Nine & Rodtang from Make It Right the Series

Chapter 7, I Googled It.

It was way too hot for the horsey ride to last long.  Nine waved down a cab and took Rodtang to his doorstep.  Their goodbye in the car lacked kisses but Rodtang's eyes said that he would miss Nine.  "See you at school tomorrow."  Nine let Rodtang's hand go as he slid from the car seat to his walkway.  He told the cab driver to wait,  when he could see Rodtang was safely inside his building,  the cab pulled away. 

Lying in bed he knew he would sleep good,  so many of his worries gone.  This weekend with Rodtang had gone so well.  Nine was past his first kiss,  his first date and now his first, "getting sexy thing." 

His face hurt from smiling and when sleep took him,  the smile remained.

.....................  

Early in the day,  the entire marching band was assembled for the meeting.  The new Nine stood in front of the assembly with a new-found confidence and somehow it commanded the attention of everyone.

Instead of harping at them that they needed to practice and barking at them for their shortfalls, he commended all the hard work, assuring them that they would make him proud.

Wit,  Ess,  and Luckmo,  the consummate jokers of the bunch,  sat immovable,  their eyes glued to the self-assured Nine.  They were happy to see that he still made all the silly faces and googly eyes,  the funny side of Nine was still bright.

The upcoming event,  a championship football game, Friday,  would be their time to shine.  The marching uniforms were being cleaned and pressed.  Invitations to the convent school were sent.  The opposing team was expected to bring a large crowd of their own spectators.  Yes,  it was going to be big.  Nine praised them,  "You can do it!"

One student sat quietly in the top bleacher of the gym.  His elbows on his knees and his face resting in his palms.  He never took his eyes off Nine for even a second.  A huge sappy smile pasted across his face,  Rodtang was in a daze.  His whole weekend had been wonderful and he was still flying high on the feelings.  

Rodtang was changed now too.  Fuse could see that.  Suddenly the few days remaining for practice,  Rodtang was down to business,  on time and eager to go.  He seemed determined to make his boyfriend a success.  Fuse watched as he stepped in more than once to help some of the juniors learn their positioning and their spacing.  Taking the boys by the shoulders he showed them how to use their arm to space themselves and make straight lines.  When the younger lads started rough-housing he would step in, "hey,  don't you have work to do?"

At lunch,  Fuse told Tee everything and they teased Rodtang.  Of course,  teasing Rodtang didn't have the same effect as it did with Nine.  Rodtang didn't blush or get bashful,  he just puffed out his little chest and his bottom lip.  "Leave me alone,  I'm just helping my boyfriend,"  he snorted and gave Fuse the evil-eye.   Fuse held on the top of Tee's arm,  hiding behind him, "ok, ok, no more teasing,  I promise."  He held up his palm giving Rodtang the signal that he could de-puff himself.  

Tee's face was lit with a bright smile,  "I'm going,  I'll be there to cheer you on."  Book and Frame both nodded, "yep,  us too," their voices in harmony.   Walking up just in time to hear the guys conversation,  Nine set his tray of food down and shuffled himself between Fuse and Rodtang.  Nine looked at the smiles and thumbs up from his lil' gang of friends,  thrilled to have their support.

Neither would be able to sleep over at the other's house for the whole week.  It wasn't easy.  Rodtang whined and moaned every night when it was time to say goodbye.  They would meet outside,  Nine would help with his homework.  They'd stay until the last minute they could.  It usually ended when Rodtang started to yawn.  Nine would insist that he go home to bed.  A kiss and a pat on his bum,  Rodtang would head home,  turning to wave ten times before he was out of sight.