Someone Like You 12
Someone Like You
Chapter 12
One cool thing about Jim that Bobby really appreciated was that he had clothes sense. The day that he had gone with him to get registered Jim had taken note of how the kids dress and had taken Bobby to buy a wardrobe of like clothes. Bobby fit right in from the first day. His parents never really cared how he fit into school. His mother had made him wear the clothes she thought was appropriate and they were never cool.
Although his new address wasn't as prestigious as one in San Marino or even the eastern part of Altadena, several of the kids knew of the big old house that he now called home, and they spread the word about how cool it was for Bobby to be living there.
Having been raised in farming country and riding the bus every day, Bobby had never gotten into sports. During lunch during his first week he was sitting under a tree on the edge of the soccer field eating the meal that Jim had prepared for him. He watched a bunch of guys kicking a ball around, just having fun. The ball rolled near where Bobby was sitting. The boy that ran after the ball stopped in front of him. Bobby looked up.
"Hi."
"Hi."Bobby said and smiled.
"Cool lunch." the boy said looking at the green salad. "My mom just hands me some money to buy something to eat."
Bobby just nodded. He didn't know how to respond.
"I'm Joe. You play soccer?"
Bobby shook his head. "Looks fun though."
"So you're the new kid that all the girls are talking about."
"I'm Bob Baxter. Really, they're talking about me?" He'd never thought of himself as other than Bobby before, but now suddenly he wanted to be more grown up.
"Yeah, my girlfriend says they all think you're cool." Joe said. "So you want to kick the ball around with us?"
"I've never done it. You'll have to show me how."
"Sure, come on."
Bobby stuck the remains of his lunch back in the paper bag, dropped it against the tree trunk where he could retrieve it, and trotted out to join Joe and his friends.
With help and instruction from Joe and his friends, Bobby was soon kicking the ball around almost as well as they did. He was a natural given the chance. The soccer team practiced every afternoon after school. Bobby started hanging around, learning the plays by watching and them practicing them on his own, Bobby was soon noticed by the coach. He watched Bobby for several days before he approached him about joining the team.
"I'm just learning. I'm not very good."
"I've been watching you for a while, Bob. I think you're definitely good. With practice and actually playing in games you could become one of my best players. What do you say?" Coach Wilson asked.
"Sure, I'd love to play."
Coach Wilson put his arm around the boy's shoulders and led him out onto the field. He blew his whistle and motioned for the team to gather around him. Joe and his three buddies that Bobby played with during lunch nearly every day were grinning at him.
"Alright guys, this is Bob. Some of you already know him. He's new to the game, but I've been watching him for a while. I think he is going to be an excellent player. I want you to take in and teach him the game. So get out there and play."
Joe was the team co-captain. He'd never let on to Bobby that he was. Now as he took over from the coach dividing the boys into two teams they started a game.
Bobby was quick to catch on to the rules. With Joe's guidance he was soon having a great time. This was the first time in his life that he wasn't an outsider. It felt good. Joe was a Junior and Bobby only a Sophomore, but that didn't matter to either boy. They were on their way to become good friends.
Several times during practice Bobby got his feet knocked out from under him. Every time he'd see this big kid walk away laughing. He decided after the third time that it wasn't an accident. He was intentionally being tripped.
When practice was over and they were headed back to the showers, Bobby noticed several girls standing on the edge of the playing field. He casually checked them out. One girl with long auburn hair, pale skin and big blue eyes caught his eye. He must of caught her's too, for she smiled at him as he looked at her. Bobby blushed and ran into the gym. with the other guys
As they were undressing Bobby asked Joe who the redhead was.
"That's Jill Anderson." he pointed with his chin at the kid Bobby recognized as the one who kept tripping him, "Bruiser there thinks she is his, and is just playing hard to get. She doesn't like him at all, but no one is brave enough to date her for fear of him beating them up."
Bobby studied Bruce Bridges, the biggest kid in school and the worst bully. He decided that he wouldn't cross him either. As pretty as Jill was, he didn't want to get into a fight with some knucklehead who probably wouldn't know when to quit.
Jill didn't give him a choice. As he exited the gym with Joe, Jill was waiting.
"Hi, Joe, would you introduce me to your new friend?"
"Hi Jill, this is Bob Baxter. Bob this is Jill. Look, I got to go, my girlfriend is waiting in the parking lot."
Although they both mumbled good-bye to him, neither Jill nor Bobby paid much attention to Joe as he left.
Jill smiled at Bobby, then looked down. Bobby was feeling things he had never experienced before. An attraction to a girl. He had always assumed that he was gay because that was the only thing that he had ever experienced sexually. He was confused and tongue-tied. He couldn't look at her.
"I know you've already been told that Bruce thinks I'm his girlfriend. I'm not. I felt sorry for him because everyone is afraid of him and tried being nice to him. Now all the guys are afraid to talk to me. I just wanted to meet you. You look like a nice guy," Bobby looked up and smiled at her. "but you better go before Bruce comes out."
He turned to leave as Bruce came out the door . When he saw Bobby talking to Jill and grabbed him by the shoulder muscle and pinched. Bobby flinched.
"I know the guys told you that Jill is my girl. Stay away from her, ya hear?"
He squeezed the muscle harder. Bobby yelped and ducked. At he same time he grabbed Bruce's wrist and twisted under his arm, flipping the big boy. Bruce landed on his back. Bobby had followed him into the fall and again grabbing his wrist and bent it backwards forcing Bruce to roll on to his stomach with a grunt at the pain. Bobby gripped his fingers pushing them back against his arm as he knelt with a knee in the middle of his back.
"Let go, you're hurting me." Bruce was a bully not a fighter. He used his size to intimidate.
"Turn about, Huh? Touch me again and I'll break it. And listen good Pig boy, Jill doesn't like you. She was just being nice. Leave her alone. Got it?"
He put more pressure on the fingers.
"I got it. I got it. Let me go." Bruce yelped.
"One more thing. I can be your friend, Bruce. But you've got to stop being a bully. Nobody likes a bully. You ever have a friend?"
"I don't need friends."
"Yes, you do. And I'm going to be one. So when I let you go, behave. 'Cause all of my friends are nice people." Bobby didn't know where that came from, but it sounded like the right thing to say to him.
"Alright, let me go."
Bobby let go of Bruce's hand and stepped back. Bruce got to his feet and dusted himself off.
"Where'd you learn to fight like that?"
There was awe and a look of respect in Bruce's face. Bobby was the first kid to ever stand up to him.
Bobby grinned at him.
"I lived on the streets in Hollywood. I had a friend that taught me how to protect myself."
"Impressive. What, did you run away from home?"
Bobby ducked his head.
"I don't want to talk about it. It's past. I have a new life now."
"Cool, so where do you live?"
"Altadena. And you?
"Same. Up on Pine off of Fair Oaks."
"Really, I live up in that area, too. Your parents bring you to school and pick you up?"
"Nah. I've got a scooter. You want a ride home?"
"Let me see if Jim has left yet. He's supposed to pick me up?"
"Who is Jim?"
"He's my cousin I live with. He's my legal guardian."
Bobby pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and punched the quick dial for Jim.
"Hey, Bobby, you ready for me to come get you?" Jim asked having identified who the caller was.
"I've got a ride home. My new friend lives just a few blocks from us. He's got a scooter."
"Okay. You guys be careful." Jim said, feeling suddenly like a parent.
"We will." He closed the cover and put the little miracle of modern technology back in his pocket.
"So how do you have a scooter and all us other kids have parents or ride a bus?
My dad bought it for me. My mom works and can't pick me up so he thought I should have it. My mom objected at first, but I convinced her I was responsible enough to have it."
"Cool."
"Okay! Let's roll. You get on and sit as far back as you can. You can hold onto my belt if you want to."
Bobby complied, wiggling his butt back against the chrome loop on the back of the seat.
"Spread you legs. I've got to sit in front of you, you know."
Bobby blushed, and looked away. The only time he had ever been told to spread his legs was in his father's bed. Anger washed over him and then a great sadness filled him. He wondered if the memories would ever fade.
"Of course." He mumbled, he was sure he had blushed.
"Bob, you okay? You look kinda down suddenly. Hey, I didn't do anything did I?" Bobby forced himself to look happy. He grinned at Bruce.
"Nah, I'm fine."
"OK, then, let's go."
He patted Bobby's knee and settled onto the seat in front of him. Bobby rested his hands on his own thighs as Bruce started the scooter.
Bruce was a careful driver. He stayed under the speed limit and obeyed all the rules of maneuvering a vehicle on public streets. Bobby was lulled into being totally relaxed. He started daydreaming. Bruce leaned into a turn and Bobby was unprepared to go with it. He grabbed Bruce around the chest. When they straightened up Bobby let go.
"Sorry I wasn't paying attention." He yelled into Bruce's ear.
Bobby leaned back against the chrome backrest. The vibration of the scooter gave him a hardon He was afraid that Bruce would feel it and get pissed at him. He managed to scoot back a little further. Bruce just nodded. He was having problems of his own. He was very conscious of Bobby's thighs gripping his butt, and his chest up against his back. When Bobby's arms had wrapped around his chest he instantly got a hard on. He wished that Bobby would put his arms back around him.
Bobby was unaware of what was going on with Bruce. He was looking at all the houses as they sped past them. When they got to Fair Oaks Bobby directed him to turn right up the hill to Alto Lugar Drive. He gave directions to get to his house. By the time they got there they had both gained control of their libidos.
"I know this place. I've ridden by it a lot when I had a bicycle. Cool place."
"Jim and his partner bought it just before he was killed in an accident. Jim lives here alone with me now."
They pulled into the driveway. Bruce stopped a ways from the house. "Who lives in the little house next door?" He motioned towards it with his chin.
"Dr. Taylor lives there. Wanna come in? Jim always has cookies and a glass of cold milk waiting."
"Sure. But I can only stay for a minute. Mom, expects me to go right home."
"Can't you call her and tell her you're here?"
"I guess I could. She's at work."
Bobby pulled out his cell phone and handed it to him.
"Hi mom." " Yeah I'm okay." "I met a friend. He lives just a few blocks up from us." " I just wanted to let you know I'll be up at his house for a while." "Yeah, I'll be home by the time you get home. Bye."
He close the cover and handed the phone back to Bobby. The two boys trekked through the house to the kitchen. There was two glasses and a plate of chocolate chip cookies. There was a note tucked under the plate.
[If you friend came in, too, enjoy the snack. I'm next door. I guess I'm supposed to tell you to have fun, but don't tear up the house. Jim]
Bobby read it and handed it to Bruce. They each sat down with a glass of milk and picked up a cookie.
"What kind of doctor is Dr. Taylor?"
"He's a psychiatrist. It was through him that I found Jim."
"What do you mean?"
"He was working with me and one day he brought Jim in. We discovered that my dad is his uncle. So I came to live with him and now he's my legal guardian."
"Where's your mom and dad?"
"I don't want to talk about them. Okay?"
"Okay. I was just curious. I didn't mean to piss you off."
"You didn't. They piss me off."
"I'm sorry, Bob."
They ate their cookies. Bobby broke the silence.
"So you live your mom and dad?"
"Just my mom. My parents are divorced. My dad's married to another woman now. I get to see him every couple of weeks. He lives in Marina del Rey. So is Jim seeing the psychologist?"
Bobby grinned.
"No, he and Nathan are just good friends."
"You call the doctor by his first name?"
"Sure, besides being my shrink, he's my friend, too."
"So are you like nuts or something that you have to see a psychiatrist?"
"No I'm not nuts. I just have some problems about my parents I have to work through. Look, I really don't like to talk about it. Okay?"
Bruce nodded. It was a new experience for him to have a friend that wasn't afraid of him and that treated him as a equal.
The two boys had finished their cookies and milk.
"Come on, let me show you the back yard and then I'll show you my room. Jim got me this really cool computer and lots of games. I'm not very good at any of them yet, but I'm learning."
~~~~~
A little later, Jim and Nathan watched Bobby learning to ride Bruce's scooter.
"Do you think I should get him one of those?"
"Let him ask for it, Jim. Your going to spoil the kid buying him ever little thing. Also give him some responsibility, like chores he has to do daily to earn the privilege of having the bike."
~~~~~
After Bruce had gone home, Bobby slumped in a lounge chair in the back yard. Nathan came through the back gate and seeing the kid looking pensive and slightly depressed he sat down beside him.
"So how is school going, Bobby?" He asked.
Bobby pulled himself out of his deep thoughts and grinned at him.
"Great!" He replied. "I've made two new friends. And tomorrow I'm going to see to it that they all become friends with each other."
"Is one of them new at school?"
"No, Bruce has problems. He bullies everyone to cover it up. I've convinced him to stop being a bully. He a nice guy really." Bobby then told him about his run in with Bruce earlier.
"That's the big kid I saw you come in with a couple of hours ago?"
"Yeah, that was him."
"Well I'm impressed Bobby. I was kind of worried that you'd be picked on, being that you are new."
"Nah, the first day, this guy, Joe, he's like the most popular guy in school made friends with me and I've had no problems, except for Bruce, and I made friends with him today."
"Well, Bobby I am really happy for you. I had thought that you would be really maladjusted and miserable getting back into a school situation. But you're making friends and seem to be doing alright. But you know that if you do have any problems, no matter what, you can talk to Jim or I."
"Thanks, Nathan. I just want you to know that I really appreciate everything you and Jim have done for me."
~~~~~
By the time that Bobby got to school the next morning word had gotten around that Bobby had bested Bruce and that they had left together on Bruce's scooter. Joe was waiting for him when Jim dropped him off.
"Hey, Bob, I hear you beat up poor Brucey. You going to take over being school bully now?"
"I didn't beat him up. I just used a move on him that put him in his place. You know he really is a nice guy once you get to know him. He just has a problem relating. But I'm going to get him over that."
Bruce pulled in on his scooter as they talked.
"Come on and meet the new Bruce."
Joe followed Bobby over to where Bruce was untying his books on the back of the scooter.
"Hey, Bruce, how're you doing today?" Bobby asked.
"Hey, Bob. Hi, Jim." Bruce dropped his gaze to the ground.
"Hi, Bruce, you okay?"
"I just want to apologize for being a bully. I'd like to be friends." He kicked at the dirt with the toe of his shoe.
Joe looked at him, not believing that this was the same kid that bullied everybody.
"You mean it?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry for pushing you and the other guys around just 'cause I'm big."
"Okay. Let's be friends, but you know you have to apologize to everyone, you know."
"I'm going to do that."
The bell rang and they headed off to their different classes. Bobby saw Jill with a couple of her girlfriends as he headed into his math class. She stopped talking and smiled at him.
"Hi, Jill, girls." Bobby said. He blushed as he waved and ducked into the class room. Suddenly he was shy. Her smile made him feel giddy. He'd never notice girls before. It was like they were just there and it didn't really have anything to do with his existence. But now there was Jill and she was acting like she liked him.
Bobby had never thought about his sexuality. He'd known sex with men since he was eight years old. He'd always just assumed that he was gay. Even when he'd been on the streets in Hollywood he'd turned tricks with older men to make a buck to support and feed himself. He'd never really been turned on by the individual, only what the person was doing to him. A warm moist mouth around his cock always got it hard. He'd always stayed away from the ones who wanted to do more than just feel him up and give him a blow job.
He shuddered as he recalled the one man who had tried to go further. When he had touched his rectum Bobby had chopped him across his throat and ran, leaving the man choking. He'd always be thankful to the little queen that had taught him that protective maneuver. What was his name? Oh, yeah, Al. Allie that's what everyone called him. Allie had shared his rickety bed with him for a couple of months before Bobby had been picked up for trying to steal a banana from a street vendor. He'd never let Allie do him. But they had enjoyed each other's warmth at night snuggled together under the thin blanket.
Even though Allie had been very effeminate in his actions, he'd and a rock hard little body. There was nothing ladylike about him when he stood naked, showing his taut muscular physique. And though Bobby had loved snuggling his chest up to Allie's back it had never given him a boner when Allie pushed his bony little butt into his crotch.
And now there was Jill and he felt strange tingle just looking at her. He'd never felt that towards a guy. Suddenly, he was eager for the school day to be over so he could talk to Nathan, to tell him about the new feelings he was having toward Jill.
Math was a whiz for Bobby. Usually, he didn't even have to think, it was like the answer to most math problems was obvious. And he normally paid close attention to the teacher, but today he stared out the window daydreaming about Jill. He heard other guys talk about how soft girls are. He wondered what it would be like to touch her, to kiss those smiling lips, to run his fingers through her beautiful auburn hair. He realized that he had a boner. He blushed and turned his attention back to the teacher.
~~~~~
Bobby stood on the sidewalk in front of the high school waiting for Jim to pick him up. Bruce who'd been giving him a ride home most days had an appointment with the dentist after school, so Jim was supposed to pick him up. He looked at his new watch that Jim had given him the first day of school. He was already ten minutes late. A flashy red sports car turned the corner and came toward him. As it approached he recognized his mother, Marti, as the driver. She stopped in front of him and lowered the window. She ducked her head down and looked up at him.
"Get in, Bobby." She opened the door and pushed it toward him. Bobby didn't move. He knew his mother was up to something no good.
"Bobby, get in this car, now."
"I'm waiting for Jim."
"Your not going with the pedophile bastard. Your going back home with me. Now get in."
Bobby stood his ground. "Jim is my legal guardian. You are breaking your restraining order. Why don't you go away."
Marti got out of the car and strode around to him.
"I am your mother. You will go back to -- with me." She was already two inches shorter than her son. She reached up and slapped him. Bobby winced but didn't move.
"I don't like you, Mother. Are you trying to make me hate you, too." She grabbed a handful of his hair and maneuvered him to the car.
"You will get into the car now."
A school security guard rounded the corner of the nearby building. When he saw the boy being forced to get in to the red sports car he ran over to see what was going on.
Marti yanked Bobby's head down and tried to push him into the car.
"Hold on here. What's going on?" The security guard demanded. Marti glared at him.
"Mind your own damn business. This is my son and he is going home with me."
"I'm being abducted. She is not my legal guardian. She has a restraining order to stay away from me." Bobby yelled to the guard. Marti hadn't let go of Bobby's hair. She yanked down hard forcing Bobby to bend with the force.
"You little son of a bitch, shut up and get in to the car." She bodily pushed him into the car, using her knee banging his head on the top of the door frame in the process. Bobby yelled in pain. The guard stepped forward and grabbed her wrist.
"Ma'am, let the boy alone, if you have no legal right to take him."
"Get your goddam hands off of me. You are not a real cop. You have no authority over me."
She kicked him in the shin. He let go of her and stepped back. Marti pushed her son the rest of the way into the car, ran around and got in to the driver's side. She slammed the idling car into gear and screeched tires as she sped away. She looked into the rear view mirror and saw the guard talking on his cell phone. Fear gripped at her. Shit, this was not going well.
"You won't get away with this, Mother." Bobby said in a hushed voice. He had both hands on his head with a trickle of blood running through his fingers,
"Shut up and put your seat belt on." She headed toward the freeway.
"I'm bleeding and you don't even care."
"Stop being a ninny. It's only a scratch.."
The light turned red as she approached the freeway. She looked at both sides of the cross street and gunned the engine. The little car flew through the intersection before either car in the cross street could start to move.
An officer in a patrol car sitting in an alley, saw the red sports car fly by. He clocked it at 57 mph. He turned on his siren and pursued it. Several cars between him and the car moved to the side to allow him to pass. He was right on her tail with his siren screaming.
He pick up his mike and commanded that she pulled over and stop. Marti sped up. She was approaching another intersection. The light was already red. She slowed and seeing a gap between the cars, she stepped on the gas and flew though it. Bobby was hanging on to his seat, sure that his crazy mother was going to kill them both. The patrol car had to nearly stopped before the crossing cars stopped to let him through.
The entrance to the 210 freeway north was just ahead. Marti lay on the horn as she flew around an old lady driving sedately down the street. The startled old lady panicked and ran into the back of a parked car. The officer was on his radio giving the dispatcher the particulars of the chase, as he turned down the on ramp. The red sports car was already into the heavy afternoon traffic. It was weaving back and forth through the traffic trying to get ahead.
Continued in next chapter.