Draco: This may not make peopl too happy, but I'm aiming for this story to remain somewhat normal. It's kinda my way of giving people a window into the typical gay teen community. As far as sex scenes...the most this one'll have is a lemon-flavored lollipop. *sees Caleb blush* Gah! No, no, no! Not that kind of lollipop you hentai!

Caleb sighed contentedly, eyes closed, smiling up at the ceiling. A state of utter relaxation spread steadily through him. He's never felt so good in his life! Opening his eyes, he let his head fall to the side so he could meet his partner's gaze. Gabe smiled back at him, fingers tangling in loose strands of brown hair, and kissed him softly.

The goth's smile turned into a grin. "Feel better?"

Caleb laughed and sat up in the little bed, the sheets crumpled around his waist as he stretched. Gabe laughed too, wrapping his arms around the other boy's hips, head in his lap. They grinned at each other lazily for a few minutes before Gabe finally sat up and reached down to pull his clothes out of the heap of fabric on the floor. He swung his legs off the bed, pulling his T-shirt over his head, and proceeded to don his pants.

"So, seriously, how do you feel?"

Grinning stupidly, Caleb reached for his own jeans. "Pretty damn good. You?"

"Good."

"Good."

They both looked at one another and laughed. It was amazing. Finally Caleb had found someone who understood him, knew him. Sure their afternoon activities hadn't done much for getting schoolwork done, but the worst that could do was get them detention, and that was always a good excuse to walk home together. He really felt comfortable and happy there with Gabe.

"I should probably go," the goth sighed.

Caleb stood up and stretched, yawning. "Hey. Maybe you could spend the night or something tomorrow."

His companion grinned. "I'll talk to my parents about it."

Whatever Caleb was about to say next was cut short by a door slamming. The entire house shook as the young anarchist's father shouted curses and stormed down the hallway. Fear gripped the boys and they looked at each other wide-eyed. Gabe pulled his coat on and wrapped it tight around him to cover his shirt.

"Caleb!"

The door to the little room slammed open, and Caleb jumped. he gave his friend a nervous glance, but the poor kid was too stunned by the steaming, red bull in the doorway. Gabe looked utterly terrified.

"What the hell'uv ya bin doin', boy? The livin' room's floodin'!"

Caleb glanced out the window. Shit. When had it started raining? "Sorry dad. I...uh...hadn't noticed."

"Hadn't noticed?" the man howled. "What'uv ya bin doin' that ya didn' notice water runnin' under yer door?"

Sure enough, the carpet under his father's feet was glistening with rain. Now how was he supposed to explain that one? How was he supposed to explain Gabe for that matter?

"Excuse me."

Both the redneck and his son turned to the third party with slightly surprised expressions.

Gabe smiled nervously at the big man. "I'm sorry he didn't see that. It's my fault. Mrs. Eveny's having me tutor him in math and I was trying to get stuff done. I'm really sorry."

It was a moment before anyone responded, neither of the room other occupants sure what to do or say, then Caleb's father frowned. "Alright. Well...get stuff cleaned up, boy...and yer math grades better go up."

Caleb watched in amazement as his dad walked out, closing the door behind him, then he turned to Gabe. The boy picked up his backpack and smiled, slipping his feet down into his boots. Thin shoulders rose in a shrug and they both laughed.

"Ya know," Caleb sighed. "There's only one problem."

"What?"

"Now I really do need a tutor."

They grinned at one another, and Gabe shook his head. "I can teach you for real, or at least try. I passed Functions/Trig with straight A's."

Laughing, Caleb headed for the hallway. "You really are amazing."

Caleb thought his head was about ready to explode, considering the fact that his eyes kept threatening to cross. He'd been staring at finely printed notes and numbers for three hours straight, and now the text seemed to be running together. Gabe sat Indian-style in front of him, wearing torn up jeans and a T-shirt for The Clash.

Having the boy so close made it harder to study, but at least he was getting something done. His tutor was currently working on AP English while trying to teach him trigonometry. How Gabe could stand reading "Civil Disobedience," let alone writing a three page analytical essay, was beyond him. Caleb had tried to get through part of Walden for his class and had gone crazy, but Gabe seemed to be enjoying it.

After a moment, Caleb shook his head. "How can you read that?"

"Eh?" Gabe looked up from the pages he was highlighting, a pile of multicolored markers sitting next to him.

"How can you read that? I mean...Thoreau drives me nuts."

The goth smiled. "It's not so bad. I always read it once to mark lines that stick out to me and then once to find what I need for class. Makes it easier."

"It just make sense, I guess," Caleb shrugged.

His friend laughed. "I think 'Civil Disobedience' is something you could understand." Seeing the doubtful look on his friend face, Gabe continued, "Listen to this. "I heartily accept the motto, - 'That government is best which governs least'; and I should like to see it acted up to more rapidly and systematically. Carried out, it finally amounts to this, which I also believe, - 'That government is best which governs not at all'; and when men are prepared for it, that will be the kind of government which they will have.""

The young anarchist blinked. "You got that from Thoreau?"

Gabe grinned. "It's the opening line."

"I will breathe after my own fashion."

~ Henry David Thoreau, "Civil Disobedience"