Gavin won his latest boxing tournament, so we decided to celebrate at my place. We had the snacks and drinks, and everyone was chilling.

The whole gang was here. My boys. The group. It was nice, seeing all my friends together, especially after my run-in with Aarav.

Kenji and I sat on the couch with his legs on mine. "Aarav paid you a visit?" he asked, and I nodded.

"It took everything in me not to kick his ass," I said, "but I kept thinking of Gyan. What if he saw me attacking, Aarav? How was I going to explain why I was kicking his cousin's ass?"

"You did the right thing," Kenji said.

"You've been staying clear of Aarav, right?"

I knew they had this weird connection, but it was Aarav.

Kenji nodded. "I haven't been to group therapy since I found out. It sucks that I have to give up something that's a part of my healing, but it's best if I don't put myself in that situation to be around him. Aarav has a tendency to use my mental health against me, and he did understand, but he also exploited it. I need a person who wouldn't take advantage of understanding."

"And you will find that person." I rubbed along his leg. "I wish I could be that person, but I can't be everything for you." I looked into his eyes. "I have to accept that."

He smiled. "That's very mature of you."

I shrugged. "We all need people in our lives—different people. Not just each other."

"Look who it is," Aaron said with an arm wrapped around Arya, and Clay stood beside them. "If it isn't Danji."

"Isolated as always," Clay whined.

"I still can't believe you guys are together," Arya said, "and I've known for a while, too."

"Guys come on," Alissa shouted from the kitchen. "What board games do you wanna play?"

"That's my cue." Clay waved before walking away.

Aaron was about to turn to leave, but Arya didn't budge. "I think I'll stay with my two gay friends for a second."

Kenji and I rolled our eyes.

Aaron turned to us. "Aren't you guys coming? Afraid you're gonna lose?"

"Bitch boy, please," I said. "Get outta here."

Kenji burst into laughter, and Aaron shook his head. "You're just scared 'cause you know I can kick your ass."

I waved him off as he walked away, and Arya stood in front of us with her arms crossed.

Kenji brought a finger up. "For the record, I'm not gay."

"You're not straight either," she said. "Man, all my best guy friends are on the slick gay. Clay is borderline gay. No completely straight guy sucks dick or has another guy suck his dick. Unless you're in prison, there's no excuse for that shit." I laughed, and she continued. "Darian is straight up gay. He isn't even denying it. Then there's you." Her gaze landed on Kenji. "The very least, half gay but in terrible denial."

"Fuck off," Kenji said in a jovial manner.

"You know I'm messing with you." Arya ruffled his hair to his dismay. "I know sexuality is on a spectrum, but you guys should join us though. What's the point of hosting a party if you're not going to enjoy your company?"

I stared ahead in horror. "Like Honoka and Gavin making out?"

"What?" Kenji and Arya said simultaneously as they took in the scene before us.

Honoka and Gavin were sucking face as the others started to cheer.

"What board game is that?" Kenji asked.

"I don't know but sign me up." Arya was already heading for the others.

She and Aaron were perfect for each other, and I was happy that they worked things out. She may not be ready for love, but at least she was giving him a chance.

I stood up and brought a hand out to Kenji. "Wanna join?"

"Why not?" He took my hand, and we joined the others.

They weren't playing a board game. They were just daring each other to do dumb shit like making out and eating popcorn with ketchup and hot sauce. I tried hard to not be bothered by the fact that Arya was drinking the whole time, but it was excruciating not being a buzzkill.

"Would you rather!" Arya hollered.

"What is this? Middle school?" Kenji asked, and Arya sent him a scowl.

"Fine," she said. "Because of that, you're my first target." She pointed at him. "Would you rather stick twenty, razor blades up your ass—" All of our eyes widened. "—or masturbate with sandpaper around your dick?"

"Shit," Kenji cursed, and us guys were cringing.

"You gotta choose," Arya said while Honoka and Alissa snickered.

Kenji thought about it for a second. "I gotta go with the sandpaper." He cringed. "They're all bad, but there's no way I'm taking twenty blades up the ass."

"Yeah, Darian's dick doesn't want the competition," she said, and everyone started laughing.

Kenji and I snuck a glance at each other. She had a point.

"My turn," Honoka said, taking all our attention. "Gavin." My boy sighed. "Would you rather never have won this tournament today or—" Here it comes. "—get gangbanged by five men."

We almost jumped out of our seats as we "oohed."

"Damn, Honoka," Gavin said despite his smile.

"These 'would you rather's,' though," Aaron said with a snicker.

"Why couldn't that be Darian's or Kenji's 'would you rather?'" Gavin asked.

"What's the fun in that?" Clay said.

"Then Clay," Gavin retorted. 

"Uh-uh." Clay shook his head. "It's your 'would you rather.'"

Gavin rubbed along his jaw. "I'll take the gangbang."

We all erupted into laughter. "You'll take a gangbang if that means you'll win this tournament?" Aaron asked, and he nodded.

"And it's not because I like the idea of being gangbanged by guys," Gavin said, and I couldn't control my laughter. "It's because I've worked so hard, and this day reminds me why I've worked so hard." We all went silent and focused on Gavin. "Going straight-edge. Focusing on my education. Working out and training. Becoming the man I wanna be. It's all been tough, but this day has reminded me that it's all worth it. It may suck now, and something may require so much work, but finally having it makes all the pain seem trivial. I want to be a boxer, and I did it. I wanna be a mechanical engineer. I wanna get married someday and have kids. I can do those things, and I will. It'll require work, but what doesn't?"

I started clapping, and the others joined in. Gavin smiled sheepishly, but my boy inspired me. "We're proud of you, Gavin," I said.

Gavin stood up with his glass of juice. "Let's toast." We all stood up with our drinks. "To new beginnings and new friends."

"New beginnings and new friends," we all said as our drinks met.

Then we drank to that.

An hour later, me and my boys sat on the couch while Kenji and the others sat in the dining room.

I smacked Aaron's arm with a smirk. "I'm glad you and Arya are cool."

He grinned. "Oh, we're cool, alright."

Gavin grimaced. "A little too cool. Can't get any sleep because you two keep screwing so loudly."

"I hear you and Honoka from your room," Aaron countered. "Who knew innocent Honoka was so loud?"

Well. I scratched the back of my neck. This was what happened when your two guy friends hook up with your two girl friends.

"I heard you met up with your parents again, Gavin?" I said, changing the subject. "Was it smooth?"

"Well," he said, "There wasn't alcohol, weed and naked boys, so I'll say pretty smooth."

"I wasn't naked," Aaron corrected, "and we're men."

Yeah, I could have gone my whole life without being reminded of that epic failure on my and Aaron's part.

"Next time, we meet up, you guys should come," Gavin said. "I want them to meet you two in an appropriate setting."

"Unless you want Aaron to strip again—"

"It was a one-time thing," Aaron said. "You want me to strip."

"I want no such thing."

"Is Kenji slacking?" Aaron asked. "Is that why you want me to step up?"

Gavin was trying to contain his laughter.

"Yeah, right," I said. "Kenji knows how to handle a cock better than a hundred Aarons."

"Aaron doesn't plan on handling a cock anytime soon, so Kenji can have that," he said.

"What about your own?" Gavin asked.

"That's an exception."

"Guys," Gavin said with his arms out to silence us. "Please, no stripping."

"Do we wanna know what the hell you guys are talking about?" Arya asked from the dining room, and the three of us glanced back.

"No," all of us said simultaneously, and Arya let it go.

"Seriously," Gavin continued. "No one has to get naked for my parents." I couldn't believe we were actually having this conversation. "I just want you guys to meet them—fully clothed and fully sober. My parents have never seen you guys at your best, and I want to change that."

"Okay," I said. "Whenever you want us to meet your parents, let us know, and we'll prepare." 

"Maybe I should meet them after I start my journey to joining the military," Aaron said.

I whiplashed from his words. "What?"

"Military?" Gavin appeared just as confused as I was. "Since when are you joining the military?"

"Since recently," Aaron answered. "I've been doing some research, and I think I'm ready to start the process of joining." I was still in disbelief. "I've always talked about being a man, but I've never acted like a man."

I sent him a funny look. "You're now realizing this?"

Aaron sent me a blank look. "I'm going to change that. Thank you very much, Darian."

"Have you thought of what branch?" Gavin asked.

"Air force," Aaron replied.

My father used to be in the Air Force. If we were on better terms, I would have begged him to talk to Aaron and give him some advice. Maybe even talk to some of his old military friends who were still active. If only.

"Your little speech really inspired me, Gavin," Aaron said. "Doing this will be hard as hell. Luckily, I'm physically in shape, but mentally, it's going to be tough, but maybe it's what I need. I've always just wanted to live. I didn't want to deal with stressful things like college, getting married, having kids. I just wanted to enjoy my youth, but I need a greater purpose in life. I need some structure and discipline. I need to feel like I'm doing something worthwhile, and the military seems like it."

"Wow," was all I could say.

"I can't be a goofball my whole life."

"Hey." I pointed a finger at him with a scolding look. "Just because you join the military, that doesn't mean you have to stop being a goofball." He chuckled. "At the end of the day, you'll always be our goofball."

"Yeah, man." Gavin clasped a hand on his shoulder. "We support you. Whether you're a goofball or in the military."

He smiled. "Thanks. Speaking of support, how've you been, Darian?"

I groaned. "We've already talked about this video. It's actually nice to not talk about me since so many people have been talking about me lately."

"But it's still a pretty big deal," Gavin said. "Even your dad isn't talking to you."

"Your old man is harsh," Aaron added, and I shrugged.

"It'll blow over soon," I said. "Some new scandal will pop up. For my dad, the biggest thing is, he probably thinks this affects him more than it affects me." My boys appeared confused. "Me being publicly outed as gay decreases his chances of becoming governor, and to him, that's a greater burden than having my privacy invaded."

"That's fucked up," Aaron said.

"That's my dad." 

We talked for a couple more minutes before joining the group for more drinks and games. Arya's drinking continued to bother me, but I continued to let it go. A little past seven, almost everyone was gone. It was only Honoka and Kenji left.

Honoka put her shoes on at the door. "Kenji, come on. Let's go."

"I'm staying the night." Kenji stood beside me. "I'll help Darian clean up a bit, and he can drop me off tomorrow morning."

"Okay." Honoka opened the door. "I'll see you tomorrow." She turned to me. "Bye, Darian." 

"Bye, Honoka."

As soon as she closed the door, Kenji and I looked at each other. In less than a second, we were grabbing each other, and our lips met in an aggressive kiss. My hands ran through his hair while his roamed by back and abdomen.

"Are you really gonna help me clean?" I panted against his jaw, and he returned his lips to mine.

"Yes," he said after a while. "just..."

"Later," I finished for him.

He smirked. "Later."

"Come on."

I grabbed his hand, and we ran to my room, chuckling. It amazed me how we still acted like high schoolers with a crush.

When we reached my room, I closed the door behind us. "Clothes off. Now."

I turned around to move over to him, but he stopped me from kissing him. "No."

I was taken aback. "What?"

He put some distance between us. "No. Whenever we have sex, you take charge. You make demands. You initiate. You lead. Not today." I was so confused. "Today, I make the demands. I initiate, and I lead. Got a problem with that?"

He challenged me with his eyes as he closed the distance between us, leaving only a few inches between us. "N-no," I said. "Not at all."

He smiled. "Good. So, clothes off. Now."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* What do you guys think about the goons and the group hanging out together? Their interactions and conversation? The next update?

* The next update and this were supposed to be together, but I got tired. Trust me, you don't want me to write the next part tired because I'll rush through it. What's the fun in that?