The Spark in Willowmere

This is the first part of the story “Love in the Shadows of Willowmere”, by Yorgos KC (yes, that’s me).

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Were you to ask me, I’d say that the most important part of student life is, undoubtedly, the parties. And, at least, Willowmere University’s students think so, too. So, they organise parties quite often, just like tonight. And Eliot Carter is there. He certainly is not what you’d call a party boy, and, maybe, he wouldn’t say he loves those parties, but he tends to go more often than not.

Standing near the edge of the room, leaning against the wall. A half-empty beer in his hand. He scans the room, yet once again. Familiar faces, classmates, acquaintances? Plenty of them. They are having fun like there is no tomorrow – as they should – but, right now, at least, he doesn’t feel like approaching any of them. Maybe later. Or not. Well… truth be told, he is bored. Maybe he’ll leave early.

“Let’s finish the beer, and we’ll see.” And he took another sip.

But then, a guy he didn’t know walked in. Not that he knew everyone. I wouldn’t say this newcomer was the most beautiful guy Eliot had ever seen. He caught, though, people’s eyes, just by being there. And, surely, he captured Eliot’s.

“Maybe this party is not that bad.”

He, the newcomer, was across the room, laughing with his friends, but just like that, his gaze found Eliot’s stare. He tilted his head and smiled. He left his friends as they joined the crowd, and he went straight to Eliot.

“Hi!”

“Hi!”

“Tom.”

“Eliot.”

“You look like you are planning an escape.”

Eliot laughed. “Is it that obvious?”

“Only to someone who’s been there.”

Tom leaned against the wall beside Eliot. And for a few moments the two boys just looked at each other. Their faces too close, but not as close as they both wanted. The party faded into a hum.

They chatted for a while for nothing in particular. The beer, too warm; the party, too loud; the crowd, too much. And they laughed, without needing a reason. And this silly laughter, of unparalleled charm, sealed the deal their first look had sparked.

The music shifted to a gentle ballad. Tom offered his hand.

“Want to dance?”

Eliot giggled, but didn’t hesitate to take his hand. And as they started dancing, Tom’s hand found Eliot’s waist – light but sure – and Eliot folded his arms around Tom’s neck. Their bodies brushed as they moved. Their eyes fixed on each other’s. The world shrank just to the two of them. Maybe they danced for a song, or maybe for more. They couldn’t know.

But, eventually, the music changed again to a more lively beat, forcing them back from their dream.

“Do you still want to escape?”

“From you? No. With you? Yes!”

And the two boys left the party.

Small towns, like Willowmere, can be quite lovely late at night. Quiet. Almost nobody around, and other than on the main roads, even cars are a rare sight. The two boys walked side by side. Eliot tried to reach for Tom’s hand – hoping, not daring. Tom smiled and took Eliot’s hand in his. The cool air gave them an excuse to stick even closer. Well… if you want to find an excuse, you can find plenty.

After some moments of a not at all unpleasant silence, Eliot asked, “So, what are you studying?”

“Nothing.” Maybe Tom loosened up his grip, just a little. But Eliot tightened his.

“Is it okay if I ask why?”

“Just life, I guess.” Eliot couldn’t help but kiss Tom’s hand, and Tom’s bright smile returned to his face. “What about you?”

“Business Management. Second year.”

Tom raised an eyebrow. “I wasn’t expecting that!”

“I don’t look serious enough, do I?” He giggled. “Parents…”

“I see. And if you had chosen?”

“I don’t know. Something more creative, surely, but I knew I wouldn’t have the chance to choose, so I never gave it much thought. I’m the only child, and, being a boy, I was told, repeatedly, from too early, I need to carry on the Carter name and business. And you know I won’t carry on the name, so I thought, I have to carry on the business.”

“Carter? Like Carter’s Ale?”

“I am that beer!”

“No wonder you got me drunk right away!”

Eliot giggled and stood in place, forcing Tom to stop, too. Reluctantly – still holding hands – he went in front of Tom. Close. His free hand reached for Tom’s cheek. Softly. Tom, slowly caressed Eliot’s fingertips with his cheek. And just like that, in a cobblestone street, filled with the warm glow of the lamps, the two boys, for the first time, kissed.

*****

“Langley,” Tom whispered when the kiss eventually ended.

“Sorry?”

“You told me your surname, so I wanted to tell you mine.”

“Thank you! Can we… keep going, Mr Langley?”

And Tom kissed him again.

The two boys continued their walk, around the town. Not really going anywhere. If anything, they didn’t want to arrive anywhere, in fear the night might end. And they learned more about each other.

Tom was twenty-one, a year older than Eliot, and he had a three-years older brother, with whom he didn’t have the best of relationships, but not a bad relationship either. Tom worked at a small bookshop. He liked his job because it allowed him to read as many books as he could. At one time, he was dreaming of writing his own stories, but he had never made a start.

“Write it! I’ll do the illustration… if you want!”

“Are you an artist?”

“In my dreams!”

They both hated early mornings. They both loved sweets. Both their families knew they were gay but hoped it’s just a phase they’d get over soon. Eliot loved travelling, Tom, too, but he rarely did. Tom enjoyed horror films, Eliot was too scared of these, but most of their tastes in films were similar.

At some time, their walk brought them to the town’s square. Tom stopped.

“My place isn’t far. Would you…?”

“Yes!”

“It’s just a small flat. Nothing fancy.”

“I’m sure it’s bigger than mine.”

“You are still drunk!”

Eliot laughed. “It’s yours, isn’t it? ‘Mine’ is my family’s not mine.”

And so they headed to Tom’s flat. Small, cosy, with mismatched furniture and books stacked everywhere, but who cares? Before even closing the door, they were already in each other’s arms, kissing, laughing and kissing again. Slowly, the laughter faded away but their kissing flamed up. Still at the door.

Without stopping kissing, slowly Tom led them to his bed. They undressed each other, throwing their clothes anywhere. Naked they lay, tightly holding each other, trying to feel every inch of the other’s body. Kissing. Caressing. Squeezing.

Instinctively, Tom’s hands found Eliot’s buttocks. His fingers teased his hole. Eliot responded by taking Tom’s dick in his hand.

“I don’t want you to leave, not even for a moment… Please!” Tom whispered.

Eliot grinned. “Thank you!”

And he went down to suck Tom’s dick.

Such a bliss! For him, more so than for Tom, or that’s how he felt, at least. Tom pulled him up to kiss him.

“That was amazing!” And he kissed him again.

And then Tom did what he couldn’t wait to do: to suck Eliot’s dick.

Calmer, now – just a little – the two boys lay admiring each other’s beautiful face.

“You’ll stay… yes?”

“Yes…” “for ever!”

Some time passed with them like this, before Tom went to switch off the lights, and he returned to Eliot’s side. Facing each other, even though they couldn’t see. Holding each other’s hands. Caressing the other’s hand with their thumbs. Finding each other’s lips to kiss. But as they relaxed more and more, all these eventually stopped.

It was well after Tom had stopped moving – his breathing calm – when Eliot let a thought to become words. A thought he knew he shouldn’t think for someone who knew for just a few hours, but, still, it was his truth.

“I love you,” he breathed.

But Tom wasn’t yet asleep.

“I love you, too!”

*****

When the boys woke up too late to call it “in the morning”, they gave a blowjob to each other. And then – unwillingly – Eliot got dressed to leave.

They were at the door, hugging and kissing goodbye, for ten minutes now, when Tom spoke.

“Mr Carter? Is it okay if we keep this a secret?”

“Do you regret–”

“Never! I am yours, Eli. Whether we keep it a secret or not, I am yours.”

“Say I am yours and I’ll keep it a secret. No. No! Forget that! I’ll keep it a secret anyway… Please let me hear it.”

“I’m yours.”

“Please!!!”

“You are mine!”

Eliot’s face lit up. “Yes! Thank you!”

And they kissed again – for maybe half an hour – before Eliot left.

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To read the next chapter click here.