JOSEPH BIT HIS LIP AND HUMMED APPRECIATIVELY AS HE WORKED HIS SOFTENED COCK OUT OF THE VELVETY HEAT. Hissing as he eased off another condom, threw it in the trash can, and fell on his back, he was exhausted but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling.

He glanced over at Jericho, admiring his handiwork. The other's body still twitching from the aftermath of his orgasm, and his face was stained with dried tears, among other things. Joseph wanted their first time to be perfect, he'd worship his body slowly, he wasn't having any of that.

To be completely honest, he didn't think Jericho could handle it, but they ended up doing it three times, the last two with lube; he was impressed. Must've had him hypnotized because lord knows he almost forgot to use protection; he's never that careless.

So, he's glad that common sense kicked in right before he put it in. The blond continued to watch him as he struggled to keep his eyes open, but after a few minutes, he started moving again.

When he sat up, though, and tried to stand, he almost hit the floor. Jericho groaned out a couple of choice words, having to hold onto the bedpost and the wall for support on his short journey to the bathroom.

"Dumb mother-fucking—"

The taller boy sluggishly ran his fingers through his hair and chuckled, watching him like a hawk as he picked up his clothes on the way, eyes slowly raking down his body. Back muscles flexing underneath warm brown skin following the almost feline curve of his spine and ending right below his back dimples.

He's the best sprinter on the track team for a god damn reason, too; his endurance was indeed something to behold. He fought the primal urge to grab Jericho as he bent over right in front of him to grab the last piece of clothing on the floor.

Heat bubbled into his gut, and his cock stirred, but he tried to will it away; he didn't want to hurt him any more than he already did. It sure seemed like he got off a lot faster if he were rough, he'd have to ask him about that later.

"Need help?"

Jericho mumbled 'no, thank you' to his offer and kissed the corner of his mouth, smiling but there wasn't any light behind his eyes. He limped to the bathroom across the hall, closing the door softly behind him after grabbing a towel. Joseph didn't know how to take that.

The other boy probably upset because they didn't figure anything out, well at least not with their words, so to say. He saw the signs beforehand, the hesitation, the disconnect, just didn't have any self-control left.

When Jericho finally looked at him, the sun was hitting right, and his mind went blank. He didn't have a favorite color until August 26th three years ago, before school even started, he saw Jericho for the first time at freshman orientation. The first thing that drew his attention was his face.

He looked about as bored as everyone else there. But there was something different about him, magnetic. Joseph had never used the word 'pretty' on another guy before, but he was fifteen, and that was the first thing that came to mind. He was there with an older woman, his mom, looked like she'd forced him to go, dragging him along to each table in the cafeteria.

Joseph was burning a hole in his face the entire time, so they were bound to make eye contact eventually, and he was willing to wait. He's glad he never learned how to mind his business either because he never forgot the color the moment they did.

His eyes were stunning, more beautiful than the filling in mama's famous peach cobbler, the blue ridge mountains, and the damn sun in the sky. Molten-brown amber with flecks of topaz and hessonite.

Then he smiled and gave an awkward wave. It was more of a confused grin than anything, but the corners of his eyes crinkled, and good lord he had dimples in both cheeks.

He face felt red hot and he could feel his own heart beating in his head and in his fingers, he'd never felt anything like that in his life. That was the first crush he'd ever had on another guy. One smile; and it changed how he saw the world.

The blond rubbed his eyes quickly and got out of the bed to grab his clothes. He put his spandex back on but held the other garments in his hand to clean because everything else smelled like sex. It was only 8 o'clock, so he had time to wash and dry everything before he left, so that's what he was going to do.

His dad texted him after he didn't pick up the phone the last four times he called. They were having 'dinner' again at another one of his friends 'restaurants,' but in reality, they were meeting up to talk about a business that he wanted no parts of.

He walked downstairs to look for the laundry room and cool off. After a few minutes of wandering around, he found it and tossed his things in along with the detergent. Joseph went back into the lounge and sat down on the leather couch to think and give Jericho some privacy.

Football practice was at the back of his mind when he overheard his teammates talking about what they saw at Franky's party. He didn't care that they were talking. It was the fact that if those fucking idiots new about it, that meant that a lot of other people did too.

He'd keep his mouth shut for Jericho's sake. He already told Michael about homecoming, and look where that got them. Joseph let the other guys know that he was leaving early, and they all knew better than to ask him any stupid questions.

Jericho was the type of guy who tried not to stand out too much or get involved with drama because he didn't like the attention. He'd been crushing on him since freshman year and hasn't left him alone since then, so when Joseph made the varsity football team his second year, he was thrust into the spotlight.

Word finally got out about who his dad was. All of that brought unnecessary attention to the other because, before the party, when everything wasn't weird as hell, they were practically inseparable. If you saw Jericho, you saw Joseph next to him and vice versa.

He'd even go to his junior varsity games rain, snow, or shine, and hug him first thing in the morning. They had something incredibly special but the more eyes on Joseph the less they privacy they had.

That isn't the only reason that Jericho is popular now, though. He's the captain of the track team, and whether or not he'd like to admit it, he's attractive as hell. People tend to see that sort of thing first, but once you get to know him, it's like opening Pandora's box. He's everything he'd ever wanted.

He's observant, admirably hard-working, and extremely sarcastic but has a heart of gold under all that, and that's why people can't stay away from him. Why he can't especially, plus the fact that he treats him like a person instead of some little prince like the rest of his 'friends'.

Joseph's never had to pretend when he's with Jericho. The ice to his fire, as corny as that sounds. The walls were thin, so he heard the other padding around on the second floor and then down the staircase. He left his hair out, probably washed it too because the tight coils looked glossy, and he had a soft towel wrapped around his shoulders.

Joseph heard sniffling a few minutes later, though, and quickly got off the couch and jogged into the kitchen. Jericho was hunched over the counter, one hand covering his mouth and choking back sobs. His eyes were rimmed red and the surrounding area swollen from wiping them away when he looked up.

He felt an uncomfortable pressure in the left side of his chest at the sight, as if someone was standing on it or had grabbed it with their hand and crushed a fist around it. This feeling was unfamiliar as well.

He watched with open arms as he put the pasta box down and walked over. Jericho wrapped his own around his torso and buried his face in the crook of the taller boy's neck. Joseph pulled him in as close as he could but it still didn't feel like enough.

"What's the matter?"

He tightened his hold when the other's body started shaking again. His eyes started to burn too, he didn't think someone else crying would effect him this much. It took a few minutes for him to stop but he finally spoke when it did.

"This is fucking embarrassing."

He laughed quietly and sniffled again. Joseph continued rubbing his back in soothing motions as the other hand pushed a thick strand of hair behind his ear and kissed his temple; his hair smelled like coconuts.

"Ain't nothin' to be ashamed of. What's wrong?"

He tilted his head back and attempted a smile, but it was lopsided and his eyes were still glassy.

"You weren't in my room so I uh thought you'd left without saying anything. I'm fine, I'm always moody after sex so I overreacted. Don't worry, ok?"

Joseph knew there was more to it than that. He didn't know how much more he could push this before he shut him out completely, though.

He let go but slid hands over his cheeks this time, supporting his neck. Jericho relaxed against him, eyes fluttering shut, and held the fingers on his face. The blond studied his face, another unknown feeling bubbling into his chest.

They were kissing before he even realized he'd initiated it, he couldn't explain it but this moment felt more important than breathing. It was soft and they separated after a few seconds.

Joseph pressed their foreheads together, he looked considerably less miserable but not by much. It was frustrating because he wanted to help but Jericho is one of the most stubborn people he has ever met.

"'Cho, look at me." He glanced back up at him "It's hard to describe how much you mean to me. I swear I'd never leave without tellin' you."

And, when that sentence left his mouth, and no sooner, tears welled up in Jericho's eyes and in the next moment were streaming down his face. He was so incredibly lost that he stood there staring for a few seconds before pulling the other back into his arms. He stopped after a bit.

"Sorry. I'm fine. I just have a lot on my mind. I need to finish making food for my mom, though. Can you wait for me? I'll tell you when I finish up so I can give you stuff for a shower."

Joseph mumbled a quiet 'okay,' raked a hand through his hair, and walked out of the kitchen, giving up only for now because if there's one thing he is for sure, it's determined.