The Nature of the Game
Vincent Berg
by
The Nature of the Game
Copyright © 2016 Vincent Berg, all rights reserved.
Bookapy Edition
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.
Product names, brands, and other trademarks referred to within this book are the property of their respective trademark holders. Unless otherwise specified, no association between the author and any trademark holder is expressed or implied. Nor does it express any endorsement by them, or of them. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark, registered trademark, or service mark.
As always, I’d like to thank all of those who’ve put up with me during the highs and lows of this story’s creation. It’s hard supporting temperamental authors, and the rewards aren’t always as clear cut as more time and attention.
I’ve got a long line of people who’ve helped with the story, but I’d like to thank:
• Edited by: C. B. Martell, Gary Bywater, S. Smith and Robert Cole.
• Cover photograph “A homosexual couple, closeup of a body” © Kilrill Zdorov (all images from AdobeStock).
• Graphic chapter font, “Nebraska” by Daniel Heikkinen on dafont.com.
• Internal graphics (chapter headers and section breaks): “Elements for a vintage design - decorative line dividers” and “Design elements - dividing lines and ornaments” by Vladimir Zadvinskii.
The Holes Binding Us Together
Threatened, Peg ventures into her worst fear, the holes she’s avoided her entire life, and discovers magical gates to other places. Are they a blessing, a curse, or evidence of mental illness?
Not-Quite Human
Discovering more in common with aliens than the rest of humanity, a group of misfits set out to learn who they are and search for their ancestral home, or somewhere to call their own.
1) The Cuckoo’s Progeny
2) Lost With Nothing to Lose
3) Building a Nest of Our Own
A House in Disarray
Investigating her boss, NYPD Police Commissioner Eddleson, Detective Em Rules’ life is thrown into disarray by the arrival of her sister-in-law and niece, Becky.
Demonic Issues
Seeing the demons within, the world of those afflicted with mental illnesses radically changes, dragging Phil Walker, the medical establishment and everyone else along as he battles demons, dragons and fairies.
1) The Demons Within
2) Speaking With Your Demons
Zombie Leza
A decade after the zombie apocalypse, Leza lives, communicates with and controls thousands of undead. Whether she’s mankind’s last best hope or the source of their demise is anyone’s guess.
The Nature of the Game
The athletes at Windsor High are aiming for professional sports careers. They don’t make waves. When Taylor meets the flamboyant Jacob there’s a distinct cultural clash, as casual meetings under the bleachersr risks millions.
Singularity: The Synthesis of the Ethereal and the Corporeal
An experimental interstellar voyage goes horribly wrong and the deceased test pilot ends up back home, unhurt. Battling through internal, personal and Congressional investigations, Eric Morgan struggles to perceive exactly what he’s become.
Stranded in a Foreign Land
Discovering an injured, shipwrecked alien, Josh shelters it and seeks to rescue its companions, despite being pursued by the American and other militaries.
Books can be found on my website at:
www.vincentbergauthor.com
“And then he tripped over the receiver, dropping the ball.” The storyteller laughed, slapping his knee. “The guy’s a real jerk. He deserved it.”
Taylor Barnes smiled. His friend, Greg “Boomer” Magee, preferred tales which end with someone injured or humiliated, but he’d heard it a few times. Once Boomer found a story he liked, he repeated it often.
As the other boys continued joking, he closed his locker. It was the end of the day, and with no practice, he was eager to get home. Slipping his books into his bookbag, Taylor observed the other kids getting their things together. He was about to head off, when one of the band members caught his eye.
The kid, whom he recognized as Jacob, another senior, was watching him while talking with his friends. When their eyes met, Jacob raised an eyebrow. Taylor recognized the look. He hadn’t had much practice giving them, but he’d learned to appreciate them. From the one glance, he knew that Jacob was gay and interested in getting together.
He jerked back, as if surprised by a bee, and the discussion between his teammates was forgotten. He’d never gotten that look in school before. In fact, the only time he’d received it was during a football camp the previous summer.
As the lead quarterback, with college recruiters fielding him offers, no one ever pegged Taylor as gay. Jacob was what he referred to as a ‘flamer’. There was little doubt that he was as gay as they come. He played in the band and was on the glee club. His wrists were so limp they appeared to be broken and he had little control over how they responded.
So far, Taylor had managed to hide his sexuality and wanted to preserve his anonymity. He had too much to lose. With the future he was aiming for, he was satisfied sacrificing high school romances. Yet somehow, Jacob had seen through his subterfuge. Either his gaydar was particularly effective, or Taylor was overconfident about his ability to blend in. Try as he might, he couldn’t recall dropping any clues Jacob might have picked up.
Unlike him, Jacob was a lean, scrawny kid. They were both seniors, so Taylor was familiar with the other boy. He was in each of the drama club’s plays and had his own fan base, which included several of Taylor’s teammates’ girlfriends, but they’d never interacted before. Jacob was cute with a boyish body, short sun-bleached hair and an innocent appearance, but he had a reputation for reading people. Several girls around school laughed about stories he’d tell about other students.
Taylor considered what he knew of Jacob. As far as he recalled, the punch line of each story was some clever quip about the person’s interests, rather than anything about their lives. Jacob didn’t qualify as a gossip, but still, this was dangerous territory both were treading.
Despite his trepidation, he couldn’t prevent his own brow from arching, asking a silent question invisible to everyone else. When Jacob looked questioningly at him, he motioned towards the football field with the finger holding his back pack’s strap. Jacob smiled, nodded, and went back to his conversation.
Not noticing his preoccupation, Boomer turned to him. “Why don’t we head out and grab some food?”
Boomer was a bulky linebacker, weighing in at 240 pounds. He wasn’t the sharpest crayon in the pack, but was a loyal friend.
Taylor waved the suggestion off, immediately reminded of Jacob’s limp wrists. He regretted the action, but continued on as if he hadn’t slipped up. “Nah, I’ve got some things to catch up on.”
“You’ve got to go easy on the studying. You’ll get your scholarship and coast through college. There’s no sense making the rest of us look bad.”
Taylor put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “It’s not that I’m showing off, but I don’t want to lose my future if I get injured. I intend to get my degree legitimately. I’d rather not work for all the computer geeks after I graduate.”
Boomer stood erect, puffing his chest out. “I’ll get a scholarship to college, grab my sheepskin, and be hired as a coach. With the contacts I’ll make through football, I’ll have an inside edge on a ton of jobs.”
“Anyway, I can’t go out now. There are a few loose ends I need to clean up before heading home.”
Boomer and the others shrugged. “Whatever, we’ll catch you next time.”
Instead of leaving via the main entrance, Taylor headed out the back way. Boomer glanced back, but didn’t seem curious where he was going. Feeling conspicuous, Taylor surveyed those walking past, expecting everyone to guess his intent. When he reached the back door, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was sure no one had caught him. His secret was safe, and to his surprise, he was heading for a rendezvous on his own home ground.
Despite the fact he ran to the stadium nearly every day, the familiar trek seemed endless. He replayed the scene in his mind, wondering whether he had unintentionally broadcast some subtle clue, or if Jacob was cleverer than he gave Taylor credit for. It was like his gaydar had sprung a leak, signaling he was available to others but weakening his own perceptions.
He surveyed the field, seeing no one he recognized. The cheerleaders were practicing their routines, but they wouldn’t impact him.
Taylor considered Jacob. Though not his type, Jacob was an attractive guy. While Taylor liked big men, especially those who worked out and developed their bodies, Jacob had a delightful ‘surfer boy’ physique with clean lines. He didn’t have Taylor’s bulging chest, but his stomach was tight. He was anticipating their meeting. He was, for all practical purposes, still a virgin. In an effort to preempt any gossip, he’d bowed to pressure and slept with two girls at school. He picked the two biggest gossips specifically so they’d talk about him. The first ended with a blowjob, which he appreciated because he could close his eyes and imagine someone else. The second wanted to go all the way, and Taylor tried. He succeeded, but kept losing his erection. Luckily the girl didn’t want to embarrass him and spoke glowingly of his prowess—which improved both their standings. But this might be his first real homosexual experience, aside from that single make out session the previous summer. He’d have done more, as he’d been attracted to the kid, but the camp ended the next day and they never had the opportunity.
He shivered, the word ‘homosexual’ causing his skin to crawl. His entire family was homophobic. His father and Caitlyn, his younger sister, made fun of gays—both on TV and in their lives. When his father, Andrew, sought to motivate his son, he’d call Taylor a ‘gay pussy’. He’d never understood what that meant, but he didn’t argue the point. It had motivated him, but only because he tried doubly hard to shut his father up.
When he reached the safety of the bleachers, he turned and noted Jacob following. His stomach felt like it was dropping. He’d thought of this moment multiple times, but facing it was entirely different. He was excited but nervous. Would Jacob mock him for being so inexperienced? Would he talk about it to score points with his friends? Most of all, this would mean he was really gay. However, he didn’t even understand what that meant. Was he turning his back on the life his parents wanted for him? Was there no turning back after the first time? Might this end up with his visiting public rest rooms, looking for anonymous sex from total strangers? Taylor had little knowledge about the gay lifestyle. He was so naïve he wasn’t sure what to think. He couldn’t sneak porn into his home for fear his parents might discover it. Researching articles on gays might show in his search history, or worse, result in gay ads popping up on his screen. He groaned, considering how his parents would respond.
Realizing Jacob had seen him, he headed into the bleachers. This was the hard part. Taylor Barnes was a man of action. As long as he was moving, he could deal with any kind of stress. However, when forced to sit still, like sitting on the sidelines, he worried. It was one thing when he was shouting or encouraging others, but when his hands stopped waving, he was lost to his emotions. Luckily, Jacob didn’t waste time.
“I wasn’t certain you’d be interested.” Jacob glanced around at the bleacher supports. He’d heard people talk about making out there, but had never tried it, preferring his comfortable bed at home. “Our social networks don’t quite … overlap.”
Taylor stood tall, towering over Jacob, who was a good five inches shorter. “Look, before we do anything, we need to lay some ground rules. Unlike you, I’m safely in the closet with no desire to out myself.”
Jacob laughed. “Man, I remember the days before I finally come out to my family. They were the worst of my life. You should reconsider, at least with your friends and family.”
“Not everyone is like you. You couldn’t find a closet big enough for you to prance around in. You’ve got to remember, I’m planning to play ball for a university and get a professional football contract. In case you haven’t noticed, the NFL isn’t terribly accepting of gays.”
“That’s not true. What about Michael Sam?”
Taylor snorted. “He’s a perfect example. Although he was drafted into a pro team, he never played and will likely be shuffled from one minor league team to another. If anyone hears about my sexuality, my future goes down the tubes.”
“Don’t worry,” Jacob said, approaching him. “I won’t say anything. I think locking yourself in your own private closet is dumb, but I’m not about to mention this encounter to anyone. You’re not the only person with a reputation to preserve.”
Taylor took a step back. “What do you mean? Everyone knows you’re gay.”
Jacob laughed. “I wasn’t talking about that. I meant, despite how popular you think you are, the people in my circle don’t think much of jocks. Between the beatings, name calling and dirty tricks, your clique isn’t appreciated.”
“Hmm, who’d have thought nerds have standards.”
Jacob put his hand against a girder, but yanked it back when it came away filthy. “Remember, the people supporting your rights will be the nerds I hang out with.”
“That doesn’t bother me, as long as I’ve got a secure future, I’m happy. I’m not out to prove anything.”
Jacob stepped forward again. “Good. Are you through trying to distance us, or are you ready to make out?”
Jacob leaned in, waiting for him. Taylor fought the impulse to jerk away, letting Jacob kiss him. Taylor was tense when their lips met. However, when they did, he found himself lost in the kiss. It was nothing like making out with cheerleaders. It was as if Jacob’s soul rose up, entered him and flew around his stomach. Jacob’s tongue ventured into his mouth where he welcomed it. His hands started roaming, running along Jacob’s arms—which were surprisingly firm. He reached around and grasped Jacob’s buns, which were nice and tight. Jacob even flexed them for him, bringing a smile to Taylor’s face.
While he masturbated frequently, he did it without pornography, since he was terrified of his family discovering his secret. Experiencing sex in real life was substantially better. Making love with those women wasn’t sexual—it was a task to be completed as quickly as possible.
Jacob reached down, unzipping Taylor’s jeans, the sound raising goosebumps on his arms. Fishing out his prize, he pulled back, smiled and dropped to his knees. Taylor closed his eyes, marveling in the sensations as Jacob took his dick in his mouth. He leaned his head back, enjoying the erotic sensations. Jacob swallowed him deep, jerking him off as he bobbed his head. Taylor grasped Jacob’s head, stroking his hair.
Jacob was pleasantly surprised to discover that Taylor wasn’t huge. He was simply … average, at least in terms of endowments. It would have been too much if, after all the ballyhoo, football jocks really did have it all. With those thoughts occupying his mind, he couldn’t help but smile. Having been around the block a time or two, Jacob appreciated the pleasantly average. After telling friends and family that everyone has value, he disliked those who not only disproved the concept, but rubbed the fact in everyone’s face. For him, average and ordinary were turn-ons. Of course, the jock physique didn’t hurt Taylor’s appeal.
Taylor felt himself getting close. He didn’t know what Jacob’s plans were, but hoped it wouldn’t end there. Coming too soon would be a shame, but for all he knew, he might be planning to slow him down so they could fuck longer. Jacob didn’t hesitate, so he let himself go, enjoying the sensations. He was starting to tremble when he heard voices approaching.
Panicking, he took two steps back, catching Jacob by surprise and earning teeth marks on his dick.
Jacob glanced up, surprised. “What’s the deal? You change your mind?”
Taylor held his finger to his lips. “Shh, I hear someone.” He whispered so quietly Jacob barely understood. Jacob twisted, trying to figure out who was there and how far away they were.
“Don’t worry,” he assured the quarterback, reaching for his cock again. “They’ll never see us. Even if they do, we’re hardly the first people to make out in the bleachers.”
Taylor took another step backwards, shoving his dick into his jeans without bothering to straighten his jockstrap. “No. I can’t take the chance. While it may not hurt you, it could cost me millions. I can’t afford the risk.”
Zipping up, he turned and ran off, leaving Jacob still on his knees as Taylor fled the approaching voices.
Jacob sighed, climbing to his feet and brushing off his jeans. He watched his almost lover’s fleeing form, appreciating Taylor’s tight buns. Turning, he headed out, managing his way to an aisle where he could escape the bleacher maze. When he walked out, he recognized the groundskeeper and the women’s volleyball coach. Neither one seemed particularly concerned. They were busy talking about maintaining the long-jump pit. He had no clue whether he’d get a second chance with Taylor. The guy was flighty, but Jacob hoped he could entice the athlete to his house where they’d both be more comfortable.
The next day, Jacob approached just after first period. Seeing him, Taylor turned his back, becoming interested in a discussion with his friends. However, Jacob continued past as if nothing happened, like two ships passing in the night, though Taylor noticed his cockeyed grin.
He paused in front of Taylor’s locker, took a slip of paper out of his shirt pocket and dropped it in the vent. Done, he turned and caught Taylor watching. He raised his brow, smiled, and walked off.
Taylor was curious, but didn’t dare draw attention by checking it out. During the fourth period break, he finally opened his locker to put his books away for lunch. Inside he found Jacob’s note resting atop his Physics book. He grabbed it and shoved it deep in his front pocket, crumpling it.
He tried to ignore it, but curiosity ate at him, its presence weighing on his mind. Leaving lunch early, he visited a nearest bathroom, sat on a toilet in the back and retrieved the note.
Thinking of what we didn’t say—and do. Call me about meeting at my house. The folks are OK with it and won’t say anything.
Jacob’s phone number and address were included, though his name didn’t appear anywhere. He even decorated it with little hearts, so no one would know it was from another guy.
Taylor was annoyed at Jacob’s aggressive style, but couldn’t help but grin. Even though their first encounter went badly, he was eager to try again. Despite Jacob’s assurances, he was still uncomfortable about Jacob’s parents keeping his secret. It was too easy to casually mention it to someone. He shrugged as he stood, shoving the note back in the recesses of his pocket. He’d discuss it with Jacob.
Entering the locker room after school, Taylor remembered he needed to call Jacob to arrange their meeting. Moving to the corner, standing beside some empty lockers, he dialed the number.
“Hello?”
Taylor recognized the voice, relieved he didn’t get Jacob’s parents, which would’ve forced him to state who he was calling.
“Hey, I’m on to get together later, but I have practice until four. How about if I stop and grab some burgers so we can hang out a little longer?”
“It’s not a problem. My folks are fine with boyfriends. They’d love to have you to dinner. We’re having spaghetti tonight, which is our favorite.”
Taylor turned aside, speaking into the lockers. “I don’t think I’m up for meeting the family yet. How about if I eat burgers and you can dine with your parents?”
Jacob sighed. “Look, it’s not a big deal. If I ask, they’ll never mention you to anyone. They’re aware how difficult things can be for the closeted. Hell, I lost a close friend who wasn’t ready to come out. He ended up eating his brother’s gun.” Taylor hesitated, so he asked. “Are you still there? Did your connection die?”
“No, I’m still here, but I’m still wrestling with it. Okay, I’ll do it this one time, but don’t tell them we’re a couple, ‘cuz we’re not!”
Jacob laughed, speaking excitedly, seemingly missing Taylor’s admonition. “Will do, and you’ll love my mother’s spaghetti and meatballs. You footballers need carbs anyway. I’ll tell Mom to cook extra. She’ll adore you for eating so much.”
“All right, I should be there around four.”
Jacob giggled, annoying Taylor. “I’ll be waiting. Be sure to wear your superhero mask so no one recognizes you.”
Taylor said goodbye, put his phone away and joined his teammates.
Boomer glanced up. “Who’s that? Girlfriend?”
“Someone I just met. She goes to another school. I’m not sure it’s serious yet.”
“Believe me,” he said, his voice echoing off the metal lockers, “if she’s inviting you to dinner, your relationship is already serious. It means she’s ready to sink her claws into you.”
“Boomer, ever the romantic,” Taylor teased as he yanked his shirt off.
“You can believe what you want, but your days of being free end when you sit down with her folks.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. I’ll probably need to break up before this goes much further.”
“If she’s inviting you home, your goose is done cooked,” one of their teammates said, echoing Boomer’s response. Laughter echoed throughout the enclosed locker room.
Taylor got out of his car, glancing down the street. He felt conflicted parking outside Jacob’s house. While his parents did well enough, as they kept reminding him, it was their money and not his. His car wasn’t the most impressive, and it stood out in the upscale neighborhood.
Approaching the front door, he tried to surmise as much about the family as he could. It was a quiet block, each house sitting on a quarter acre lot—meaning neighbors observing what you did in your yard. The Morgans’ was nicely maintained; the lawn recently mowed, trimming around the driveway and sidewalk. It was late in the season for flowers, but they’d planted herbs instead. While it wasn’t overly impressive, the owners took pride in it and it showed.
Swallowing, he rang the doorbell and waited.
It didn’t take long. As the door swung open, he met an older but good-looking couple.
“Is … Jacob home?”
Jacob’s mother grasped his arms. “You must be Taylor. We’ve heard so much about you.”
Jacob’s father extended his hand. “Don’t worry. Jacob explained your fears. We won’t say a word to anyone. After all, what parent gabs about their child’s sex life?” He made a sweeping gesture to include the whole house. “This is a safe environment.”
Taylor resisted reacting, his neck stiffening and his hands balling into fists. Just what he needed, two more people who knew he was gay. They might be supportive, but each person sharing his secrets was an increased risk. All it would take is a single innocuous comment.
“I’m Ruth Morgan. This is my husband, Rudolf.” She turned, indicating the couch, as she called out. “Jacob, your friend is here.”
Both were blonds with healthy tans, shoulder length hair and glasses. They looked like a couple since they were so similar. Ruth possessed an infectious smile, and Taylor couldn’t prevent contracting it from her. If he had to guess, he suspected they might be Swiss, as their English was a little stilted with an odd accent. He could tell they were Jacob’s parents, despite his darker hair. Rudolf was almost as slim as his son and had a way of saying much with only his eyes. Jacob shared his mother’s smile and wonderful disposition.
“Nice house,” Taylor said, glancing around at the furnishings.
Rudolf shrugged. “We can afford to move to a bigger one, but Jacob grew up here and we have a lot of friends in the neighborhood. This isn’t a house; it’s our history.”
Jacob jogged down the hall, slowing to a stately walk as he entered the living room. He smiled, pleased Taylor was there.
“Glad you made it. I wasn’t sure you were going to show up. You sounded spooked.”
He shrugged. “I almost didn’t. I saw all the houses, each with its own set of prying eyes.”
Jacob waved his concern off. “Don’t worry, if anyone asks, I’m tutoring you.”
Taylor laughed. “In what? I’m making straight As.”
“English, dummy. You focus on math and science. Even if you aren’t taking any English classes, I’ve spent more time writing. Tell whoever’s curious that I’m editing your college application.”
Jacob’s comment in front of his parents implied they were a part of a conspiracy and had thought out scenarios which might out him. It was almost scary.
“Can I get either of you a drink?” Ruth asked. “Perhaps a cookie?”
Jacob grinned at the question. “Mom, we’re grown men, we can find our own cookies.”
“I’d love one, Mrs. Morgan. Did you bake them yourself?”
Her smile grew in radiance. “I did. I’m a bit of a baker.”
“She runs a bakery in town,” Jacob explained. “We always have fresh day-old cookies and loaves of bread. If you need carbs, this is the place.”
Taylor tilted his head. “When I’m bulking up, I tend to favor pasta dishes.”
Ruth reentered the living room from the kitchen holding a snowman cookie jar. “Feel free to grab one any time you’re here. I bring home more than we consume, so if you don’t eat them, we’ll only throw them away.”
Taylor nibbled at one and smiled. “Say, these are terrific! If I knew you made such delicious cookies, I’d have stolen Jacob’s lunches.”
“Should I ask?” Rudolf said.
He glanced down, embarrassed by his explanation. “It’s nothing. I’m … a jock. Your son is, how would you say, a bit of a nerd. Normally, we’re at opposite sides of the social structure.”
“You never gave Jacob a hard time, did you?” Ruth asked.
Taylor blushed. “No, ma’am. We never ran in the same circles. I knew who he was, but …”
“Then there’s no problem. If you want something he has, just ask. It’s easy enough to make an extra lunch.”
Taylor cocked his head. “You realize Jacob and I are meeting for the first time, face to face. There’s no need to adopt me right off the bat. If we don’t get along, fixing me lunches might be awkward.”
Ruth laughed. “You’re cute. All high school romances break up. Some pleasantly as each moves on, others are a bit more harsh. It’s part of growing up and learning about relationships.”
Jacob stepped forward as his new interest finished off his cookie. “Mom, Taylor’s nervous enough. Don’t make it worse. We’ll head to my room so I can calm him down.”
“That’s fine. Dinner will be in about an hour. You’re welcome to join us.”
“We’ll see,” Taylor said, backing towards the hallway. “My mother works in an office, so she mostly reheats Costco dinners. However, she likes seeing my face occasionally.”
“Consider it. It’ll be wonderful having a new face at the table.”
Jacob pulled Taylor back and led him to his room, closing the door behind them. He turned and offered a sympathetic frown, but it was too hard to maintain as his mother’s mirth leaked through. “Too much?”
“You think? My own parents aren’t so friendly! Do they react that way to all your friends?”
“Pretty much, they’re quite welcoming. They’re especially worried about how I’m … fitting in. They took my friend’s suicide worse than I did.”
Taylor cocked his head. “Because he was gay?”
Jacob nodded. “Partially. His family was split over it. His sister supported him, his father wanted him out of the house, and his mother was on the fence. She’d berate him while defending him to his father.”