Westpoint Tales
by Kiwi
Jason and Jordan's tale - 14
Dinner was a big success. And it was big - huge helpings of everything. There was roast beef, there was pork, and there was a turkey even. They had everything that you'd have for a Christmas dinner - everything except the crackers and the silly little hats that is. There was even a brace of lit candles in the centre of the table, which was a first.
At the end of the meal, Bill stood up and tapped a spoon on his glass. There were answering groans from all around the table.
"Dad, No. Not the speeches," Sean said what they were all thinking.
"Shut up Sean. I'm not making a big speech, I've just got a couple of things I want to say. First of all, June, thank you for all the effort you put into the dinner. It was just superb."
"I agree, it was. I wanted to make a special effort, this is a special occasion. Jordan - I will do anything, and I do mean anything, to keep this family together. And thank you, Jason, for all your help. He really knows his way around a kitchen does this boy. Somebody's trained you well."
"I, umm, I just learned from books and TV cooking programmes. Thank you for letting me help, I just wanted to feel part of it, sort of."
"Oh, you're more than sort-of part of it, Jason." Bill continued his speechifying. "You're the whole reason for it. Jordan is too, I suppose, but mostly you. Welcome to our home, Jason McDonald. I don't know what the future holds for you two. I hope you'll always be as happy as you both are right now, but who knows? Whatever happens, whether you stay together or not, know that you'll always be welcome here. We like you too, you're a nice kid. Do I hear a "hear, hear?""
"You can sit down now, Bill," said Mrs. Taylor. "You're embarrassing the boy. But, yes - hear, hear."
"So say all of us," said Michael. "Now leave the kid alone. Can we have dessert now? I'm starving here."
After dinner, Bill, Michael and Sean were "volunteered" to clean up the kitchen. Mrs. Taylor looked after the shop and Jason and Jordan were told to go away, so they did. They took their sketchpads and went over to the lagoon to try to draw the sunset in black and white.
Jason was no better at it than Jordan was. They decided that they were both hopeless.
"Face it, Jordie, it can't be done. Get a red pencil, that'll work."
"Maybe. I think I will get a red pencil, but not just yet. I'm not giving up yet. You might be organised but I'm stubborn. That's what I am - stubborn as a mule. I don't give up easily."
"No, you don't do you? We wouldn't be sitting here now if you weren't stubborn to the max. Thanks Jordie, thanks for not giving up on me."
"I'll never give up on you, Boy. I love you." Jordan kissed his cheek.
"That's so cool. I love you too." He kissed him back. "And I really love your family. They're the best."
"Yeah, they're okay. I trained them well," Jordan grinned. "They love you too. I knew they would."
"You did not! A few hours ago you were saying that you're out of here if tonight didn't go well."
"Okay, I did say that - I would've been too. But I hoped that they were going to love you. I knew they should. Anyone who gets to know you has got to love you."
"I think you might be a bit biased there. But I'm glad you are. Thanks, Jordie."
It got dark while they were sitting down by the water, but that had its advantages too. They arrived home to a chanting welcome from Sean - "Jordie and Jason, sitting up a tree. . "
"Shut up, Sean. Shut up or I'll pound you."
"Cool. Big Brother's back to normal. You going to pound me too, Jason?"
"No Sean, I think I'll just hug you."
"O.o. The ultimate threat. I'll be good.'
Eventually, all too soon, they couldn't put it off any longer and it was time for Sean to go home. School tomorrow - and they'd both better be there too. While they were saying thank-you's and goodbyes, Mrs. Taylor blew them all away by standing up and giving Jason a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. That was SO not like her. Jason cried, which, of course, earned him another one.
He was going to walk home, but they wouldn't hear of it. Michael drove both Jason and Jordan across town in the parents' SUV. Jordan told him to take it slow and he and Jason sat in the back seat and kissed and cuddled all the way. Parting was such sweet sorrow, but it had to be done. They'd see each other tomorrow. No-one noticed at the time, but Jason had left his sketchpad behind, in the Taylors' living room.
Today had been a good day. It had been a great day, the best day ever. Full of resolution, Jason marched into the house, got his entire stock of booze from the bedroom and proceeded to pour it all down the kitchen sink.
He didn't need it anymore. Jordan was right, he was better off without it. There was nothing but death at the bottom of the bottle. He didn't want to die now, his life was much too good and he didn't want to stuff it up.
He stood watching the vodka disappear down the plughole. It might help to clean the drains out, it was pretty powerful stuff. There might even be a few drunk fish in the river tomorrow. They were welcome to it, and to the hang-overs.
It felt good to be rid of it, he didn't ever want to go back there again. The booze used to be his only friend, but what he had now was way better. If Jordan didn't drink it, neither would he - ever. He'd do anything for Jordan, he loved him. He couldn't believe how much he loved him. Life was fucking fantastic!
Happily, he went off to bed. Alone again, but, whatever. At least someone was thinking about him. Someone loved him, which was so cool! As he lay in bed, he remembered something. That wasn't all the booze. There was still more, his emergency supply hidden away under the trees in the Domain.
He always kept a few bottles there so that he could have a drink, or two, on the days that his father was at home. Oh well, it didn't matter. It was too late now. Late and dark, he'd go there some other time and get rid of it.
Next morning, on his way to school, Jason met up with Sandie and Dawn who stood waiting for him at the corner of Sandie's street.
"Morning Ladies. Lovely day isn't it?" He beamed one of his amazing smiles.
"Yeah, it is," Dawn said. "Too good for school. You're joining us today are you?"
"Well, Duh!" He grinned and turned his shoulder to display the school-bag on his back. "Course I am. Wouldn't miss it."
"Pleased to hear it," Sandie smiled. "You're looking good today, Cinderfella." (Her favourite and slightly annoying pet name for him.) "Is there anything that you want to tell us?"
"Me? No, not really. Come on Girls, we don't want to be late." He started walking and they half-trotted to keep up with him.
"Whoah. Slow down Jason. There's no hurry, school's not going anywhere." Sandie caught him by the backpack. "There's something up with you. I've never seen you looking so, well, happy. What's up?"
"The sun's up. It's a lovely day, it's a great day and life's never been so good."
Then, because he couldn't keep it in any longer; he had to tell someone. "I had dinner with Jordan's family last night. It was really cool. They're great people."
"Jordan? You had dinner with Jordan Taylor?"
"Dawn. Of course, Jordan Taylor. How many Jordans do we know?"
"Not a lot," said Sandie. "So, you and Jordan? You like him do you?"
"Well, Duh! Of course I like him, he's great."
"I thought so. Brenda was right, love is in the air. Come on, Jason, give us all the juicy details."
"Shut up Sandie."
They arrived at school. Jason grinned when he saw Jordan standing there. He led the girls over towards him and, within two minutes, they were fighting again.
Jordan was standing there talking to Brenda, James, Nettie and Tommy. As they joined them, Sandie smiled. "Hey,Sweetie." She put an arm around Tommy and kissed him on the cheek.
"Good morning, Girls." Jason grinned and he put his arm around Jordan with a,"Hey Sweetie."
Jordan threw him off and he recoiled in horror. Red-faced and angry, he turned on him.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, McDonald?" He yelled at him.
"Whoa! Sorry. It was just a joke, Jordan," Jason said quietly. The grin had gone now.
Jordan was not about to be mollified. "Some joke! That's not funny!" He spat at him and he turned to walk away. "You keep your fucking hands to yourself in public."
"Oh sure!" Jason's temper flared now as well. "Keep my hands off you in public. But you don't mind when it's in private do you? You ashamed to be seen with the fag are you Taylor?"
Jordan's angry march away stopped liked he'd been poleaxed. He turned and looked at him, and then he marched back and stood in front of him. Jason was pissed and stood glaring back at him. He was not about to back down.
"Right then," Jordan said and he reached out. He cupped his hands around Jason's ears, pulled his head forward, and he kissed him on the lips.
After a few, shocked, seconds, Jason's hands came up and around his back. Jordan embraced him back and they stood with their heads resting on each other's shoulders.
"I'm not ashamed to be seen with you. I'm a jerk and I'm sorry, really sorry. Forgive me?"
"Of course I forgive you. I love you, you Dork. Love me Jordie."
"Oh, I do, Jase. I really do."
"Okay. Break it up, Guys," Brenda said. "Half the school's watching with their mouths hanging open. Break it off, or do we have to throw some cold water over you?"
They separated and Jordan grinned. "Shut up, Brenda. I don't care who's watching, I'm proud of my boyfriend."
"So am I," Jason agreed. "I'm VERY proud of my boyfriend."
They stood grinning at each other until Brenda interrupted again.
"Man. Can't you just hear the bells ringing? Settle down you two - there's innocent children around here."
"Who are you calling innocent, Brenda Lynch?" Sandie asked. "Speak for yourself. I knew we were going to have fun with this. Looks like we've got our very own soap opera here."
"Shut up Sandie." Came from several directions.
The rest of the day was uneventful. Both of them were careful about behaving themselves in public now, they were getting more than enough stares as it was. They stuck close to each other, whenever they could, they didn't have every class together.
At lunchtime they joined the rest of their new friends and ate out on the edge of the sportsfield. No-one commented on the fact that Jordan was eating at school for once, they were pleased to see him there. All in all, it was a pretty regular day, apart from the fact that Jason and Jordan were now both being sociable at the same time.
There were two slightly sour notes as the day went on. They had a minor disagreement over their drawings. Jason wanted Jordan to show his folio to the art teacher to see what he thought. Jordan disagreed and he refused to. He told Jason to show his own drawings to the teacher, they were way better. Jason said, "Bollocks."
The other hiccup was when Jordan accused Jason of having a wandering eye - he was forever "checking out" every good-looking guy they encountered. Jason controlled his guilty anger and claimed that he was just seeing if any of them measured up to Jordan. Jordan said, "Bollocks."
After school, they walked with Nettie and Sean and a couple of his mates, back to the Top Shop. They were welcomed in by Mrs. Taylor saying that she was delighted to see Jason again and insisting that he stay and eat with them.
Jason didn't want to, he said that he felt like he was taking advantage of them, but she pooh-poohed that idea and insisted that he stay. He was there now and who was he going to eat with at home?
Reluctantly, he agreed. "Okay. Thanks. I'll stay, just this once. I'm not making a habit of it."
"You can make all the habits you like. You're always welcome here." Mrs. Taylor smiled.
Jordan was delighted and dragged him off to his room to "help him get changed." Sean and his friends made a rapid exit when they came in, which was good.
"So, Jason McDonald, we're alone at last"
"Looks like it, Jordan Taylor. Whatcha going to do about it?"
"How about this?" Jordan kissed him.
"Oh, yes. That's pretty good. How about this?" He kissed him back.
They spent a few minutes just standing, then sitting, then lying, holding each other. Horny, Jordan wanted to take it further but Jason wouldn't. Not there. He pushed Jordan off the bed and told him to get changed - now.
Jordan did. He stripped off sensually, with lots of bumps and grinds, but Jason just laughed at him and told him to get a move on. They went for a walk around the lagoon, then, later, came back and cuddled up together on the couch, watching TV cartoons.
They jumped apart when Mrs. Taylor came through the room, but she smiled and said, "It's okay, Boys, relax. Don't get up on my account." She left them to it.
"Your mum's really cool, Jordie."
"Yeah. She's cool. She likes you Jase."
"That's good. I really like her too, and your dad, he's the greatest. I like your brothers too."
"So do I. What about me? Do you like me?"
"No. I love you."
"I love you too."
They snuggled.
After dinner, Jordan and Jason cleaned up the kitchen, and then he said that he had to go. He had to get home to feed the dogs, then homework and bed. He said thank you and goodbye and refused the offers to drive him home - he'd really rather walk, thanks anyway. Jordan walked with him as far as the Square where they kissed and said goodbye in the shadow of the old grandstand., and they went their separate ways.
When Jordan got back to the shop, his father was alone there, restocking the shelves.
"Ah. Jordie, got a minute?"
"Sure Dad. What's up?"
"I was thinking - about the day that you told us that you were gay."
"Oh? And?"
"And you said that when you bring a partner home, it will be a boy not a girl."
"I did say that. What about it, Dad?"
"Well, umm. I'm glad it was Jason, Son. He's a great kid."
"Cool." He hugged his father. "Thanks Dad. I'm glad it was Jason too. He's the greatest."
"He is - one of them anyway. Now, go and do your homework or I'll tell Jason on you."
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