A note: this is set at least 10 years ago. I've always had an idea in my mind about a 'present day' continuation. I've never mentioned it because it was irrelevant – but it actually becomes pretty important over the next couple of chapters to ensure willing suspension of disbelief.
I would love comments – I really want to improve my writing but need feedback to be able to tell what is/isn't working. Thanks for reading.
*****
Later that day they gathered at an old wooden picnic bench close to the edge of the trees.
"So, what's your plan, Logan?" Brookes asked, slightly apprehensively. He'd promised to help, and fully intended to do everything he could, but he couldn't pretend to not be nervous about where it might leave him.
"Do you want to go to the police?" Billy asked.
"No," Logan was certain. "Listen, I've learned enough about what happens to the victims in cases like this to know I'm not putting my trust in the system to look after me. I won't do that to myself or to the other people who might get dragged into it," he glanced at Jake and Sean. "We covered this in my social journalism course at Greenholt and I'm not doing it."
"You go to Greenholt?"
"You're studying journalism?" Sean and Brookes spoke at the same time.
"Yeah, I'm a sophomore," he answered both of them.
"How come I've never seen you?" Sean asked incredulously. He couldn't quite believe that someone as good looking as Logan could have been walking around college and he hadn't noticed.
"You go there too? That's crazy!" Logan laughed. "I guess we move in different circles," he paused. "Hang on, you're not Sean Atkins are you? Your mom is one of the Deans: Mrs. Thompson?"
"Umm, yeah," Sean admitted.
"She taught me one semester. That's not how I heard of you though. You're friends with Sam Delguardo aren't you?" Sean nodded, smiling, "He spends a fair bit of time at our frat house, Delta Upsilon Kappa. He talks about you all the time. We tried to get him to bring you to a party but he didn't think it would be your scene. Guess he was wrong about that!" Logan chortled.
Jake shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Sean blushed, suddenly realizing how awkward this conversation could become. He was relieved when Brookes interrupted.
"I have a way to get Willis to leave you alone," he announced. "To get Willis to stay away from Sean I told him he was pre-law. His aim is definitely to stay out of trouble. If I tell him you're going to be a journalist he'll back right off." That explained what Sean and Jake had wondered about Sean's apparent immunity to Willis.
"Not yet," Logan shook his head. "I might not be brave enough to get him legitimately, but I do want to take him out of the picture – not just get him away from me." He took a breath.
"You said you'd help," he directed at Brookes, who nodded. "Can you get hold of some recording equipment – a camcorder, and sound recording? I want to record him with me and use it to blackmail him into leaving here and not doing anything like this in the future." Brookes nodded, appreciating the simplicity in the plan.
"I can order some stuff. But even express it'll take a few days to get here. We don't get post every day. I think it will work as a plan. Willis has a wife and two young kids – that's why he's often away for a day or more at a time. I think he'd do anything to keep his dirty little secret from getting out. Particularly as his wife has family money. He likes to brag."
"But that's no good," Billy complained, "Logan can't have several more days of having to deal with Willis."
"Yes, I can," Logan placed a hand over Billy's. "I feel good about this plan, but we have to do it right." Billy looked sick, but Logan was determined. Brookes headed off to order some items online.
In the end, Brookes had a quicker idea. He ordered it for delivery to the post office in the nearest town. It meant they would arrive the next day, but he and Billy would be out almost the whole day collecting them. Luckily, the stars aligned, and Willis was going to be out too, at some family function, so Brookes would install the equipment then.
The next day, in the afternoon, Jake and Sean were laying on the grass, Sean's head resting on Jake's chest and listening to his heartbeat. O'Rourke had left at lunchtime, so the atmosphere was relaxed. Logan came out of the bunkhouse and flopped down beside them.
"You looking forward to going home at the weekend?" he asked Jake.
"Not especially," Jake stroked Sean's back, "but at least Sean is out the week after."
"That'll be a reunion and a half," they all laughed, but Sean nervously. Though he knew Jake was a warm and funny guy and they talked about all sorts, Jake wasn't open about his emotions and they hadn't discussed what would happen between them when they were both out.
Perhaps they were each afraid of what might come up. He liked the idea that it was a natural assumption that they'd still see each other. But, as the time drew nearer, he was becoming confused about his feelings for Sam, which he'd been so sure were strong before he met Jake.
"So," Logan mused, "most of the staff are out, and there's enough of the guys missing from in there to make me think the rest are occupied...wanna fool around?" Sean and Jake shared a look.
"Definitely," Jake announced. Logan shimmied over until he was laying on the other side of Jake. He angled his face, pouting his lips and applying a soft touch to Jake. They kissed lightly for a moment, enjoying this new sensation. Logan turned his head to meet Sean, and they caressed more forcefully, already knowing the feeling; passionately embracing as Jake watched, enraptured.
"Fuck, you guys are hot," he exhaled. Logan's hand slide down Jake's t-shirt, coming to rest by his stiffening cock. He stroked it softly, feeling the shape through the thin fabric of Jake's shorts. He kept stroking and squeezing while Sean ran his hands over Jake's torso.
