The Gus Diaries

Part 87

Graduation IV
 

Jeff’s graduation from St. James Academy went off without a hitch. It was cool seeing him march at the head of the line with the others who had earned highest honors.

Our whole family was there, and they all yelled their heads off when his name was called to receive his diploma. I was so damn proud of him.

At one point in the ceremony, while the principal was making one of his boring speeches, Jeff caught my eye. He was gesturing for me to look towards the other side of the bleachers. I looked once and didn’t know what he was trying to say, but his eyes were insistent and I gazed once again, more carefully.

I first spotted Marci sitting with Steve’s family, but that was no surprise. Scanning further, I finally realized who Jeff saw.

There, in the fourth row, was his mother. I knew he had invited her, but he wasn’t sure she would show up. In fact, he started to seem like he didn’t care anymore. The graduation was at a time she’d have to tell Jeff’s father where she was going -- sneaking out would be impossible. I guess she finally took a stand.

After the program ended, all the graduates dispersed to find their families. I was surprised when Jeff made a beeline straight for me and not his mom. He picked me up and twirled me around. “I did it, Newbie. I made it with high honors and you by my side.”

Then he gave me a toe-curling kiss that left me breathless.

“Sonny Boy, you aren’t the only one here to give this young lad the proverbial pat on the back.”

Then I heard the crack of Grandma Deb’s gum. “Yeah, and save the private celebration until you’re in private. We’ve all seen the show we came for.”

“Grandma!”

Jeff threw his head back and laughed, his cap falling off. He turned to pick it up but was a moment too late as his mother had already done so and was handing it to him.

He took the cap back. “Thank you.” His voice was distant and reserved.

They stared at each other. The rest of us stood still, not wanting to disturb the moment for them and hoping it would be positive.

Mrs. Martin ran her fingers along Jeff’s shoulders where the honor sash rested. “I’m proud of you. I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”

Jeff nodded. He seemed unwilling to make any gesture. He had been disappointed too often over the past couple of years.

“I didn’t sneak out or lie about where I was going.” She looked in his eyes, hers moist, his giving away nothing. “He knows I’m here, and when he tried to argue, I didn’t give him the time of day.”

Jeff looked at all of us around him. These were the faces of the people who supported him unconditionally. Then he turned back to his mother and spoke, his voice self-assured. “I’m the man I am today because of the members of my new family. I love you, Mom, I always will, but why couldn’t you have stood up for yourself, for me, sooner?”

I felt bad when Mrs. Martin lowered her head and dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “I should have; I was afraid.”

Jeff remained calm and firm. “Of what? Were you afraid he’d kick you out and leave you penniless so you’d have to fend for yourself? Guess what, Mom, he’d already done that -- to me.”

“I knew you had people to take care of you.”

“That’s no excuse. They would have helped you too.”

Grandmas Deb & Jen came up behind Jeff. Grandma Jen whispered in a loud enough voice that a few of us could hear. “Jeff, honey, don’t do this now. This is your night, and we want you to make the most of it.”

He turned to both grandmas and hugged them. “Thank you.” Each gave him a kiss on the cheek, Grandma Deb’s kiss leaving a lipstick imprint in its wake.

Jeff turned back to his mother and hugged her tentatively. “I’m glad you’re here.”

She hugged him as tight as he’d allow before pulling away. “So am I. I won’t miss anything else you invite me to.”

“I won’t beg.” He stood tall. “And if you miss one more event in my life or don’t maintain some consistent contact, I won’t invite you to anything else.”

She nodded, hugged and kissed him again. This time he hugged her back. It was as if he first had to say his piece before he could free himself of some of the pent-up anger.

“Mom, do you want to join us? We’re going to dinner at Papagano’s. Grandma Jen and Tucker are treating all of us in honor of my graduation.”

Mrs. Martin looked at Grandma Jen and Tucker and they both nodded. Grandma added, “You’re more than welcome. We’d love to have you with us.”

She nodded her acceptance and appreciation. “Thank you, I’d really like to come.”

Jeff’s smile was beautiful. I was so glad that his mother would spend the evening with us, and I could tell it meant everything to him.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 

After the three-hour dinner, Dad, Pop, Jeff and I all returned to Britin. The drive home was quiet and relaxing.

“So, Jeff, you start working full-time at the diner next week?”

“Yeah, Mr. Tay... Justin.” Jeff looked at Pop. “I guess I’m following some important family tradition.”

“Ah, yes, I remember those wonderful days when Sunshine used to return home each and every night to greet me with a kiss accompanied by the wretched aroma of stale French fries. Those were the days.”

Pop chuckled, “Shut up, Brian. You loved it. It gave you an excuse to take a shower with me every evening -- what was it -- to make sure the grease from every crevice was removed?

I put my hands over my face. “TMI alert. You’re my parents, that’s just...”

“...human, Sonny Boy.” Dad snorted. “You’d better get used to it. I have a feeling you’ll want to replay that scene frequently.”

I hate it when Dad’s right.

Jeff laughed. “Let’s face it -- my degreasing will be your responsibility, Newbie.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yippee,” I deadpanned.

When we pulled up to the house and got out of the car, Dad grabbed Pop’s hand. “Come on, Justin, I have some post-grad work for us to do upstairs. I’ve reached my limit of PG-13 family time.”

Pop tilted his head, “Ever the romantic. Come on, you charmer, I’ll see what I can do about giving you some of my expertise, so we can work on some advanced degrees together.”

“Oh my God, will you two please leave us alone.” My dads were really embarrassing, although Jeff seemed pretty amused.

The two of them took off up the stairs. As Jeff and I followed slowly, he looked at me. “Your dads are great. Don’t give them a hard time.” He chuckled softly. “Besides, they’re kind of inspiring.”

“Don’t tell them that, especially not my dad. His ego is already overinflated.”

“I kind of think he deserves it.”

I nodded my ultimate agreement.

When we reached my room, Jeff locked the door. He immediately grabbed me from behind, whipped off my shirt and started kissing and licking the back of my neck. It felt so good, but there was one thing I wanted to do first.

“Jeff, wait.”

“What’s the matter? I’ve been waiting for this all night.”

“I know, me too.” I kissed him chastely. “I haven’t given you your gift yet.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know, your graduation gift.” I walked over to my closet and pulled out a box.

“You’ve given me so much already. You didn’t have to spend money on me.”

“Actually, I really didn’t spend much at all.” He looked at me. “Open it.”

After removing the paper, Jeff saw the department store oversized shirt box. He looked at me, a confused expression on his face.

“It’s not a shirt, I just used an old box.”

I walked to the other end of my room, nervous that he wouldn’t like the gift, or he’d think it was too childish.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as he lifted out the large scrapbook.

He started slowly turning and examining each page of articles, photos, tickets and commentary.

“Holy shit! I can’t believe you saved all this.” He continued looking and then quickly went back to the first page. “This is the article about that first away game -- the first time we hooked up.” He looked up at me. “You saved it?”

“That was the weekend I fell in love -- or at least thought I did. I wanted to remember it for the rest of my life.”

“But why give all these memories... of us... to me? They belong to you.” I liked watching Jeff touch each and every page as if bringing all our special memories back to life.

“They belong to us. That’s why each page has a caption about how I felt or what that event meant to me.”

“They’re beautiful, like you. You’ve made each of these special times come alive again. I love how you write.”

I braved sitting next to him on the edge of my bed. “Look at the last pages.”

He turned quickly but carefully, making sure not to disturb any of them. “The pages are empty. Shit, it’s half the book or more. Why?”

“Because I’m hoping that we can continue to fill them -- together.” I looked down, afraid to see his reaction.

Jeff closed the book and carefully set it on my desk. He returned to my side and lifted my chin so we were eye to eye. “This is by far the best fucking gift I’ve ever received in my life. I think it’ll be hard to top it when I graduate college.”

“I guess this means you think I’ll be around to give you a gift when you finish college.”

“I have no intention of filling those pages without you, and there’ll be plenty more memories to make after they’re full.”

He leaned in and kissed me. At first it was gentle, but soon the intensity increased and his tongue pressed past my lips. I could feel the heat building and wanted more.

I pulled off Jeff’s shirt and the two of us quickly shed the rest of our clothes. We climbed onto the bed and lay facing one another.

I brushed my fingers over Jeff’s nipples, toying with the nubs. We each took a turn, exploring, touching, caressing the other’s body. The slowness becoming unbearable, yet I didn’t want to stop the pleasure it was bringing.

It wasn’t long before Jeff rolled me on my back. He aligned our bodies and when our dicks touched, I arched at the contact. He began to move up and down slowly. Our cocks rubbed together, both now hard and moist with need.

I began to writhe under him, gripping his shoulders, wanting more as Jeff reached between us and rubbed our shafts as one. “Do you feel that, Gus? It’s us, connected -- always connected.”

I nodded, my entire body following the motion of Jeff’s hand.

He took it away and grabbed a condom. “Someday we won’t need these. I see us that far into the future.” Then he handed me the small packet. “Put it on me.”

My fingers fumbled so I tore the wrapper open with my teeth and rolled the rubber carefully on Jeff’s hot, hard dick.

Jeff took the lube and warmed it in his hand. He nudged my thigh and I lifted my legs, wrapping them around his waist.

Pressing in one finger, followed soon by another, I began to lose myself in the sensations that were overwhelming me.

He must have sensed my urgency and he quickly pulled out. I whimpered at the loss.

Looking down I saw him wipe the remaining lube on his sheathed cock and then he rapidly pressed into me.

My head fell back onto the pillow as Jeff thrust in completely. Then he pressed on that spot that sends me over the edge. “Ahhh!”

He pulled almost all the way out and then pressed in with even greater force. The motion became rapid and my body joined his, making the rhythm our own. “Gus, you’re so fucking tight, so fucking hot... and you’re all mine.”

“Yes!” I was his, all his in every way. “Jeff, I’m gonna...”

Placing one hand around my cock, Jeff tugged twice and I let go. Arching my back, I rode the powerful orgasm, spilling onto both our chests.

“Fuck, Gus!” I felt a warmth from within and held him tight, never wanting to release my hold.

Jeff collapsed. We lay still, attached by the moisture between us, breathing heavily.

I’m not sure how long it was, but it was too soon for me when I felt Jeff pull out and move to the side.

After removing the condom, he looked me in the eyes and began to brush his fingers through my hair and over my cheek.

“Gus?”

“Uh huh?”

“You’d better be prepared to get a shit-load more of those books. I have no intention of ending when we fill the first.”

I smiled at him but said nothing, sensing there was more.

“I know it’s strange, but when I think about my future, you’re always a huge part of it -- no matter what the scenario.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “In fact, anytime I attempt to imagine you out of the picture, it becomes blank, empty, unpleasant. No matter where I am or what I’m doing, I always see you by my side... and me by yours.” He licked my lips and then kissed them tenderly. I shivered, understanding the depth of his words and gestures.

“I hope you’re right.” I held him and rested my head on his shoulder.

“Trust me, Gus. I know I am.”

“I love you, Jeff. Happy graduation.”

“I love you too, Gus. Happy rest of our lives.”

He kissed the top of my head and pulled the covers over us. I think I dreamed about my future that night -- every part of the dream included Jeff.

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