There was
no library in Burnham, so they had to go to Tucker Falls for some of the books
they needed. Others they purchased at a chain book store there. Lee made sure
Marshall studied every subject, from history to math to science, English and
Spanish. When Marshall expressed an interested in learning about computers,
they found books on programming, and Marshall devoured them, revealing a natural talent for the subject. Lee
encouraged him to write his own programs, and was very proud of him.
Besides the things that could be learned from books, Lee didn’t
neglect Marshall’s physical education. He took Marshall hunting and fishing.
They went on long walks, and sometimes went to nearby state parks and hiked. Marshall loved the time he spent with Lee. Just
him and Lee and Mother Nature. He’d never been so happy.
Thanks to Lee’s loving attention, Marshall grew even taller,
and began to fill out. His shoulders were broader, his chest more defined, and
his legs longer. He let his hair grow until it reached past his shoulders, and
he liked the way it looked. He took more interest in the clothes he wore,
although sometimes his idea of what he should wear clashed with Lee’s.
Sometimes Lee would argue with him, other times he’d not say a word and
Marshall would feel triumphant and smug, wearing his hard-won purchase
proudly. Usually, after a few days of strutting about in his new clothes, he
discovered that they weren’t really as cool as he’d thought they were in the
store, and he’d sheepishly admit as much to Lee. Lee would laugh, produce the
receipts, and they’d return them for something else.
Life was good. Marshall wasn’t looking over his shoulder
quite so much anymore. The more time passed, the more easily he could breathe.
Rhonda had no way of finding them, and he suspected she didn’t care enough to
try. He’d been nothing but a pain in her ass. She was better off without him.
Roy was a constant in their lives, and sometimes joined them
when they went hunting and fishing. He was a frequent visitor in their home,
and was very highly regarded by the residents of Burnham. Marshall knew Roy’d
only moved there because of him and Lee, and he loved Roy for that.
By the time he was fifteen, Marshall’s feelings for Lee hadn’t
changed. If anything, they’d only grown stronger, and he was finding it harder
and harder to hide how he felt. Sometimes, at random moments, he’d look up at
Lee and find him looking at him, and he’d swear he saw something in Lee’s
expression. Something that made him
think maybe his feelings weren’t one-sided. But when he looked again, whatever
he’d seen was gone, and Lee’s face revealed nothing. Marshall decided he was
imagining things. Wishful thinking on his part.
Marshall had a computer of his own. Lee had built it just for him. They shared Lee’s work space, sitting on opposite sides
of the room. Marshall studied, while Lee worked. Marshall had taken to the
Internet like a duck to water, and it didn’t take him long to discover the vast
amounts of porn that was available, although he kept a watchful eye on Lee
whenever he accessed it, which was a little tricky, but he managed. He had
definite ideas of what it was he wanted Lee to do to him, and with him, and he
found himself spending more and more time in the bathroom.
One day a brilliant idea hit him. It seemed so obvious he
wondered why it had never occurred to him before. If he wanted Lee, he needed
to show him how he felt about him. Did he expect the man to be a mind reader?
He would show Lee just what he had to offer, and he would watch him closely, to
see if Lee felt the same way. His heart beat faster just thinking about being
held by Lee, being kissed by him… being loved by him, in the way one man loved
another.
Although they slept together, they no longer showered
together. A few months after Marshall’s return, Lee had told him that Marshall should
have his privacy. Marshall had accepted that explanation at the time. But
looking back, now, Marshall had to wonder if there was more to it than that.
He began to go out of his way to be naked in front of Lee,
without seeming to do it deliberately. Lee never said anything, but Marshall
occasionally caught him biting at his lower lip, as if he was holding something
in. Could it be? Could Lee want him too? Then why didn’t he say something, do
something? Wouldn’t that make sense? If you want something, you went after it.
Well, Marshall wanted Lee something fierce.
Then one day, Marshall saw the proof with his own eyes. He’d
practically done a strip-tease in front of Lee, before heading to the shower
before bed, when his glance was drawn downward, and he saw a big bulge in Lee’s
jeans. His heart rejoiced at the sight.
That night, his heart thumping as they lay in bed together,
he rolled over and looked into Lee’s beautiful eyes. Without warning, he closed the space between
them and claimed Lee’s lips in a kiss. For a brief moment, Lee kissed him back,
with passion, before he drew back and whispered, “No.”
“Why not?” Marshall countered. “I love you, Lee. I want to
be with you.”
“Because we can’t…”
Marshall’s heart plummeted.
to be continued
Now go see what the other Briefers are up to!
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