Brawlin

Disclaimer: All characters, events and places described in this story are completely fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locations are completely coincidental.

You can email me with comments/questions/whatevs at brawlinauthor@gmail.com

So sorry this chapter took so long!! But as you can tell it is quite a bit longer than the other chapters. Also, I had to reflect a lot on the direction of Rob's personality. This was sort of the first view of Rob's inner thoughts and feelings in depth and they define how I want him to shape up into a character. I realized after looking at my jotted down musings that Rob had two very different personalities depending on the scene. So I felt I needed to choose one and really focus on it. I hope you enjoy the route I took. Let me know what you think!! ________________________________________________________________________

Chapter 3

Josh-

"Oh shit!" He heard his own voice echoing off the walls of his room.

Josh had awoken to the buzz of his phone notifying him of not only a text from his annonymous driver, letting him know they were on the way, but also that it was 7:38. Jenn had told him to be ready by 8:00. His thirty minute power nap had somehow turned into a three hour affair.

He rushed into a luke warm shower making sure to wash all the essential bits. He was borderline manic in his slathering of soap over his pits, dick and ass. He couldn't even be a hundred percent sure he was technically even clean but he figured it would have to do given the situation.

As he exited the shower he slowed down a bit in order to examine himself in the mirror. He was proud of what he saw staring back at him. Thick arms, a broad chest and a flat torso. It wasn't the six pack he would have liked, but for someone who had had to settle for moving boxes and jogging as his workout routine for the past two months, he figured flat was better than flab.

As he continued looking himself over, his fingertips began to gently feel their way down his chest, mingling in the soft fuzz that he seemed to have there and everywhere else. From his face to his toes his whole front side was dusted with light brown hair. Thankfully though, he had never developed any hair on his back except for the slightly thicker than peach fuzz dusting on his ass. It was safe to say, because of all the hair, Josh was not a stranger to manscaping. In fact, he had wanted to trim up his beard, considering it was just on the verge of losing its stubble look, as well as his pubes, before heading out, but the trimming would have to wait.

He wondered, for some reason unkown to him, what Robert Tilton was like underneath his clothes. He bet he was smooth all over. The thought made Josh swoon a little bit. Rob was hot, there was no denying. Josh hadn't got much of a look at him, earlier that day, but a glance was all it took to know that he was for sure Josh's type at least in the looks department, anyway. Blonde, tall and confident. The confidence just oozed from him. Josh replayed their morning stare contest over again in his mind for what seemed like the hundreth time as his fingers slipped down his abdomen, into the towel wrapped about his waist. The same mental blocks entered his head again as well: "he's straight... he's got a girlfriend... that confidence probably comes with a cocky rich kid mentality" but none of them seemed to be deflating his now rigid dick. He might've been all those things, but damnit if he wasn't something special to look at.

His right hand worked its way up and down his cock, spending a few extra seconds to twist at his tip the way he liked. His left tweeked his nipples, squeezing each one to hardness as he stroked. He loved playing with himself, nothing was off limits, his nipples, his dick, his ass, he'd explored them all and knew exactly what turned him on the most. He imagined, as he often did, that his hands were someone elses. That someone lingered behind him, their own hard dick pressed to his ass, as their hands expertly touched Josh in all his favorite places. Yet, for the first time, the shadowy figure behind him had a face, a name. It was Rob. Josh breathed heavily letting out a soft moan, his back arching foward, as he blew his load all over his bathroom counter. He couldn't believe just how quickly he had came. It was so intense that he let himself lean into the door behind him, letting the euphoric post-climax feelings float out of him, as he slid down it slowly.

It was only as his ass hit the cool bathroom tile beneath him that he began to regret what he had just done. Not that he felt bad about jerking off, but he did feel ashamed of the content. It wasn't like him to fantisize over straight guys. What was the point? Rob was a taken straight boy. A gorgeous taken straight boy, but a taken straight boy nonetheless. The mental blocks he'd brushed aside earlier were starting to make sense to him again.

"JOSH! Your friend is here" He heard his sweet mothers voice ring from downstairs.

"Be down in a second!" He yelled back to her, as he hoped up to gather some toilet paper to deal with the mess he had made.

He was ready in a flash and bounding down the stairs clad in a polo shirt and jeans, hoping it was appropriate party wear. The apartment that he and his mother occupied was small, two bedrooms on the upper floor and a small living room and kitchen on the bottom. It wasn't much, but for the mean time, it was home. As he came to the bottom of the stairs he saw over the bar that divided the living area and kitchen none other than Michelle sitting on his couch. She looked dazzling in a sun dress and cowboy boots. He couldn't help but think that she certainly was a looker as he watched her and his mother converse. She was definitely well suited for a good looking guy like Rob, the thought, and the realization sent pangs of jealousy stinging through him.

"Hey you!" Josh said to Michelle, pushing aside thoughts of her boyfriend.

"Hey!" She returned, with a smile, "your mother and I were just chatting about how you take longer to get ready than she does!" she giggled.

"Am I not worth the wait?" He said, placing his hand against his chest as if he were offended.

"To who?" My mother retorted, looking at Josh skeptically.

"Both of you of course" He grinned.

"Well, as for me, I'd say occasionally you are worth the wait... but I would say this is probably something new for Michelle. She's probably more used to young men waiting on her rather than her waiting on them" She said, winking at Michelle.

"Well if I had known it was going to be Michelle picking me up I probably would have been ready a lot sooner" Josh said, he saw Michelle blush slightly, and he cursed his flirty mouth for constantly having a mind of its own.

Josh's mother seemed to ignore the not-so-subtle flirting, changing the subject by asking him, "Where did you say that you were going again?"

"Actually, I didn't say, because honestly I'm not really sure. She might be kidnapping me for all I know" He said, stepping up to lean against the inside of the kitchen bar.

"We're going to Robert Tilton's for a party Mrs. Holt" Michelle informed her ever so sweetly, she would have never known how much those words would have hurt his mother. But Josh knew. He saw the sadness well up in his mothers eyes, still there after all these years, too quick for Michelle to have noticed but he caught it.

"Please Michelle, call me Janine, being called Misses makes me feel so old! And I am not anywhere close to old yet!" She said cheerfully, bouncing back quickly enough that Michelle wouldn't notice the affect her words had on his mother.

"Yes ma'am" Michelle replied, smiling.

"So... Tilton as in Tilton Enterprises? As in the company I work for?"

"Yes ma'am, the one and the same, he and I have been very close since we were in middle school. I met Josh today and asked Rob if we could invite him. We felt like it would be good for him to get out and meet new people" Michelle explained.

"Look at you making such good friends already... thank you both for looking out for him. It hasn't been easy making this move. It being Josh's senior year and all. He has been so good though. He is always so good... my little angel!"

Josh sensed that his mother was about to start getting either emotional, or embarassing, or both. He made it a point to get out of there as quickly as possible.

"Shouldn't we be heading off Michelle?" Josh said, trying not to sound to desperate to escape.

"Oh, I guess I'm starting to embarass him" His mom laughed.

"What time should I have him home Mrs... Janine?" Michelle asked, trying to remember to abide by Josh's mothers request, though, he could tell it was proving difficult for her. She seemed to be very well mannered and polite. He grinned as he wondered if she was the typical wild child, sweet as candy to adults but crazy out on her own.

"Oh, lets say before 1:00 a.m." She replied, "Oh, and Josh you know if there is going to be any drinking that you call me to come get you. Do not drive with someone who has been drinking."

"Yes ma'am" he said, moving over to give her a quick peck on the cheek"

"Promise me!?"

"I promise! You know I'm not that much of an idiot don't you mom?"

"It only takes one time Josh" she said very seriously.

"I know... I promise! Thanks mom! Love ya bye!" He said, shuffling Michelle up and out the door.

Michelle-

"Your mom is really cool" She said, clicking the unlock button on her car.

"You think?" Josh replied, "I've always thought so too... I've got the best mom in the world. She is incredible."

"Ya'll seem really close"

"We are, like, I don't wanna say that my mom is my best friend... because that sounds kinda girly, I guess, but she's pretty much my best friend"

"That's so cool, I'm not all that close to my parents..." She said as she started the car and began backing it out.

"Really? Like can't talk to them about partys close or can't talk to them period?" He said with genuine interest. She was beginning to gather that Josh was a good listener. It was only the second time they had talked and yet she felt as if she could share anything with Josh.

"I guess they are just strict... and they worry a lot. So, I don't share anything more than I have to with them"

"So, I take it they don't exactly know you are going to a party tonight?" He said, with one eyebrow raised.

"Not exactly" She replied with a grin.

"If only my mother knew what a bad influence I was bumming a ride off of"

"I'm a perfect little angel thank you very much"

"Is that what daddy calls you?" He said, laughing.

"As a matter of fact, yes it is"

"I'll bet its the opposite in reality" He said, shifting in his seat to face Michelle.

"Nope, I'm pretty much perfect, the voice of reason really. It's Jenn, Rob and Evan that are trouble." She said, thinking to herself that her words were more true than he probably thought. She knew Jenn, Evan and Rob were up to something and, if they hadn't told her what, then it was probably something they knew she wouldn't agree with. Which was trouble.

"So, Rob is pretty wild then?" He asked, "and who is Evan? I don't think I've met him?"

"You'll meet Evan tonight I'm sure. He's the captain of the football team actually. You play don't you?" She hoped the question would allow her to avoid answering the first part of his question.

"I do, I'm suprised I haven't met him yet actually."

"You'll like him. He's just a big goof ball but when it comes to football he's serious"

"Sounds like my kinda guy... and Rob and him are close? Does Rob play?"

"Yes they are very close, best friends since first or second grade. No Rob doesn't play football. Not interested in it at all really."

"Really? I took him for the quarterback type and you the head cheerleader?" She laughed hysterically at that.

"Hmph, Evan is the quarterback actually and are you implying that Rob and I are stereotypical high school bimbos or something?"

"No, I just thought..." He seemed embarrassed.

"Rob and I don't even date, he and I, Evan and Jenn are all just really close friends. I'll also have you know that I am an honors student and I've never picked up a pom-pom thank you." she giggled softly.

"Really, ya'll aren't dating? I just assumed that after this morning when you were saving a seat for him."

"We're the four amigos, literally we do everything together. If any of us are in a class together we sit beside one another. Or at least near each other. You didn't notice Jenn next to me too?"

"I guess not... so three out of the four amigos are trouble then? I'll try to remember that. So why was Rob so late today anyway?" How was she supposed to answer that? Tell him 'oh you know Rob was just probably up until the wee hours of the night preparing for tonight'. How could she explain what was going to happen at tonights 'party'?

"I guess he just overslept..." She said after a long pause of gathering her thoughts.

"Sounds like his type I guess..."

"I hope you don't think he is just some rich brat or something?"

"He came in after basically skipping first period on the very first day and his only excuse was 'he overslept', knowing that the teacher wouldn't do anything because of who he is. That sounds pretty bratish to me." He said, sounding pretty convinced of his argument.

"I don't know how to explain it. He's really passionate and does really well in school, actually, despite what you saw this morning. There are just a few things more important to him than school, I guess." She knew she wasn't making much sense, "Rob is just struggling with finding who he is."

"Sounds a bit like an excuse to be late to class" He turned away quickly as if afraid that what he had said might offend her.

"So your telling me that you know exatly who you are Josh?" She said, as they turned into a driveway flanked on either side by two stone pillars linked to a fence. The entryway was armed with a cattle crossing which caused Michelle's jetta to rattle violently as they passed over it.

He stayed silent. She wasn't sure if he was ignoring her or if he was simply entranced by the landscape of the Tilton farm in the twilight. Michelle didn't press the issue, regardless. She wasn't sure why but she sensed a similiarity between Rob and Josh. She just couldn't put her finger on it.

"Let me just put it this way: Rob is spoiled, but he isnt a brat. Does that make sense? He's just been through a lot."

"I guess... so does this driveway just keep going on forever or something?" He said, she sensed that he was attempting to change the subject. Perhaps she was getting a little deep? Or maybe, she just wasn't convincing him.

They continued on along the drive, a long gravel thing, stretching on into the hilly country for what Michelle knew was about five minutes when going at about ten miles an hour. The pair remained in silence until the gravel eventually transitioned into concrete and they approached an impressive entryway, this one a large stone structure holding up an open wrought iron gate. Michelle had traversed the gate countless times, yet each time she did so, she seemed to fall more and more in love with the sight beyond.

The Tilton's home was a large antebellum style home, nothing monstrous, but still beautifully impressive. To Michelle it seemed to be something straight off the cover of one of her mothers southern living magazines, complete with an oversized wrap around porch, second floor balcony and greecian style columns as supports. It was a perfect picture to her, full of such happy memories that it almost made her sad. Those days would be coming to an end soon. Though time seemed to stop in this place, amongst the century old oakes and expertly trimmed shrubs, she knew it was only an illusion. This was the first day of the last year of their childhood.

"Its really beautiful isn't it?" She said, smiling despite her musings.

"Yeah..." He said in reply, staring wide eyed out the passenger window.

"Well, I guess we need to get out of the car! Are you coming?" She said to Josh, shrugging off the sadness which was mounting up inside of her. They did, afterall, have this one last year didn't they? One more year for games, she thought, as she opened the car door to the feeling of the cool breeze of a summer slowly fading into fall wrap about her.

"Sorry, its just that I don't think I have ever seen a house this big... at least not close up." Michelle heard him say from across the top of the jetta.

"Josh, I want you to be careful tonight." She said softly, staring at the ground beneath her feet as she spoke. She knew it sounded completely random and that if nothing happened tonight other than the usual he would probably think she was crazy. Still though, she needed to say it because she couldn't shake the feeling that something was up.

"Huh?"

"I don't think your the type, but still, don't try to do anything you wouldn't normally do, just to impress anyone back there" She motioned to the house, "you'll just wind up getting hurt."

"I don't think I understand."

"Come on, lets head around back."

Josh-

He couldn't help but wonder what she had meant as they walked along the porch to the back of the house. Did it have something to do with what the kids in his math class had been talking about? Brawlers, recruitment, it was if they had been speaking in code. He didn't understand, but he heeded Michelle's warning and took it to heart, although, he wasn't the type to do anything stupid just to impress someone.

As they continued on towards the back yard they encountered countless people. Michelle would smile, wave and say hello to each of them politely, asking them how their summer had been, how their families were and she of course introduced them all to Josh. It was odd for him, he had never been to a party so large, and had never really expected to attend one until at least college, but Michelle treated it as if it were routine. She handled each conversation effortlessly, never even stumbling on a name, while Josh found himself struggling to remember the name of someone he had met five minutes before. He felt slightly inadequeate, yet Michelle kept assuring him that he was doing fine, as they finally took a seat at a table near the pool where Jenn was sitting.

"Hey guys! Josh, I'm glad to see that you made it!" She was sipping something orange from a red solo cup.

"I didn't really have a choice did I?" He smiled at her.

"Oh stop! That grin of yours is gonna make me melt Mr. Holt" Josh took note of the fact that she obviously became even more bold when drinking.

"So, I'm gonna guess that not all these kids go to Rockshire?" He said, ignoring her comment.

"Of course not! We've got people here from about four different schools... Rockshire, North, Central and Carter." Jenn said, kicking her feet up on the table "It's recruitment so a bunch of people came to watch."

"We've got a... well I guess you could call it a tradition around here, Josh" Jenn added.

"A tradition?" Josh wasn't satisfied with her vagueness.

"She means brawling" Michelle said, rolling her eyes, seemingly annoyed "When did Rob move recruitment night to here? I thought it was supposed to be in the woods like always. This was just supposed to be a get together for Rockshire before going."

"You know Rob, with his mom out of town he figured why not just have it here." Jenn said, taking a sip of her drink and shrugging her shoulders.

"He's going to get in trouble..." Michelle looked worried.

"Probably, but you know Aunt Jillian, she'll be pissed for about five minutes. She's never able to stay mad at Rob. He's her 'precious little baby'."

"I'm still confused..." Josh interupted the two.

Though, before either girl had a chance to enlighten him, Josh noticed that the music, which had been blaring only moments before, was now basically inaudible. He turned to face the same direction, which Michelle and Jenn were now staring, only to spy a blonde woman standing on the slightly elevated diving board of the pool.

"How are ya'll doing this evening?" The large breasted blonde yelled out to the crowd. They replied with an outcry of cheering.

"I hope you all had a good summer! I know it sucks that its over but you know what that means don't you?" another outcry from the crowd blasted away as everyone, including Josh and the girls, made their way to stand around the pool. He hadn't noticed it before but the pool was half drained exposing the shallow end completely. He couldn't wrap his mind around what was going on at all.

"It means that its Brawlin season guys and gals! As ya'll know, as always, we're kickin off with our annual recruitment night! We've got about twenty young bucks here ready to strut their stuff... but only thriteen roster spots are open this year. Whose ready to see what they've got!?" She paused for dramatic effect, the trio now stood on the edge of the pool looking down into it as if it were a pit. "But before we get this shindig started I want to give a shoutout to our host, I know it was a little last minute for a location change but I think you'll all agree the view is going to be quite a lot better! Lets hear it for Rockshire's Rob Tilton everybody!

As the horde began chanting Rob's name, Josh noticed him standing along the opposite corner of the pool, his expression was nothing but calm as he nodded his head in appreciation of the praise. It was only a few moments before their gazes locked. Josh stared confidently into Rob's piercing green eyes, glazed over with an icy gleam of determination. As he stood their, his arms crossed about his chest, wearing a ratty t-shirt, jeans and an old baseball cap, Josh could tell that he was looking into the eyes of the top dog. Someone who didn't need fancy clothes or praise to know that he was a somebody. Josh knew he should look away, but instead, he just smiled. He knew it would come across as nothing more than friendly, yet, behind it lied a deeper significance, the hidden memories of his earlier bathroom mischief and the excitment he'd felt when Michelle had said the two weren't dating. Why had he been so excited? It didn't change a thing.

However, he noticed quickly, that the smile was not returned. Josh was met only with the same level and indifferent stare before Rob slowly looked elsewhere. Josh knew the look well, the arrogant gaze which seemed to scream: 'I'm unimpressed', it made his blood boil. How many times had his brother and father given him that same look? He guessed the so called upper crust of society was all the same, despite appearences.

"So... it's a fight club?" Josh asked, trying to take his mind off of the man, who despite being an asshole, was still hard not to look at.

"Basically, well, minus Brad Pitt unfortuneately." Jenn replied, "What else is there to do in BFE?"

"Why?" It was the question that had been racing in the back of his mind since he had connected the word 'brawl' with the arena like scene developing around him.

"I've asked myself that every Friday for the past two years." Michelle said, as they watched two young men, who couldn't have been more than sophomores, enter the pool. They were shirtless, wearing only padded gloves about their hands and jeans around their waists. Josh watched as they circled one another.

"Why not?" Jenn stated plainly, "Something against fighting Josh?" She cocked an eyebrow as if she already knew the answer to the question.

"Not for sport..."

"Hmph" was her only reply.

Regardless of whether he understood or not, it was obvious to Josh that everyone in attendance was completely absorbed in the atmosphere of the event. He was stunned as the fighters below began to flail at one another, punches were thrown, however, their intent seemed more strategic than violent. Each young brawler was testing the waters, measuring the reaction time of their opponent before making a forceful move. Yet, they were also blatantly nervous, as if one was wanting the other to make the first move. The suspense was thick, and after a time, Josh found himself almost wishing that they would just get on with it. In fact, if he was being honest with himself, he was almost excited for it. The thrill of the fight was taking over him the longer that he watched. He could only imagine that this same feeling must have been how an ancient roman felt staring down into the colessium. In his mind he knew that what he was witnessing was barberic, and yet, it almost seemed natural. The way their bodies moved and responded to the actions of their opponent, the fluidity of their motion, the intensity of their stares, the swaggering looks on their faces. They loved this as much as the crowd.

"So, they are hoping to be recruited by a team? Or something?" Josh was begining to take interest.

"Yes, there are 6 teams in total at the moment. Two from Rockshire, two from Central, one from Carter County and one from North. A team roster can have up to seven members and they have to at least have five." Jenn explained, "Starting to take an interest Joshy boy?" she grinned at him wickedly.

"I still don't understand why its what ya'll do, but that doesnt change the fact that it is what ya'll do, so I guess I've gotta take an interest don't I?" Josh shot back at her, grinning himself. He looked on, as they continued to talk, at the scene below, catching up on the matches progress quickly. One of the fighters had the other pinned in a headlock now, it was then that Josh realized that these fights weren't simply boxing matches, they seemed more like school yard bouts. No wonder they called them brawls.

"Smart guy... pity though, Michelle was so excited to have another pacifist on her side" Jenn said, glancing at Michelle.

"Hey I still haven't decided where I stand... I just want to know the rules." He said, throwing up his hands.

"Pretty simple, all matches are one on one or two on two. Each roster gets two shots, double elimination basically... though if last years winner makes it to the end of the semifinal round of first eliminations they are automatically placed and then the winner of the second elimination round and the remaining team duke it out to challenge the reigning champs. It sounds complicated but its really pretty simple." Jenn seemed to know a great deal about it all, "like I said, each team must have five on their roster, so when Sam said that there are thirteen spots to fill she was technically being optimistic, though most of the teams will fill their roster, they don't necessarily have to."

It was certainly interesting to Josh, he was amazed at how thorough it all seemed, "who keeps up with all this shit?" he said, shaking his head.

"The girl you saw speaking earlier, that's Samantha Howl, she's this years organizer. She plans the venues, texts the locations out the day of, and keeps up with the bracket and rosters." Jenn seemed to speak with a tone of admiration. Josh could tell Jenn either respected her greatly or envied her, possibly both.

"And she just does this out of the graciousness of her heart?"

"It's a pretty big deal... I mean this has been going on for like twelve years."

"Twelve years!?" Josh couldn't believe what he was hearing. This wasn't just some crazy shenanigan cooked up by a few rich kids, with way too much time on their hands, at Rockshire. It was a true blue tradition. The realization struck him as he watched two more young men enter the pool. "How is that possible? Like parents don't care that their sons are getting the shit beat out of them? And did anyone even win that last round?"

"It's definitely gone through some rough patches, there used to be a lot more teams, but this year its just the six. Your right, a lot of it does have to do with parents not being very fond of it, but we've gotten pretty good at hiding it all. The venue rotates, no one finds out about the brawls until the day of, they don't happen every week, locations aren't sent out until a few hours before. Though honestly, I think most adults turn a blind eye to it. Not a lot of drinking goes on at these things, it isn't really a school pride thing either because teams aren't school specific, so not a lot of fights break out. Honestly though, I couldn't really tell you why we don't have cops busting up every brawl, despite all the hiding, especially now that such a party scene has developed around most of them."

'I can probably guess why thats the case' Josh almost said aloud, but caught himself just as it was on the tip of his tounge. He glanced quickly at Rob though, knowing what his guess would be, but figured there was no need in stiring up shit. He was sure though, just like the reason his half brother never got in trouble with the law for all the times he'd got caught with pot, the police would just rather not deal with the headache. And he was sure that getting on the Tilton's bad side was a much bigger headache than any his own father could cause.

The trio stood where they were for just a few matches longer, but eventually, they returned to the table they had been seated at earlier. Jenn explained that recruitment nights were usually long and drawn out because the intent wasn't typical. "Kinda boring until the end when you see who all the teams pick up" She had said. Josh still couldn't believe that this was real. Were they really sitting at a table, at the most beautiful place he'd ever been too, talking about how boring it was to see two kids fight and not knock the other out? No, he had to be dreaming. He would wake up from his thirty minute power nap at any moment and still have time to go for a jog and even trim his beard and pubes.

"They aren't really here to knock the other one out. They are timed matches, they each get ten minutes, so there is an unspoken agreement to give each other a fair chance to show off some moves while they're out there, or down there rather." Jenn said, knocking him from his brooding. She seemed as if she'd feel comfortable talking about the brawls and the way they worked all night. And in fact, she did, going on and on about it all as Michelle sat in silence. He listened, still wondering if this was real.

Rob-

Twenty till eleven, everything was going as scheduled, which was very suprising. Sam really was doing an incredible job handling ring leader this year. He glanced to where the girl was standing, just to the left of the pool house, preping the last set of young wannabe's to enter the pool. She looked up at him, smiling, as she wrapped Jimmy West's wrist. She was attractive, curvy and volumptous in all the right spots, athletic and genuinely sweet. The two had hooked up after the final brawl last year and she had never even peeped about it to anyone else, to his knowledge. Yet, just like the others, he'd finished and felt nothing. He'd often wondered if he was heartless, maybe he just wasn't capable of feeling anything more than lust. But if that was the case then why... He found himself glancing in Josh's direction yet again. Watching him laugh from a distance at whatever Jenn and Michelle were saying. Catching himself he turned away quickly, trying to focus on the conversation at hand.

"So, that Arnold kid from Carter seemed alright" Logan, one of the junior guys on his Roster, said.

"Yeah... but he seemed a little aprehensive to me. Like he didn't have that go get em sort of attitude" Evan chimed in.

"Being cautious isn't a bad thing... nothing wrong with taking things slow as long as you know how to take advantage when there's an opening" Rob added, taking a sip of his now almost empty solo cup. He had been drinking since that afternoon and the whiskey had long since made his head swim. He had paced himself, but the later it got the more it seemed he was having to refill his glass.

"I get that, but I want to see some gumption and I just don't see it in the kid is all I'm saying" Evan said, "You can't teach gumption, y'know?"

"True" was all Rob added, he began zoning out again, glancing in Josh's direction. What was it about this guy that had him so intrigued? Rob had always known he was attracted to both guys and girls. He saw it as his ultimate weakness, a part of him that needed to be supressed. It wasn't exactly that he had a problem with "the gay's", as his grandmother called them, it was just that he never wanted to give anyone any sort of ammunition against him. He didn't have the luxury of just being himself, he had obligations and a family reputation to uphold. He labled himself as straight, despite what his internet history may reveal, rather than curious or questioning. He just knew his life would be easier that way. He had always been attracted to both, so why make his life more complicated when the world had such harsh judgements for same sex couples? He'd just decided in middle school that he'd stick with girls and be done with it. The course of his life would just be easier that way. Guys were for looking at from a distance and girls were for touching.

Yet, for the first time, here was a guy that made him want to break his rigid credo. This Josh guy made his dick hard. This Josh guy made him want to do things he'd never done before. This Josh guy was probably straight... Rob again realized he was staring, of course it was at the back of Josh's head, but he was afraid someone would notice. Yet as he quickly looked away, glancing down at the pool to pretend yet again to watch the two amateur fighters, a cold shiver ran down his spine: why was he even wondering about Josh's sexuality? Fantasizing about the guy was one thing but wondering if he might be gay was venturing into foreign territory. His heart began to pound heavily as he realized that he wished that Josh were gay. Never had he been concerned about that before. Never had a guy been anything more than just something to admire, gay, straight or whatever. He didn't know what it meant and it scared the shit out of him.

Rob quitely abandoned his poolside post to escape to the pool house to mix himself another drink. He needed more whiskey to drown out the voices in his head. He sat alone in the quiet, breathing heavily as he took a few shots extra just for good measure. The more and more the alcohol soaked into him, the more and more he realized that he had to do something to handle these feelings. He just didn't know how. When he finally returned the match was coming to a close.

"That's it everyone... Team's you've got thirty minutes to discuss amongst yourselves. Remember to write the names of your requested recruits on the cards provided. Recruits, remember that if you are selected by more than one team it will be left up to you to decided which roster you officially join. I'll be starting the timer, now!" Sam said, from her announcing post at the end of the diving board.

"Hold up!" Rob found himself speaking as the dwindling crowd went quiet around him, "We've got one more match."

"Sorry Rob but that was everyone actually... and you know the rules, no unofficial matches, even if it is your house." Sam spoke with authority as she looked down at him.

"No we've got one more recruit... Josh Holt" Rob yelled so that everyone could hear him. He watched as Josh rose up from his seat at the table. Everyone was staring at Rockshires newest student. He wore an expression of pure shock as he stared at Rob from across the way.

"I don't exactly remember signing up" Josh said, looking at Rob quizickly.

"Oh but you want too... you've been learning all about it, haven't you Josh? All those questions and you're telling me that you don't want to see what its all about?" Jenn chimed in from behind Josh as Rob made his way to the other side of the pool. As he neared, the circle of remaining people began to draw closer in around them.

"Well thanks for including me, I guess, but I'm not really interested in ya'lls little games" Josh said, holding up his hands. He was smiling as if the whole thing was a big joke.

"Afraid of our little 'games' new guy?" Evan said, as Rob came to stand only a few feet away from Josh. As he looked at him Rob began to materialize all of his weakness in the form of Josh. Everything he felt uncomfortable about in his life seemed to reflect in Josh's beautiful blue eyes. He was tortured by a feeling of nausea and butterflies forming in his stomach all at once. He saw the man in front of him as something to be feared but also something he wanted desperately to touch. He couldn't ever think of a time where he'd been more confused, more scared.

"No, I'm just not really into role-playing B list movies, like fight club, in my backyard, in my spare time" Josh said, shrugging his shoulders, warrenting a gasp from the crowd.

"You aren't? That's weird... We heard you got suspended from your last school for fighting. I guess you've grown out of it in a year or something?" Evan replied, Rob could see the cool and collected expression on Josh's face melt to one of pure sceptasism.

"Fraid you might hurt someone Holt? I mean it was a big bad senior that he took down Evan... heard he went ape shit, broke the guys ribs and a few of his teeth. Ain't that right Josh?" Logan continued on with the planned dialogue they had all worked out should Josh refuse to participate in recruitment. Yet, looking at him now, Rob regreted the plan.

"How did you..."

"Find out? Wouldn't you like to know... maybe we'll tell ya if you show us what you got." Evan said, smirking devilishly.

"We'll even let you choose who you wanna take on, long as you fight." Logan added, Rob could see the anger rising in Josh, evident by the clenched fists he was forming.

"None of ya'll know a fucking thing..." Josh spoke through clenched teeth as he turned to make his way through the circle of people.

"Must be too afraid to go at it without pounding us across the head with a helmet first." Logan said, laughing "fuckin chicken shit... what a pussy move" he said, gaining a rise from the crowd.

"Enough" Rob said, staring at Logan from the corners of his eyes. Logan had gone too far, they wanted to entice Josh by firing him up a little, not humiliate him. Though, Rob was afraid that he had allowed them to do just that.

Josh turned around slowly, chuckling, almost like a mad man. The beautiful blue eyes he'd been making quick miniature stares into all night were now aglow with pure red hot rage. Rob had had no idea that this would have such an affect on the man. He'd thought that Josh would be embarassed or possibly proud of his past bouts, willing to show off in order to show everyone that he wasn't a bitch.

"Fine, if I get to choose... Rob" The crowd began laughing again and Rob felt as if he'd been punched in the stomach as the words came across his ears.

"I'm not an idiot man, however you guys found out about that shit, you were behind it..." He said, pointing at Rob, "and you best believe I'm gonna kick your ass you son of a bitch" The crowd again laughed as if Josh had made a hilarious joke.

"I'm too drunk..." was all that Rob could muster as he closed his eyes to take in a deep breath. He didn't want to do this. It was getting out of hand.

"Bullshit, you rich bastards are all the same, you think the world revolves around you and that the rest of us are just here for your fuckin entertainment" Josh spoke vehemently, "It's funny, this is the exact same shit I got into my last fight over."

Rob suddenly realized, as Josh spoke, that this was his out. It all made perfect sense to him in some drunk sort of epiphany. If Josh hated him, he could hate Josh, they could go about the rest of the year never speaking to one another. Whether Josh was gay or not, it didn't change the fact that Rob wanted to be near him. In fact, if he was honest, that was the reason he had wanted to recruit him to his roster in the first place. He may have told himself that it was because Josh might actually have some potential, but in reality, Rob would have made the call to recruit him regardless. He'd wanted to lure him in to be closer to him and yet not have to break any of his own walls. To draw Josh into his web without the risk of exposing his secrets. By recruiting him, he could be close to this man whom he thought was beautiful without ever having to question his own reasons for being near him. Yet it was all to risky. Rob had discovered tonight that he could not trust himself. Not that Josh would be interested, hell he was most likely straight for all Rob knew, but just being around him caused waves of lust within Rob that he could not explain. He knew that he was more physically attracted to Josh than anyone else he'd ever first met, male or female, and that was enough to scare the hell out of him, he needed a reason to never have to look that way at Josh again. What better way to do that than to make him into an opponent?

"You talk a lot..." Rob said, resolving within himself to do what he knew he must.

"Your such a dick" Josh said, squenching up his face as he looked at Rob. Rob thought he was cute when he was angry.

"Get him some gloves" was Rob's only comeback as he turned to grab his own set.

It was over before it had really even begun. Rob may have been attracted to Josh but even still, in the ring, an opponent was an opponent. When one stepped up to brawl they were in it to win, no exceptions, at least in Rob's mind. He immediately went on the deffensive, giving himself time to feel Josh out, to get a reading on his fighting style.

Josh's form was solid, although, it lacked agility. Rob was easily able to read his movements and dodge them. Josh had strength but little speed. Josh's defense was impeccable though, each punch he threw was deliberate, timed in order to drop his guard for only a moment before his fists were back up. Rob would have compared him to a boxer, rough and tumble through and through. Rob stalled for a few moments more, dodging each hit effortlessly, not even bothering to put up his guard. However, he knew that in order to seal the deal he had to strike back at some point. Rob saw his opportunity after only a few seconds, Josh threw a right hook, which Rob caught, using Josh's weight and momentum to pull him to the ground. A split second later Rob was on top of a dazed Josh with his fist hiked into the air ready to strike down to deliver a solid blow to Josh's face.

Josh never once looked away. He stared straight into Rob's eyes, never relenting, never admiting defeat. Rob felt blood rushing to his dick as he stared into the face of this wild boxer, brave till the end. His heart began to pound as he looked down at Josh.

"Just fucking get it over with" Josh spat, as Rob felt a smile spread across his face. He was happy because he knew that Josh probably really did hate him and also because he had never been so turned on by a look from someone in all his eighteen years of life. Rob loosend his grip, giving Josh the opportunity to gain the upper hand. Josh took it graciously, before Rob knew it, he was wrestling the man. Exactly what he wanted, he gave in to his carnal desire and took every opportunity to rub against and inhale his opponent. But, Josh's form was sloppy, he obviously had no experience with this style of fighting and it only took a few brief moments before Rob had Josh in a headlock.

They were teetering the edge of the deep end of the pool which still remained full of water as only the shallow end had been used for the brawls. Rob saw his opportunity to finish the fight without actually having to hurt Josh. As the man struggled in his arms, Rob quickly released the headlock, wrapping his arms about Josh's waist, hoisting him up quickly as he placed weight on the balls of his heels. Two steps later and he had him kicking his legs struggling to be free as Rob tossed him into the water easily. His mission was complete as he watched Josh plunge not so gracefully into the water.

Josh-

Josh rose above the water splashing and gasping for air. He clambered to the deep ends edge as he hoisted himself out of the water. Exhausted, he simply laid back, staring up at the sky as he tried to catch his breath. Looking up he could see in his peripheral vision the reamining spectators crowded around the edge of the pool. They were simply chatting away with one another, or pointing and laughing, it was sickening to him that he had been sucked into their game. He had been their entertainment for the night, nothing more, and now they were utterly through with him. It was nothing like anything he had ever experienced before. He'd experienced loss of course, but not quite like this, not in such a way where all eyes were on him. Not in such a way where he hadn't even landed a single damn punch. Simply put, he experienced total humiliation for the first time, that and disappointment in himself.

As he continued looking up he was met suddenly by a hand in his line of sight. The same hand that only a few minutes before he had been waiting to have collide with his face. It infuriated him, that after all this, after Rob had humiliated him in front of everyone, he would just extend his hand out as if they were buddies? What a fucking joke. He raised himself up and turned to face Rob's usual blank, almost sad, expression. He'd been smiling before, halfway through the fight he had started smiling, as if there was nothing better in the world to him than picking Josh apart. He slapped the extended hand away completely disgusted by the gesture. At the moment he wouldn't piss on Rob if he burst into flames much less take his hand. Besides, he knew the gesture was only for Rob's benefit. He'd only want to make it look as if he were a halfway decent person in front of everyone else. Had they been alone wouldn't he have kicked Josh while he was down? Likely...

Still though, Josh couldn't ignore the expression he could have sworn he'd just seen, the briefest hint of sadness in Rob's eye as his hand was being slapped away. 'Probably just my twisted imagination' Josh thought to himself as he stood and made his walk of shame towards the steps of the pool. It was even more shameful because he knew that Rob had been toying with him the whole time. Never once had he taken the fight seriously. In fact, he'd given him the opportunity to make a comeback and Josh had botched that as well. He figured this whole thing was a setup from the start, a new kid initiation, Jenn, Evan, Rob and probably even Michelle were all in on it from the start.

"Josh wait!" He heard from behind him as he approached the back porch. He had just been thinking to himself how thankful he was that no one had followed him.

"Oh it's you..." He said turning around to face Michelle.

"I'm so sorry Josh, are you hurt?" She said, reaching out to grab his scraped arm. He hadn't really been hurt, but he'd scraped himself up pretty bad roughing around on the pool's concrete floor while attempting to wrestle Rob down.

He jerked away from here "I bet you thought that was real fucking funny?" he said.

"Josh... I tried warning you"

"Warned me!? You think telling me to be careful is warning me? I know we aren't friends or anything Michelle but jesus christ... I guess that was all fucking planned from the start?"

"I... I don't know... I just... I'm sorry Josh" She said, looking at the ground, "lets just get you home"

"You stay away from me" he said, pointing at her, trying not to lose his temper more than he already had, "all of you just stay away from me damnit" He turned to strom away toward the front of the house.

He couldn't believe the mess he'd got himself into. This was a nightmare, a genuine nightmare, he found himself hoping again that he'd wake up. He'd wake up and be back in his room with plenty of time to get ready and go to tonights party. Or better yet, he'd wake up and be back home in Gavington, wondering what the hell kind of drug he'd accidently taken to be dreaming something as crazy as this. He passed into the driveway, stepping along the concrete slabs, making his way toward the gate. He wasn't exactly sure of how he was getting home. He'd thankfully grabbed his phone off the table as he'd left and was contemplating how much damage calling his mother would do. She would never forgive herself if he called her, but he didn't really have a choice, did he? He reluctantly dialed his mothers number hearing it ring three times before she picked up.

"Hey sweetheart, need me to pick you up?" She sounded sleepy, she'd probably been asleep on the couch.

"Hey mom..." He knew the emotion was evident in his voice.

"What's wrong baby?"

"I..." He wasn't even sure where he was.

"You need a ride?" A deep voice echoed out from behind him just inside the gate. As he turned he saw a tall figure approaching, cigarette in hand, shadowed by the flood lights in the background.

"Sorry mom, I think I just found a ride... See you soon!" He said, hanging up quickly, relieved that he wouldn't have to explain why she was picking up her sopping wet son from a party in the middle of nowhere, even if he had no idea who he was getting his ride from.

"Name's Luke, Luke Gallow" The figure spoke whilst blowing out a cloud of smoke as he came further into Josh's view. Josh recognized the name immediately as the one that the freshmen kids early that day had been talking about.

"Josh... Josh Holt" He said, feeling idiotic because obviously this guy had been at the party and would have heard Rob call out his name... and would have watched him get his ass kicked.

"So Josh, why don't we talk about a little proposition I've got for ya on the way to your place?" The tall, stocky figure finally came in to view.

Josh wondered if this day would ever end...