Vin heard the word, recognized the voice, and knew there was trouble.He dropped his schoolbooks next to the wall, then pushed his way through the rapidly gathering crowd of students. When he broke through, he barely hesitated before barreling forward to stand between the two boys, shoving Brent back as Aaron Kruet slid to the floor.
"Walk away, Tanner. This ain't yer fight."
But Vin stood his ground. Brent McGrath's pack of buddies from the football team didn't have his back today, and this wasn't some dark, secluded spot behind the high school bleachers where Vin could be ambushed ... out-numbered ... held down. No. Today, it was just him and Brent. Sure, Brent was taller, stockier, and had it all over him in the muscles department, but Vin had lived on the streets; he'd learned how to take care of himself. One on one, Vin knew he could hold his own.
"No way, McGrath. I ain't gonna let ya beat 'im up. Hell, I ain't even gonna stand here and listen ta ya call him a faggot one more time."
Brent took a small step forward, and when he spoke, his voice was low, meant only for Vin, though there were enough people standing around watching that some of them had to have heard him as well. "Is this because I called YOU a fag, Tanner? I only did that 'cuz I was pissed at ya for blowin' our shot at the division playoffs. I called Kruet a damn fag because he really is one—"
Vin lashed out at Brent with a right hook, connecting with the side of his jaw, though the sudden move hadn't landed with as much force as Vin would have liked. "Shut the hell up, McGrath."
"Do ya even know what this asshole did ta me? Felt me up, right in front of ev'rybody!" Brent accused as a faint, indignant blush began to stain his freckled cheeks.
Vin took a step toward him, then another, until the quarterback began to retreat. "Ya 'fraid someone's gonna notice the boner it gave ya?" Vin asked, calmly.
Brent shoved him in the shoulders and Vin took a small, staggered step back, but it wasn't enough to dissuade him. He began walking toward Brent again, until Brent backed into the lockers lining the wall behind him, preventing him from retreating any further. Vin then stuck his hand out, placing it gently against Brent's shoulder, and then leaned all his weight forward, pressing the quarterback hard against the metal lockers.
Then Vin leaned in real close, adding in a low whisper, "Are ya pissed 'cuz he grabbed ya ... or are ya pissed 'cuz he let go?"
Brent exploded them, shoving Vin so forcefully that he stumbled back until he slammed into the opposite set of lockers, just feet away from where Aaron was laying on the ground, still clutching at his stomach. Brent flew after Vin, slugging away, landing repeated blows over Vin's lean form while Vin struggled just to get his feet firmly planted. When he did, he landed a sharp blow to Brent's stomach and another to his side, before a teacher pulled Brent away from him.
"WHAT is going on here?" The biology teacher, standing behind Brent and holding his arms, looked from Vin to Aaron, who was only now struggling to get up. No one helped him, and no one said a word to the teacher. "I expect this sort of behavior from some of these boys, but I'm really disappointed in you, Aaron," Mr. Hurly finally said before adding, "Principal. All of you. Now!"
He hauled Brent off, still holding firm to one of his arms; Aaron and Vin fell in step just behind. Vin dared to glance over at Aaron, who was still slightly bent over, an arm protectively across his gut. There was blood oozing from his nose and his lower lip was starting to swell.
"Ya okay?" Vin asked quietly, feeling stupid, since he could see that Aaron wasn't at all okay.
But Aaron just nodded, a faint smile tugging at the uninjured corner of his mouth.
They all sat outside the principal's office for a few minutes while Mr. Hurly went inside. They'd been forbidden to speak in his absence, but Brent was the star football quarterback and he thought that gave him extra privileges, even though the season was over — they'd lost their bid for the division championship — and Brent would be graduating in another few weeks. Vin knew that for the first time in Brent's high school life, he'd be getting no special treatment, no privileges, nothing brushed under the carpet for the good of the team, the good of the school, because Brent could be nothing to this high school anymore except another graduating senior.
Vin would have smiled, would have been happy, except he knew Brent before he'd become the jerk that now sat across from him. He shook his head in contempt. He actually used to look up to the guy, envying his confident manner and ease in all social situations — things Vin severely and admittedly lacked.
"What are ya starin' at? This is all yer damn fault, Tanner, just like always."
Vin frowned. He couldn't see how any of this was his fault — well, except subtly accusing Brent of being gay, the one thing he knew would provoke a fight, making Brent, at least momentarily, forget that he'd been in the middle of beating up Aaron.
"Ya just keep yer mouth shut in there, Tanner. You, too, Kruet. I ain't takin' the fall for no dick-grabbin' queer," he hissed, but when the secretary looked sternly over at them, he fell silent again.
A moment later the principal called Aaron into his office. Vin stared at Brent for a few moments, then just looked away. The quarterback's words came back to him then, the one's he'd said in the hall: "I called you a fag because I was pissed at you...." Vin couldn't believe the words now. Could they be true? Had Brent simply been upset at losing that damn football game — pissed enough to beat Vin into unconsciousness and then leave him outside, alone, in the middle of winter, to freeze? Over a lousy football game, at not getting the chance to go to the division playoffs? He'd gotten his college scholarship anyway — knew he had it before that last game. Why the hell should he care if the high school got one more trophy or not?
Vin believed Brent had discovered his secret. He thought Brent had beaten him — that his teammates had helped — because Vin was gay. It was true, Vin was gay, but he'd never told anyone, never admitted it, never acted the part like any of those guys on television. At least, he hadn't before the beating. After, well ... he'd still kept his mouth shut, until Aaron came along. And the only reason Aaron knew was because the rumors around school that Vin WAS gay had prompted Aaron to ask him, admitting in the process that he liked guys as well.
A few moments later, Aaron and Mr. Hurly came out of the office, and then the teacher took Brent back in with him. Vin looked at Aaron for a moment, and then turned his eyes to a fixed point on the floor between his feet. Aaron stared off into the distance, away from the secretary who was only paying a vague amount of attention to them.
"Well?" Vin mumbled.
"Just questions."
"What'd ya tell 'em?"
"The truth."
"WHAT?" Vin said too loudly, attracting the secretary's attention.
"Mr. Hurly said no talkin', boys. Don't make me separate y'all," she said firmly, glaring at them until they mumbled their apologies and fell silent again.
Vin was now the one looking like he was staring off into space and Aaron had his head bent slightly, fixated on his shoes. "Told him I tripped, fell against Brent. Just an accident," Aaron finally said under his breath.
Vin didn't respond. Saying that he believed him would make him sound jealous and he wasn't. He and Aaron did plenty of stuff in private — hell, anything they wanted to each other lately — so there was no reason for him to go around groping other guys in public, especially not rednecks like Brent!
The door opened then and Brent walked out. He glared over at Vin and Aaron, and then sat down in a chair opposite them. Mr. Hurly waved Vin into the office. Inside, there was one very uncomfortable-looking chair in front of the desk and the principal gestured for Vin to take it. Vin didn't realize until after he sat down how low the chair was in comparison to the big, wooden desk and Principal Wilkes sitting behind it; he was forced to look up in order to see the man, making him feel like he was in kindergarten again. Vin didn't think the affect was unintentional.
"Mister Tanner" — the principal said the word 'mister' as if it tasted badly in his mouth — "would you tell me what just happened in the hall?"
Vin nodded. He had nothing to hide — well, almost nothing. If they punished him, the worst it would mean was expulsion and then forced summer school doing make-up work and exams. He didn't mind anymore. He wasn't quite as desperate to get himself out of this Podunk town as he had been several months ago, before he'd met Aaron.
"Heard McGrath callin' someone a name—" he began, but the principal immediately interrupted him.
"What name?"
"Rather not say, sir. It's not very nice. 'Sides, I'm sure one of the others told ya, iffn ya asked 'im. Just ain't my place ta say." The principal seemed to except Vin's words, so he continued from where he'd left off. "Heard the scuffle an' pushed my way through the crowd. Saw Kruet pinned ag'inst the lockers. McGrath was walin' on 'im—"
"Waling?" Mr. Hurly asked and Vin nodded.
"Punchin' him, real hard. Kruet went down just as I stepped in. Figgered if McGrath wanted ta wail on someone, I was prob'ly better able ta take it than Kruet."
"Why's that?" Mr. Wilkes asked.
"All the sports I do. Just reckon I'm in better shape than Kruet who keeps his nose buried in books," Vin explained, though he knew Aaron didn't have a bad body, just one he hadn't yet worked much to develop. "But I just couldn't stand there an' let McGrath keep punchin' him. It weren't right."
"How do you know Aaron Kruet didn't start the fight? And Brent McGrath was only defending himself?" Mr. Hurly asked.
"Same as you know: Kruet don't start fights. McGrath, well, I've seen 'im in more scuffles than the two of ya have put together, and I ain't known 'im even half as long. McGrath's a hothead, a fighter — don't take much ta set 'im off. I know that from bein' on the football team with 'im."
Finally, Mr. Wilkes nodded, obviously satisfied with what Vin had told him. It hadn't been the whole story, but Vin figured it was enough. He hoped it got him and Aaron off the hook. He didn't much care what happened to Brent anymore. The principal motioned for Mr. Hurly to bring Aaron and Brent into the office. Vin stood up then to stand between them — his former teammate on one side, his current boyfriend on the other.
"From what you boys tell me" — Principal Wilkes began as soon as the door was shut — "this was a misunderstanding, an accident. Mr. Kruet, I'd like you to apologize to Mr. McGrath."
Vin started to protest, but the principal stopped him with a raised hand. Vin didn't think Aaron had anything to apologize for! And he couldn't believe Principal Wilkes was making him say the words anyway. God damn Brent, this school, and this town for their blind football-fanaticism.
"Brent, I'm sorry," Aaron finally said, even though Vin stared at him, begging him with his eyes not to do it. "I tripped. It was an accident. I—" Aaron licked his dry lips and swallowed, and, for a moment, Vin wondered if he was mustering up the courage to tell them all to go to Hell. "I didn't mean to touch ya like that, Brent."
"Mr. McGrath?" the principal prompted him.
Brent nodded, then mumbled, "Yeah, okay. Just don't ever do it ag'in."
"Mr. Tanner, you know the rules about fighting on school property," Principal Wilkes stood up and began to pace slowly back and forth behind his desk — the sight made Vin nervous. "I can't make exceptions if I expect to maintain any discipline at this school. I should suspend you; however, you were doing what you felt was right. So, I will not punish you for that, but I will give you the opportunity to ponder all the less violent ways you could have used to resolve the situation by giving you detention, one hour a day, after school, until graduation."
Vin nodded. He didn't think he should be punished at all, but he did need to study for his exams, so the time would be wasted — though, he was sure he would be better off with Aaron at his side tutoring him.
The principal then turned his attention to Brent. "Mr. McGrath, you are suspended, for two weeks...." Brent seemed shocked, but Vin didn't think the punishment was harsh enough, not after what he'd done to Aaron today, and not after what he'd done to Vin months ago. Two weeks; two lousy weeks. Brent'd still be able to graduate. He'd still be able to make-up his homework assignments, take his final exams, plus, he'd have all day just to goof off. It wasn't fair! It wasn't nearly as bad as detention every day!
Then Vin heard the principal continue. "... Starting Monday, which means, you'll be missing graduation. I hope that Texas A&M won't mind you staying here for summer school. I don't think it'll make you more than a day or so late for college football camp."
Vin tried to hide his sudden urge to smile. He'd be gone and Brent would be stuck here, sweltering through summer school, praying the Texas A&M football coach could be made to understand and forgive his delay.
"Sometimes there is justice in the world," Vin said when he and Aaron were finally alone up in Aaron's room. They wouldn't be fooling around tonight, since Mr. and Mrs. Kruet were both downstairs, but they had a bit of privacy to talk in the bedroom where his parents assumed they were just studying."Almost makes me wanna be a lawyer, or a principal," Aaron remarked with a scoffing laugh. "Can't believe Brent thinks so well of himself. Like there isn't a student at that school who doesn't want to put their hands on him." Aaron shuddered.
"I still say he got a hard-on when ya knocked inta 'im an' that's what freaked 'im out!"
"The way he was acting, you'd think he'd creamed his jeans!"
"Yeah," Vin agreed, but the laugh in his throat died with a sudden realization. "I bet his dad'd beat the shit outta him if he thought he was gay. Whether it was true or not." Vin wasn't sure if Jim and Eleanor would understand; even if he wasn't really their kid, he was still living in their house. "What about yer parents: ya ever gonna tell 'em?"
Aaron shook his head. "I wouldn't even know how.... They're pretty cool, but ... I don't know, with something like this...."
Vin just nodded. He had no intention of telling anyone — not his foster parents, not the social workers, and not the army recruiter. Wasn't any of their business anyway.
"Hey, my cousin asked me to spend the summer at the lake again," Aaron suddenly changed the subject.
"Yer cousin?" Vin knew he meant the one he'd fooled around with in the past. "Should I be jealous?"
Aaron cracked a wide grin, but shook his head. "Turns out he likes girls better than boys. Though, I can't figure out why!" They both laughed, until Aaron leaned against Vin, kissing him playfully on the lips. It was thrilling for Vin, but he pushed Aaron away.
"Door's open," he reminded his friend. Aaron laughed again, then got up and closed the door. There was no lock on it, so he walked to the desk, grabbed the chair, then wedged the top rung securely underneath the knob.
"Happy?" he asked, and Vin barely had time to flash him a lop-sided grin of encouragement before Aaron was on top of him, pressing him into the plush carpeting as their lips mashed together.
A moment later, Aaron leveraged himself up on his elbows and looked down into Vin's eyes. "When are ya planning on enlisting?"
Vin shrugged. "Day after graduation, I reckon. 'Specially iffn yer goin' away fer the summer. Ain't no reason fer me ta stay."
"What if you come to the lake with me? When I head off to college in the fall, then you can join up — until then, you can Be All You Can Be with me," he finished, mocking the enlistment poster they'd both seen at school.
"Yer cousin won't mind?"
Aaron shook his head. "You need permission or anything?"
"Nope. Everyone knows I'm leavin' after graduation. Reckon the state won't care if I spend it with you or a bunch of army guys. Prob'ly have more fun with you; I doubt the Army'll let me do ta its assholes what I get ta do ta yers," Vin said, not anywhere near as timid with the sexual quips as he had been before he'd started fucking Aaron.
"Nope, I'm pretty sure you're gonna be the one getting screwed!" Aaron flashed a wicked smile, but then bent down to kiss Vin again, immediately shoving his tongue deep into his boyfriend's mouth, thrusting it in and out as he'd done so many times with his own dick. Aaron then moved his hand down, sliding it between their bodies, to caress Vin's shaft through his pants.
Vin then realized he'd later be borrowing another pair of Aaron's jeans, since his would soon be wet with cum.
~ fade ~
January 2002Please do NOT repost this story anywhere outside of the Blackraptor Fiction Website.
Characters from "The Magnificent Seven," were used without permission and this story in no way signifies support of, or affiliation with, The Mirisch Group, MGM, Trilogy Entertainment, or CBS Worldwide, Inc. The M7-ATF universe was created by Mog, and extra thanks go to her for allowing other people to play within it. The story itself and any non-Magnificent Seven characters belong to the author. This story will not be sold for any reason.
Thanks to my beta reader for all of her help and encouragement!