Westpoint Tales

by Kiwi

George and Jeremy's Tale - Pt 6

Next morning it was back to school. Had it really only been three days since they were there? It seemed like a lifetime ago. It was, in a way. George had a new life now, he had a friend, and he had someone to love. Thanks Gemmy.

George went eagerly to school for once in his life. He didn't call for Jeremy - not to the Carver's house - but he'd see him at school.

Moving through the noisy chaos of the locker room, he was suddenly confronted by his worst fear. A bunch of bullies approached and they were focused on him!

"Hey You. What the hell were you doing at the movies last night with a Carver?" Paul Watson, the leader of the pack, pushed him roughly and he crashed into the wall of open-fronted lockers. Three others loomed up behind Watson.

George was scared of them, but he wasn't going to show that. That would only make it worse, and he was mad.

"What's it to do with you? Jeremy Carver's my friend. What of it?"

"You need some lessons, Georgie Porgie," Paul Watson snarled, and he hit him, knocking him sideways. "Stay away from the Carvers."

George dropped his books as he rose to his feet and he attacked him with a roar. Fists were flying and he was soon bleeding from a cut above his eye. He was getting a pounding but he wasn't backing down. "Bloody stuffing bullies."

This had been coming for a while now, but stuff 'em. He was too angry to be frightened as he usually was. He was dropped again, floored by a hay-maker punch from Patrick Jacobs. He lay on the cold, hard floor, his head reeling as they all booted him. He'd had it now, he'd fought but he had lost. Then, suddenly, it was over.

Doris Bartlett, of all people, came to his rescue. "That's enough. Back off Watson. Leave the kid alone." She stood over him and yelled at his tormentors.

"Oh yeah? You're going to make us are you?" Watson sneered.

"Yes she is, with my help if she needs it." Jakie Carver stepped up and stood beside Doris. "What's going on here, George?"

Doris answered. "These bastards were laying into him because he went to the movies with your brother last night."

"Oh were they just? Is that right, George? Is that why they were beating on you?"

George got, groggily, to his feet. "Yeah. Apparently you're not allowed to be friends with any Carvers now."

"You can be friends with the Carvers, George. We'll be glad to have you." Jakie scanned around the crowded room. "Isn't that right? Eddie, Davy, Harv., Jeremy?"

The three Carver kids stood up next to Jakie and Doris and the bullies backed off and walked away. Jeremy supported George who was still reeling.

"Thanks Doris, Jakie, Jeremy, everybody."

"No problems, George. If you're on our side, we'll be there for you anytime. And, I do like a fight." Jakie offered his hand, then turned back to the girl. "Thanks Doris. I didn't know you cared."

"Well maybe I do. Maybe I'm on your side too."

"Yeah? Great. Welcome to the wild side of town. What about Bob Reynolds then?"

"Nah. I think he's moving on now."

"Pleased to hear it, Girl. Can I walk you to your class?"

"What a gentleman. Going to carry my books are you?"

"If you like. See you later guys. Just take on one at a time in future, George."

The others all moved off, the show was over and normal life returned to the locker room. Jeremy and George were left standing alone.

"All right, Georgie?"

"Yeah. I'm all right, thanks to you lot. Bloody bastards."

"Who, us?"

"No, them. Bloody bullying bastards."

"Yeah, well. Like Jakie says, welcome to your new life. All for one, one for all. If you're on our side, the Carvers will be there for you. Thanks for fighting for me, Georgie."

"Anytime, Gemmy. I figure you're worth it."

"Oh I am. Wait until we're alone and I'll show you what it's worth."

"Great. Do you want to cut school?"

"What, wag? We'd better not. Come on, we'll go see the nurse and get that cut taped up."

"You could always kiss it better."

"Later, Georgie. Later."

After seeing the nurse, and getting told off, (like it was his fault!), they went to class. They had to sit apart, in their allocated seats, which was probably just as well. At lunchtime, they went to their own homes for lunch. George would have liked to eat at school, but his mam wouldn't let him. They only lived around the corner from the school. Well, two corners really.

Today, he wanted to rush back to school, but he had to wait and watch the baby while his mother popped around to the Hospital Store - a grocery across the corner from the school. So it was almost 1pm., by the time he got back. Jeremy was standing there waiting for him.

When the afternoon was finally over, they left and crossed the road to the Carvers' house. George was about to say goodbye, when Jeremy asked, "Are you coming in?"

"In? To your house? Umm, well, I should be getting home. Mam'll be expecting me."

"Oh come on, Georgie. Just for a minute. I'll get changed out of my school clothes and then I'll come around to your house with you."

"Well. Okay then.". He timidly followed Jeremy, around to the back and into the house. ('The Carver's house!')

"Watch the steps there, Georgie. They're broken. Granny's going to get them to build a full length deck out here."

They went in the back door, into the dark, dingy kitchen. Why did it remind George of a witches' den? ('Oh yes. There's the witch.')

A really old, ancient, woman sat snoozing by the kitchen fire. Her face was all deep, dark wrinkles and her white-gray hair was rolled in an untidy bun. The firelight reflected in her little round spectacles. One lens was cracked.

"Hello Granny," Jeremy called loudly as he entered. "Wake up, we've got company."

"Huh? Huh? You home already? I wasn't sleeping; I was just resting my eyes."

"Sure you were. Granny, this is my friend George Barnes. I told you about him."

"George Barnes? Never heard of him. Is your daddy a cop, Boy? Come around here spying on us have you? Who's in the lounge there? Come and throw this spy-boy outta my house."

"Whoah," George retreated to the door in a panic. "I'm not a spy, Mrs.Carver. I'm not. I...I'd better go. See you later, Jeremy. Okay?"

"No it's not okay. Come back in here. She's just teasing you. Cut it out Granny. Be nice, this is my friend."

What do you need new friends for? You've got your brothers, you've got your cousins. What do you need new friends for? Stick to your own, Boy. They're the only people who will always stand by you."

"Georgie will stand by me. He proved that at school today."

"What do you mean? How did he prove that?"

"He got in a fight with a bunch of bullies because they told him that he couldn't be friends with a Carver."

"He did? So what happened? You get beaten up?"

"No. Mrs.Carver. I would have but Jakie and some others came up and stopped it."

"They're good boys. So are you, I think - fighting for the Carvers? Good for you. Welcome to my home, George Barnes. Come and sit by the fire."

He sat down in the rickety old armchair opposite old Cissie Carver while Jeremy went off to his room to get changed. George would rather have gone with him, but, oh well.

Jeremy had no sooner gone when Jakie and Eddie burst in through the back door.

"Hey! What are you doing here? Think you're going to move in now do you?"

George, nervously, rose to his feet. "Jakie. Eddie. No. .I...umm," he stammered.

"Leave him alone, Jakie," Granny snapped. "I've already made him nervous enough. This is a nice boy here."

"I'm just kidding, George. You look so scared, I couldn't resist it. Relax. Any friend of my brother's welcome here."

"Thanks, Jakie, and thanks for this morning too. I was getting a hiding there."

"No sweat. Nothing we like better than to take those bastards down a peg or two. Got me on Doris' good side too, that's got to be good."

"Doris Bartlett? Isn't she Bob Reynolds' girlfriend?"

"Not any more. Reynolds has got the hots for Kathy Adams now. He's welcome to that fiery little tart. She's just jail-bait anyway. Where's Jeremy?"

"He's in his room. He's getting changed."

"Good idea. I'm going to get out of these dorky school clothes too, and then I'm going to find Doris. See you later, Eddy. Later, George."

"Yeah. Thanks. See you later, Jakie."

"Jakie Carver, you've got chores to do before you go anywhere."

"Yeah, yeah. Later Granny."

Jakie went up to the front of the house and a few seconds later, Jeremy came back in, tucking his checked shirt into the waistband of his gray trousers as he walked. "Bloody hell," he exclaimed. "I'm not even allowed in my own room now when Jakie's taking his pants off."

"That's because you're not a girl," Eddie Carver smirked. "Speaking of pants, what do you think you're wearing?"

"What? These are just trousers. You can't live in blue jeans all the time."

"I don't see why not. Everyone wears jeans. Those things are just dorky, Cuz."

"Please yourself. You don't have to wear them."

"But I have to look at them though, don't I?"

"No, you don't. Come on George. We're out of here."

George followed him out the door. And they walked out the driveway to the street. When they were well away from the Carvers' house, he spoke up. "I don't think you look dorky. You look quite smart actually."

"I think so too, Georgie. Too smart for that scruffy lot anyway."

They walked around to George's house. He looked in the kitchen but there was only Jimmy there, sitting by the fire. "Your mam's not here. She's still uptown, shopping, with the baby."

"Oh. Okay. Thanks Jimmy. I'm just going to get changed. C'mon Gemmy."

Jeremy followed him out to his bedroom by the back door. "So I'm not allowed in my own room when my brother's taking his pants off, but I'm allowed in yours when you are?"

"You're allowed in my room anytime. Shut the door behind you."

George walked in and put his school bag on the floor next to his bed. When he straightened up and turned around, Jeremy was right there, close up against him. He put his hands on George's shoulders and looked closely into his eyes.

"I really like being in your room, Georgie. I really like you."

"I...umm, I really like you too, Gemmy."

They kissed a brief, gentle kiss on the lips. Jeremy backed off and looked at him, grinning.

George grinned back, gulped nervously and asked, "So? What do you want to do now?"

"You know what I want to do. I've been waiting all day to get alone with you. You want it too, don't you, Georgie?"

George gulped again and sat down on the edge of his bed. "I...ah...I want to be with you, I really do, but I'm a bit scared. I'm really nervous. I've never done anything like this before. Never."

Jeremy smiled, sat down beside him and put an arm around his shoulders. "There's nothing to be nervous about. I've never done this with anyone either."

"Really? Is that true? I thought you would have had lots of experience."

"Yes really. I've never, and I've never felt like this about anyone before. Ever."

"Truly? That's so cool, Gemmy. We can learn together then."

"Yeah. Together."

They kissed again, a real kiss this time. They fell back across the bed and wrapped arms and legs around each other, clinging tightly, while their mouths fused together. This time, George didn't protest when Jeremy's fingers found their way inside his school shorts to feel the hot flesh in there.

Jeremy pulled his mouth away. "Are we safe here, Georgie? Is anyone going to walk in on us?"

"We're safe. Jimmy never comes into my room. Mam walks in anytime, but she's not here."

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