Dex & Alfie

I try to scrunch my feet as a line of defense, but as soon as his fingers drag up the length of my arch, I un-scrunch and attempt to kick free as I howl in laughter yet again. He eventually relents, but I cannot enjoy the relief because I'm terrified as to how he'll react to the tentpole that is trying to break free from my boxers. As he unties me, I twist my torso to hide my development. My best hope is that he hopped off of me before I was firm enough to feel beneath him and that the room was too dark to notice.

Why does this keep happening? It's just a natural response, right? I am still a virgin. Maybe these episodes mean I don't masturbate enough. I am as hormone crazed as any other nineteen-year-old boy, I'd guess. The problem is that the last time I jerked off, my mind had wandered to an unexpected place and it surprised me. That was days ago and I haven't gone at it since. I look over at Alfie.

"You know I was kidding, right?" he asks. "It's Thanksgiving. Have seconds on dessert. Enjoy the time with your family. Maybe I'll punish you if you don't gain any ounces."

He grins and my dick twitches.

~~

Nine days later I return to our dorm room after Thanksgiving break. When I open the door, Alfie is at his desk, head down, studying. He doesn't say "Hi". He doesn't even look up. He's wearing his old beat up sneakers and I notice that his new Adidas shoes that he had been wearing every day for a while now are back in the size eleven shoe box and sitting on my bed.

I ask, "Is there a problem with the new shoes?"

Still not looking up, he says, "Yeah. The problem is that you lied to me."

"But they really were the wrong size—"

He cuts me off, "No! You said that you bought them back in August. It was all just a big coincidence that you realized I wore a 10 and you had these unreturnable shoes just lying around." He finally looks up at me. "I bumped into Ken a few hours ago in the dining hall and he complimented my new shoes. Funny thing. He said he was with you when you bought them. Not way back in August like you said, but just a couple weeks ago. When you bought them specifically for me. At full price."

"Alfie, I—"

He slams his book shut and stands. "You, Dex, do not understand."

"Look, call them payment for tutoring me. Or an early birthday present if you want. You really needed a new pair of shoes. I was in a position to help. I can't not help if I'm able to."

He softens, "You are a sweet, kind, generous boy." But then he bristles again, poking his finger in my sternum and prodding me to the verge of pain. "But you lied to me."

"It's really your own fault. You still tutor me in my math and science classes, but you stopped letting me pay you. I had to find another way."

He pokes his finger harder still, "But you didn't tell me that. You didn't talk to me. You tricked me and you lied to me. You made me feel like a charity case."

He steps over to my bed, picks up the shoebox and tosses it back onto his own bed. "I'm gonna forgive you this one time because I know your heart was in the right place, but I expect my best friend to respect me."

He walks to the door, "And don't be mad at Ken. He meant no harm. He had no idea he'd said something wrong." He walks out and leaves me standing there alone.

~~

A couple weeks later, it's almost holiday break. Over sandwiches (that he still doesn't know I actually pay for), I say, "You told me before to talk to you about things, so I have something to talk to you about."

He takes a sip of soda.

"You have to do the same, though. This best friend thing works both ways."

"Okay," he sounds unsure.

"You never talk about your family, and that's fine, but I honestly don't know if they even exist. I want you to know that you can talk to me about real stuff. I'm good for more than just losing in Mario Kart."

He eyes me over the top of his sandwich, "They exist but I no longer have contact with them."

He pauses and I just wait him out.

"When I turned eighteen, I went to my parents and told them who I really am. Turns out that they don't care for the real me." He shrugs, "Since I'm the middle of seven kids, they have six other chances. They probably don't even remember me."

How can anyone who's ever met Alfie forget Alfie? "Can I ask what you told them?"

He hesitates before finally saying, "Something that took years to work myself up to say. Something I've said to no one since. Something that I've tried to not think much about in the year and a half after."

"But it's who you are?"

Another pause, "I probably phrased that wrong. People aren't just one thing." His brown eyes connect with mine through his dark tangles of hair. "You know the real me."

I know what he shows me, which is both a lot and not enough at the same time. I have seen him happy and sad and everything in between. This is the first time he's said anything about his family and I get the feeling he's done for now. Which is fine. It's a start. I also know he's a great friend. And like me, at least for the three semesters I've known him, he has no one who might be more than a friend. Maybe he doesn't date because he can't afford to. He is embarrassed by his financial situation and his closest friends know to not make an issue of it. Of course, that doesn't explain why I don't date. Anyway, as much as he thinks I know him, I want to know him better.

I swallow, "Alfie, it's almost winter break. Campus completely closes around Christmas for a few days. What will you do?"

He says nothing.

"I'm afraid that last year you spent some very cold nights living in your car. Now I know you are proud and brave and self-sufficient and inspiring and you are your own hero. Honestly, you're a hero to me too. I am not trying to save you; I know you'll survive just fine, but you know what? Living takes a community. Your community includes classes, labs, professors, jobs and friends. Friends who care. Friends can be selfish. I selfishly want you to come spend winter break with me."

He sets his last bite of sandwich down, slides on his glasses (that he only wears while working in the library) and pushes his chair six inches back from the table. I figure he's either about to stand up and walk away without a word or jump up and run away screaming. But he surprises me when he crosses one leg over the other and asks, "How exactly would this work?" He nudges his glasses higher up his nose and I feel a tingle roll through my body.

I clear my throat, "This is where I'm selfish. My parents are great, but all that time with just the three of us is a lot. Too much. My house has a guest bedroom that never gets used. We don't have to go for the whole three weeks. We can stay here until we're kicked out so you won't miss any work shifts. We can come back as soon as the dorms reopen."

He makes a face, "It's Christmas. The holidays. I can't barge in on family time."

"Over Thanksgiving, my parents were asking me all about school, friends and my roommate. I told them

about you."

He makes another face.

"No, not about your family or about money. I told them about you. I told them about my best friend, Alfie. They already feel like they know you. They want to meet you. They invited you to come home with me for a visit. When I mentioned that it was going to tough for you to make home for the holidays this year, they actually insisted that I bring you home with me. It would make them happy."

He mists up over that. It breaks my heart a little that he's surprised to be wanted.

He says, "I've never met them but I can already tell the family resemblance. You get your sweet generosity from them."

"The train ride doesn't cost much," I add. "My parents already bought the tickets. I mean... I didn't presume... They just offered... Don't be mad."

"Mad? At you?" He smiles, "I was mad at you once ever and it lasted for all of five seconds." He pops the last bite of his sandwich in his mouth, "The train tickets are part of the invitation. I understand." He crumples his sandwich wrapper. "And I accept. A community, right? And while I wouldn't be looking forward to sleeping in my cold car, that's not why I accepted. I would have accepted your invitation over a free trip to Hawaii. I accepted because my best friend asked me."

He was right when he told me that I just needed to talk to him. I asked and he said yes. We both stand and for the first time ever, he hugs me.

~~

It's the last day that the dorms are open and most of the student body has already cleared out. We're set to leave this afternoon. I'm in the gym with Ken and Gus getting in a good last workout and I actually have no idea where Alfie is. Gus and I are side by side finishing up our sets while Ken flexes and poses for himself in front of the mirrors. That is so very Ken of him. He keeps lifting his shirt and checking out his abs too.

Gus says, "Just look at him. He should just date himself. That's the only thing that might put an end to his streak of break ups."

"He does seem to have a new girlfriend every week, doesn't he?" I ask. "Why is that?"

"Because he finds himself to be prettier than any of them."

"And because he wants to show off his dick to the whole campus." We both chuckle.

Ken shouts over his shoulder, "Where's Alf?"

"Not sure," I shout back. "This isn't really his scene."

Gus says, "He uses the treadmills sometimes."

"He didn't say where he was going."

"I just had the best idea." Ken is excited. "You know how our man always wins at Strip Mario Kart?"

"Thanks again, Ken, for bringing the 'strip' part into our lives," Gus deadpans.

"But he doesn't just win, he's never even has to take off a stinking shoe."

"Yeah."

Ken grins, "Lets get him to play strip weightlifting. We'll have him naked within minutes."

I look at Gus and let him take this one, "Ken, you're a moron."

Ken shrugs and goes back to posing in the mirror.

Gus asks me, "So this is your parents' first time meeting Alf?"

"Mmm hmm," I reply while taking a swig from my water bottle. "Why?"

"Are you..." he trails off.

"Am I what?"

"How are you introducing him?"

I wipe my brow with my towel. "Like Alfie, Alf or Alfonso? I guess whatever he wants them to call him is fine, but he's always Alfie to me."

"No," Gus scratches his head. "I mean, like who is he to you?"

I count off on my fingers, "My best friend. The guy who saved me from failing multiple classes, lets me borrow his car on Saturday's so I can get to work, drops me off at the train station whenever I visit home..." I raise an eyebrow, "What are you getting at?"

"It just seems like... You two just are so... Never mind. It's none of my business."

"Gus, just say what you want to say."

"Yeah, I'm the moron!" It's Ken's voice startling me from behind. He grabs my shoulders and spins me around. "What my man Gus here is fantastically failing to say is that you are taking your boyfriend home to meet your parents."

"What?! We're not—"

"Yes you are. It's just that you two are the last to see it."

My cheeks burn, "He's my best friend."

Gus says, "He's more than that."

Ken asks, "How come you never date anyone?"

"Because you've used up all the girls."

Gus giggles at that, but Ken shoots him a look. "Dex, I don't know if you like girls or boys or both or neither. I've strutted my stuff in front of you multiple times and you never gave me a second look."

Gus laughs again.

Ken continues, "Who gives a shit about labels anyway. I don't think anyone is 100% anything. But wherever you land on the spectrum, there is one undeniable fact: There is someone that you already like. Your heart is taken. That's why you don't date anyone."

Gus says, "He's not wrong."

"I don't—"

Ken squeezes my shoulders, "Dex, close your eyes."

I hesitate, then do what he says.

"Picture Alf."

Okay. My eyes are still closed and there's Alfie. His mop of wild brown tangles, his big brown eyes, his smooth olive skin, his oversized, overused hoodie that he swims in, his big feet on his modest frame and his smile. I find that my toes curl in my sneakers and my penis is coming to life.

Ken asks, "You've got him in mind?"

I keep my eyes closed and nod.

"Good. Now tell us - What do you feel?"

What do I feel? My heart is racing, my face is flushing, my chest is warm, my whole body tingles...

I say, "I gotta go."

~~

An hour later, I'm in our room and Alfie finally walks in.

"Where've you been all day?" I ask.

He pulls a foil wrapped dish out from behind his back and hands it to me. It's warm in my hands. I fold back a corner and I'm hit with a delicious aroma. "What is it?"

"Mexican cornbread," he says. "It's a family recipe. One of the few things from my family that I value."

"You made this?"

"You know, baking is chemistry. I'm a science guy. Don't be so surprised."

"But how? Where?"

"In the dining hall kitchen."

"It closed for break last night."

"You know Tommy who works in the dining hall?"

I'm not sure that I do but I say, "Yeah."

He says, "I tutored him in calculus so he owed me one. He let me use the facilities. It's for your parents. Do you think they'll like it?"

I look him up and down. In his hoodie, a pair of sweatpants that I gave him because I told him they shrunk, his old beat up sneakers because he was working in the kitchen... What's not to like? "They're gonna love it," I say. "How long does it last?"

He shrugs, "A week. Why?"

I set the dish down on my desk and lead Alfie to my bed and we sit. "Because we're not leaving tonight. We're going in the morning."

"Why? Don't they kick us out tonight?"

I shake my head, "I talked to Mickey, the RA. He said as long as we're out by noon tomorrow, we can stay the night."

"Everyone else is leaving or already gone. What's going on?"

"We need to talk. And not on the train or in my parent's house. We need to talk alone."

"But Dex... We have train tickets for this afternoon."

"I called and exchanged them for a departure tomorrow."

"The dining hall is closed."

"I ordered a pizza. It'll be here at 9:00."

"Your parents are expecting us."

"Tomorrow. I called them too."

"What is this all about?"

I point to the Mexican cornbread and say, "That's what it's all about. You have so little and yet no one gives more than you."

"But you delayed our trip before you even knew about the cornbread." He scratches his head.

I chuckle, "It's not really about the cornbread. That's just a convenient example." I place my hands on his shoulders, "Alfie, you're not just my best friend in college, you're the best friend I've ever had."

"Me too," he smiles.

"But it's more than that."

He cocks an eyebrow.

"Alfonso—"

"Whoa. You've never called me Alfonso before. Am I in trouble?"

Maybe he is. Maybe I am. Or we both are? I take his hand and he doesn't pull it away. "I really like you."

Now he pulls it away. But he uses it to touch the side of my face. I don't pull away either. Then his other hand does the same. He pulls me down to him and he kisses me. His lips are warm and soft and moist. We alternate kissing. Him then me. Him then me. Without stopping the kissing, his hands go to work on unbuttoning my flannel shirt. And it's while this is happening that I become suddenly insecure.

I stop him, taking his wrists in my hands. "You're not... This isn't because you don't want to hurt my feelings or anything, is it? You know you don't owe me anything."

He smiles again, "I like you too, you big dope."

"You're not just saying that?"

He sighs dramatically, "Dex, you are the sweetest boy on the planet. You have literally saved my life. You make me eat! You buy my gas, you make sure I'm okay... You also make laugh and you make me feel valued. It's hard to quantify. But no, I don't feel obligated to return your affection." He points down and I let my eyes follow. His sweatpants are tented with a huge erection. He says, "Dex, your fucking hot!"

I snort.

He continues, "I could just say what I think you want to hear. Words can be liars, but dicks can't. Dicks tell the truth, and right now? My dick is screaming its truth. This is the effect you have me. You and only you."

I smile back. And then he starts the kissing again. This time with more passion. He bites my lower lip. His tongue wiggles into my mouth and meets my own tongue. Alfie tastes so good. He finally finishes my shirt buttons and he unwraps me like a present. He drinks me in with his eyes. "Dex..." He has no more words, but his grin speaks volumes.

I blush again. But I feel alive. I feel right. I feel like this is home. My new home. I grab a fist full of his hoodie and I pull the whole thing off of him. It's my turn to drink him in. I see a wave of self-consciousness pass across his face and I hold up a hand. He might not be all muscles but my god is he beautiful. Olive toned and contoured all over. The ridges of his ribs, the curves of his navel, the jutting out collar bones... He is a living work of art. I could just stare at him forever and never get bored.

I bury my face in his neck and he laughs. I kiss and nibble and lick and suck and kiss and I realize that he is covered in goosebumps. I lay him back on the bed, holding hands with interlocked fingers and with me on top, I kiss the hell out of him for the next hour. Our mouths are raw when I begin to kiss down his neck. I release his hands as my mouth glides down his chest. I drift my fingers down his inner arms, through his thin armpit hair, down his rib cage on both sides and down to the waistband of his sweatpants. My mouth continues southbound until I run out of real estate and I untie the string of his sweats with my teeth. His erection is still going strong.

I pull down the interfering garment and find that he is going commando. One less obstacle in my way. His firm cock stands proud as I realize that his feet aren't the only thing big for his frame. Wow! I honestly think that Ken would be jealous. He's breathing heavy in anticipation. I take his manhood in my hand and he gasps. I lick the length of his shaft and he moans in pleasure. My hands are big, but Alfie is a handful. And probably a mouthful. It's time to find out. At first I can only take about a quarter of him in, but within a few minutes, I'm going deeper. I know I'm too slurpy and sloppy but he probably figures it's my first time and he doesn't seem to care. He's lost in the moment. Besides, what I lack in experience, I make up for in effort.

I get into a nice rhythm that I can tell he likes, His breaths become choppy. I'm simultaneously moving my mouth up and down while giving suction and swirling my tongue clockwise. It's not easy to do, but I keep at it. Alfie grabs fistfuls of my hair, but then, not wanting to choke me, releases the pressure. I keep my newly discovered routine going and his whole body begins to quiver. He releases my hair and slaps the mattress.

"Dex, I'm about to come," he pants. I keep doing what I'm doing. His toes curl and I keep going. His back arches and I keep going. He screams and I keep going. He explodes in my mouth. I still keep going. He thrashes and shudders and screams some more before I finally let up. It's a good thing the dorm is pretty much deserted. When it's over, he lies there like a limp ragdoll for a long time, just panting. Once he comes back to life, he rises from the bed and returns with two sweat socks and two neckties. He quickly ties me to the bed posts, just like that night he tickled me.

He says, "I can't pin you down, but I can still have my way with you. I promise this time, tickling is not on the menu."

But he does go down to the foot of the bed and he lovingly undresses my feet. He slowly works off each shoe and sock, savoring the moment before giving me a soothing, gentle foot massage. He massages his way up my calves, over my knees and up my thighs. He works his way through my button fly situation and gives my erect penis a breath of fresh air. I feel the cool air of the room as my head glistens in precum. He takes his time caressing and kissing my face, my mouth, my neck, my nipples and my stomach. The blood pressure in my dick is about to explode.