Scarred & Satyric Ch. 04

Amanda, a brown-eyed student with baggy clothes and long curly blonde hair hanging from a beanie, pushed her skateboard along the concrete. She jumped and kicked the tail of her skateboard down, bouncing the board up into the air with her, then quickly she kicked it in a half-circle, spinning it under her feet before she landed on top of it, skating towards the edge of Hermes Skate park. She continued up and out of the concrete bowl and kicked up her board, grabbing it in her arm before looking back at Ethan, a fresh faced high schooler with a white tee and a messy mop of blonde hair. He was grinding down a rail, then after landing he looked up at Amanda with a grin. He performed an ollie over the flat concrete, then tried the same maneuver that she had, but landed off-center, his board shooting out from under him as he fell back on his ass. Amanda smirked, the stick of the lollipop in her mouth rotating as her tongue pushed against it. Ethan retrieved his board and rode it up to her side.

"Dude, you ok?" she asked with empathy.

"I-it didn't hurt too bad," he replied.

"Josh sure is shredding," Amanda smiled with appreciation.

She pointed towards the center of the skate park. Joshua, a thin young man with short afro-locs and a hooded jacket, did an ollie over a short set of stairs. Then along a straightaway he performed a kickflip.

"I better head home," Amanda told Ethan after checking her phone. "My mom is texting. Say goodbye to Josh for me?"

"Sure. See you at school tomorrow," Ethan replied.

"Later dude," Amanda said, giving Ethan their typical hand shake along with patting his shoulder affectionately. He reached up as if to do the same, but she quickly dropped her skateboard and hopped on, pushing out towards the sidewalk. Ethan watched her skate away into the distance. Joshua skated up next to Ethan soon after.

"Hey where did Amanda go?" Joshua asked.

"Huh?" he replied, looking back towards his African-American friend.

"Amanda?"

"Oh she had to jet."

"That's too bad. Got some sticky icky from Ryan and my parents aren't gonna be home from work till late. Since Ryan's at home sick, it's just us bro. Wanna get baked?"

"Hells yeah," Ethan grinned.

*

On a second story balcony with the mild odor of a skunk filling the air around them, Joshua and Ethan sat next to each other on the plush blue cushion of a wicker couch. Loud Rap music, Hood Go Crazy by 2 Chainz, emanated from the floor twenty feet below them. A long cardboard box of comic books was open in front of Ethan and he flipped through pages of one, filled with bright colors and dark outlined art. He took a puff from a joint and held it to Joshua who's hand moved deftly across a page of paper, lightly sketching an outline of a figure punching into the air.

"When did your brother get back from college?" Ethan asked, looking down towards the music.

"Last Saturday," Joshua lamented with obvious annoyance.

"Dude, he's not that bad. He's cool."

"He's... eh," Joshua shrugged. "He's the typical alpha male bullshit."

"At least you-" Ethan began.

"Sorry bro, I wasn't thinking," Joshua quickly replied as he grabbed the joint from Ethan's offering hand.

Ethan looked down at the comic and closed his eyes as Joshua took a long drag then coughed. He patted Ethan's arm apologetically. Ethan breathed deeply, then opened his eyes.

"Here," Joshua said, giving the joint back.

Ethan took it silently and looked towards Joshua's fingers. The skilled artist added more details with his pencil, well-defined muscles, a short afro, a mask, and the initials TB on a starburst shaped belt buckle.

"You going to ComicVention this year?" Ethan asked. He inhaled the joint and held his breath.

"I'm not sure yet," Joshua admitted. Ethan blew out a thick plume of smoke.

"You should dude. Your art is so lit. Even better than last year." He passed the joint back. "Maybe you'll find a job."

"Thanks," Joshua said appreciatively. "But it doesn't matter how good I am. It's who you know, not what you know, right? And I know fuckin' no one. 'Sides, my Dad doesn't want me to draw comics for a living." Joshua took a quick hit.

"Yeah. Is that a new character?" Ethan asked, nodding to Joshua's sketch.

"Kinda. Had an idea for him last year, but never drew him till now. Not sure I like the design yet."

"Does he have any powers?"

"I haven't thought that far ahead," Joshua admitted.

"Looks like he knows martial arts or something."

"Yeah, maybe."

Ethan closed the comic he was reading, placing it into a protective plastic sleeve. THE BRONZE BISON was the title with a muscular man wearing a large furry bison mask and a set of golden wrestler style trunks. He was kneeling in a cage gripping the bars. In red lettering on the cover was the sub-heading, Trapped in the Nutcracker's Dungeon!

"Seems like BB's always getting captured," Ethan said with confusion. "I thought heroes were supposed to win."

"He does," Joshua began, breathing out a narrow jet of smoke as he paused and handed the blunt to his blonde friend. "But it's the kinda thing the character is known for. Most of the fans love it, but some want him to be less of a damsel in distress. He's usually tied up and hit by the female villains. It's sort of a sub-dom thing."

"Huh?" Ethan asked, clueless.

"Like BDSM you know? Dominatrix with whips and stuff you know?"

"Shit really?" Ethan coughed and handed back the smoldering roach. "That's what this is about?"

"Not exactly. Maybe in the beginning, but there have been a bunch of writers since Fast Alley Comics first published him." Joshua continued to refine the details of the drawing he was doing.

"I didn't know you were into that kinda stuff."

"I'm not. I just like fit men," Joshua said with a chuckle. "This one's done," he remarked, setting the roach on the small glass table in front of him. Ethan grabbed a pre-rolled joint from a plastic baggy and began to light it.

"But you don't like muscular guys I thought? Emmanuel isn't like trim and... well-" Ethan took a drag and set down the lighter.

"Don't let him hear you say that."

"Sorry," he replied with a cough. He handed the new joint to Joshua.

"It's ok. It's true," Joshua admitted. He took a long puff. "Yeah he isn't Chris Evans or whatever, but..." Josh passed the joint back to Ethan. "He's not fat or anything. Not many guys like that at our school," he said, pointing to the comics. "At least not gay ones," said Joshua. Ethan nodded and took a long drag.

"So what does your dream guy look like?" Ethan wondered as he passed the joint.

"You mean if I could draw him?"

"Yeah."

Joshua looked at Ethan as he took a deep inhale. He coughed roughly and Ethan took the joint from him.

"Well, I don't want someone ripped like a superhero. But a nice ass and a six pack. Thick lips, nice hair, long eyelashes." He bit his thick lower lip, continuing his drawing, his pencil defining the chiseled torso on the superhero. "But with my luck he'd probably be straight," he added with a laugh, looking up at Ethan. The handsome teenager ruffled his messy blonde hair and opened his plump lips as he looked out across the cloudless sky.

"How long have you two been going out now?" Ethan asked.

"Emmanuel and I? Hmm... three months. The Tuesday after Valentine's Day is when we made it official," Joshua replied.

Ethan inhaled the joint deeply and coughed big. He passed the weed and pulled out another Bronze Bison comic. He began flipping through and stopped at a large art spread near the back of the book. The superhero was sitting on a chair, his muscular torso, arms, and legs tied with a chain. Standing above him was the female Villain, wearing a skimpy costume in the theme of the Nutcracker. She held the top of his mask and in a word balloon was saying, "Now I'll finally know the identity of the Bronze Bison!"

Ethan folded the book closed and laid it onto the box of comics as Joshua handed back the joint. He took a couple puffs.

"So what about you?" Joshua asked.

"Uh... what?"

"Who do you want to date?"

"My dream?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know... I mean, cute and funny I guess. Someone who likes what I do... I don't know."

"Really? No specifics? Tits, Big butts?" he asked emphatically. "black, white? What about hair? Brown or blonde?"

"I mean... yeah I guess."

"What a blonde?" Joshua asked with a smirk.

"Blondes are ok. And a nice butt."

"So boring," Joshua replied.

"Well there are some hot brunettes too," Ethan replied.

"Like yours truly?" Joshua said with a smile and fluttering eyelashes. Ethan laughed.

"I'm getting pretty hungry," Ethan complained.

"We got some chips downstairs. I could go for a soda. My mouth is all dry."

"In the kitchen?"

"Uh... it might be in the garage refrigerator."

"Ok, what kind do you want? Root beer?" Ethan asked, standing up.

"Let me go down with you. My dad recently did a Costco run. I'm not sure what all we have," he replied.

"Ok."

Ethan and Joshua went through the balcony doors into the next room. Up on the walls of Joshua's bedroom were a few movie posters, including Creed, The Empire Strikes Back, and Avengers. They passed through and into an open area with a view to the first floor great room beneath. Ethan followed as Joshua quickly went down the stairs, through the living area and kitchen to the next set of stairs into the bottom floor. As they descended into the large garage, the sound of music grew louder. Set against the wall next to the refrigerator and freezer were a few boxes of snacks and other nonperishable goods.

"That's where your brother is?" Ethan asked. He pointed through a doorway in the corner of the garage where the music was coming from. "Should I say hi?"

"Eh, he's in his own world. Why don't you get some chips," Joshua said, pointing to the shelf.

"Sure." Ethan looked through the snacks, finding a large bag of jalapeno chips while Joshua looked through the refrigerator.

"Shit," swore Joshua.

"What's up?"

"Just dropped one of the sodas. It's ok. Hey, do you want something to drink?"

"I'm good."

"Ok," Joshua took a can of soda and began walking back towards the stairs. Ethan stopped.

"Actually, maybe I'll get something," Ethan said, re-considering as he looked at the salty snack.

"Sure, pick whatever." Joshua waited while Ethan looked through the options. He grabbed a cola.

"Starting to get thirsty," he admitted and put the chips under his arm while he went to pop open the can of soda.

"Wait I think that's the one I-"

There was a sudden rush of foamy liquid that poured out the top. Ethan held it away, dropping the chips, but it was too late, it had soaked through the thin fabric of his white tee shirt. Joshua smirked.

"My fuckin' MCR shirt," Ethan said with dissapointment.

"You grabbed the one I dropped. What are the chances bro?"

"Bad luck," Ethan said, holding his arms out. "Well, this shirt is ruined. One of my fav's too."

"I can save it. The washer is just around the corner. Take it off and I can put it in real quick."

"Nah that's ok," he said, looking at his wet skin that was slightly visible beneath.

"Bro, it's no big deal, I can put it on the quick cycle. And I got a ton of shirts you can wear upstairs if you're cold."

"Ok sure. Hold this," he said passing Joshua the chips and soda.

"Hardly anything left," Joshua said, lifting the can up and down. Ethan lifted the wet shirt up over his head and held it out, dripping slightly over the floor.

"I'll put it in now," Joshua said, grabbing it and going around the corner.

Ethan stood there for a moment, and took out his phone looking at his socials as he sipped the remainder of the soda. The bare skin of his torso was pale in the low light of the garage.

"What's going on here?"

Ethan looked up to see a big shirtless young man, with a shaved head, chiseled jawline, and rippling muscles. The brown skin of his chest was glistening with sweat.

"O-oh.. h-hey Tyrone," Ethan stammered.

"Soda exploded all over Ethan," Joshua explained, coming back around the corner.

"Sure it was a soda?" Tyrone asked with a smirk.

"Shutup."

Tyrone opened the refrigerator and pulled out a large jug of sports drink which he took a big gulp of before turning back towards them. He looked up and down Ethan's torso.

"You working out now E? You almost got a six pack."

"Oh... I- I- do... like 100 situps a day," Ethan stammered and his face reddened.

"You wanna be beach ready?"

"I mainly do it because of my coach."

"What sport?"

"Swimming."

"You should do more than just situps. I got a bunch of weights you can use in the other room."

"Oh."

"It will help your times. And give me someone to talk to," he said with a smile. "Working out alone sucks. And this guy is a lazy ass," he said pointing to Joshua. "Would rather smoke weed than work out."

"Shutup Ty. Harry likes weed too."

"Harry?"

"That's his nickname."

"Harry the Pothead?" Tyrone said with a smirk.

"Uh..." Ethan briefly stared at the impressive chest of Joshua's buff older brother as sweat dripped down onto his washboard abs. Ethan was blushing more than ever.

"Give it up, Ty," Joshua pleaded.

"Just a few reps E. I'm going back to UCU on the 21st. I have Summer Football practice. I won't be around to show you much longer."

"He's not a meathead like you, Tyrone," Josh said vitriolically.

"Even astronauts lift weights."

"Really?" Josh replied with an eyeroll.

"Well... I should work out a little," Ethan admitted. "Coach was saying it could help my times."

"Serious man?" Joshua said with shock.

"Great," Tyrone replied with a shit-eating grin. "Let's go."

"Uh..." Ethan said with a pause. "Y-yeah, sure. Just a few minutes right?" Ethan asked.

"Fine, I'll be upstairs when you're done," Joshua sighed.

"Don't worry I'm not stealing your boyfriend," Tyrone smiled.

"He's not..." Josh sighed heavily.

"You can join us too. Get those scrawny arms bigger."

"Don't think so," he replied, and with that, he left.

"Come on E, let me show you how to build that chest." He walked through the door and into the next room. Ethan was breathing quickly as he entered. While he was looking around at all the equipment Tyrone turned down the music. There was a treadmill, benchpress and a rack of several large dumbbells.

"I know it looks a bit empty," Tyrone said, guestering to the space on the far side of the room. "It's nowhere near an actual gym, but it's nice to just roll out of bed and get my pump on." Ethan nodded. "Dad got me some of the bigger weights last year. I've been asking for more equipment each Birthday or Christmas, trying to fill the space. Why don't you lay down on the bench, we'll go slow," Tyrone said.

"Ok." Ethan did as he was told.

"Let's start with just the bar. It's 45 pounds. Depending on how you feel, we can go from there."

"Ok."

"Grab it and lower it down, almost touching your chest." Ethan gripped the metal tightly and hefted it off the support before lowering it down. "Do that three times then back onto the hook," said Tyrone. Ethan lifted the bar easily and did as instructed. "No sweat right? I'll add a little more weight now."

"Sure," Ethan replied.

They repeated the exercise over and over, increasing about 10 pounds each time until at 50 pounds of added weight. Ethan lowered it and then it fell completely onto his chest when he wasn't able to lift it back up.

"Shit," Ethan swore, between clenched teeth.

"Don't worry kid, I got you." Tyrone lifted the bar up and securely onto the bench press hooks. Ethan sighed wearily. "Tired?"

"A little."

"Ok take a quick breather, then we'll do shoulder presses."

Ethan sat up and couldn't help but look across Tyrone's impressive arms and chiseled abdominals, the shape of ravioli, leading to the top of his loose shorts. Then his eyes shot up at Tyrone who was grinning. He quickly looked back down shyly.

"When did you start working out?" Tyrone asked.

"Uh... November I think."

"What have you been doing?"

"N-not much. Um, just dumbbells."

"Ok, ok. Why don't you stand for a sec, I wanna see what I'm working with."

"Uh... sure." Ethan rose and Tyrone walked around him. It seemed like an agonizingly long stretch of time as Tyrone examined every inch of his body.

"You've got a good build for swimming I guess. You've been focusing on your biceps and abs, but not much else," he said critically. "Not much definition in your back. Tough to tell in your jeans, but how about your legs?"

"Uh I haven't done any exercise for those."

"What have you been eating?"

"Uh... just... I don't know, whatever my parents buy, or from school."

"If you're working on building some muscle, you need to have a lot of protein."

"Ok."

"You eat carbs before a competition?"

"Uh, yeah, like pasta? Is that bad?"

"No, that's fine. You need it for energy. Your coach has probably already talked to you about that right?"

"Yeah a little. He said not to overdo it with the weight training though."

"Well you want to win right?"

"Yeah."

"If you get your back stronger, that will strengthen your core. You should do back and abs. If you only do one your body could be out of balance and fuck up your posture."

"Ok."

"And if you're really serious... don't fuck before a competition either."

"O-oh, ok," Ethan said, his face turning beet red.

"You're not a virgin are you?" Tyrone asked with a smirk.

"Uh... y-yeah."

"You are?!" he said loudly. "Guy like you? I'm surprised." He laughed and slapped Ethan's bare forearm. "Wait, are you gay?" he said suddenly, his eyebrows furrowing.

"Oh I-"

"I mean maybe I should have guessed, pretty-boy and shit. You into my brother?"

"I-I'm not- I'm not-"

"Just fuckin' with you," Tyrone replied. He laughed again.

"-not into Josh," Ethan muttered.

"Sorry, I didn't want to assume. Is it some religious thing then? Waiting for marriage? You catholic?"

"N-no. I'm not religious. It's... it's not that," Ethan stammered nervously. "I don't know. I just get really shy. And it's hard for me to talk around girls."

"Really? Well... again not gay," Tyrone explained, "But you're a handsome dude right? I'm surprised you aint smashing pussy." Ethan shrugged. "If you build your muscles it can also build your confidence," he explained. "Anyway, let's see... shoulder exercises next. How about some seated presses? Grab a couple dumbbells and I'll adjust the bench."

"Sure." Ethan went to the rack of dumbbells looking at them all. There were weights from 5 all the way to 100. He took the 25 pound dumbbells and went to the bench that Tyrone had set almost vertical. Ethan sat and held the weights down at his side.

"Hold the dumbbells sideways like this." Tyrone lifted his weights in a position so the side rested on his quadriceps. "Now lift them straight and push up." Ethan followed his instruction. "That's good." Tyrone touched Ethan's bare shoulder. "Feel it here?"

"Uh... yeah."

"Don't arch your back so much."

"Ok."

"Keep it up. Is that the right weight for you? Too easy?"

"It's good."

Tyrone walked him through about thirty reps of shoulders before Ethan's phone made a noise.

"We should try something else," Tyrone advised. Ethan looked at his cellphone.

{Hey. Are you done playing jock?} Joshua had texted.

"Everything cool?" Tyrone asked.

"Yeah sorry," Ethan replied, quickly shoving the phone back into his pants pocket.

"Bent over dumbbell row next. I'll show you."

They continued for another thirty or so minutes doing various exercises until there was a knock on the doorframe. Joshua stood there with Ethan's dry shirt held out in front of him.

"It's all done," he said.

"Thanks Josh," Ethan replied with a big grin.

"It's like five are you gonna be working out until dinner?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh shit," Ethan said, looking at the time on his phone. "I gotta go."

"No problem," Tyrone replied.

"Thank you," Ethan said with genuine admiration.

"Come back anytime and I'll spot you." He held out his hand. Ethan eagerly took it and they shook. Tyrone clapped his shoulder with a grin before Ethan left up the stairs with Joshua.

"What was that all about?" Joshua asked Ethan as they entered the kitchen.

"What do you mean?" he replied, as he put his shirt back on.

"You didn't answer my text."

"Sorry, I lost track of time."

"You're not gonna be working out with him again are you?"

"I don't know."

"Great," Joshua sighed heavily.

"You don't like having an older brother?"

"It's ok."

"Well, I gotta stay in shape if I'm gonna get a swimming scholarship."

"I thought you didn't want to go to college?"

"I don't, but my Dad is making me."

"Yeah," Josh replied sympathetically.

"Could you drive me home? I don't want to get back too late."

"Yeah no problem bro, I got you."

*

Ethan put the key in the lock to his front door. When he opened it, his mouth dropped. His attractive stepmother Tiffany was in the entryway, leaning over at the waist and untying her shoes. She was wearing black yoga pants that hugged her shapely butt and legs. She looked at him from between her long legs.

"Oh hello Ethan," she said with a wide grin.

Ethan couldn't talk as he entered, looking down at his feet. She finished untying her shoes and stood up, turning to face him and revealing a matching crop top above her flat belly.

"Where were you?" she asked curiously.

"O-oh. I-I w-was was at Josh's," he stammered.

"You have fun?" she asked.

"Y-y-yeah."

"Not too much fun now?" she said with a wink.

He smiled weakly and awkwardly adjusted his jeans. Then he quickly untied his shoes as she went to the kitchen.

"Ethan? What did you want for dinner? I'm gonna ask your dad to pick something up on the way home. I was thinking Indian?"

"Uh, yeah... I mean, n-no not my favorite, b-but uh whatever you want," he replied before closing the door to his room. He tossed his backpack onto his bed, then leaned against his door and breathed out forcefully. He felt his phone vibrate in his jeans, so he pulled it out and noticed a text from Amanda.

{Hey harry}

{Sup?} he replied.

{So bored}

{Too bad you couldn't come to josh's. What u doing?}

Ethan sat on the edge of his bed, typing into his phone in front of him.

{Watching kiddie shows with my sis}

{That sux}

{Josh told me you guys got blazed}

{It was hella sticky}

{Nice} she replied.

Ethan began typing his next message, but she sent another.

{Then you worked out with his brother?}

{He's cool, he plays for the Anacondas} he explained.

{Is that sports?}

{UCU football}

{I didn't tell you yet! Guess what?}

{What?}

{I got into UCU}

{Congrats. That's where you want?}

{Yes for their nursing program. Maybe I'll see Josh's brother at a game}

{Cool}

{You have homework?}

{Y} he texted back.

{Figured. Ok I won't bother you anymore}

{No bother. I don't want to do it anyway}

{Lol. Dude u can't fail any more classes} she replied.

{I know}

{Cya tomorrow then}

{Ok cya}

Ethan smiled broadly at his phone. Then he scrolled through his socials, looking at the lack of messages. He sighed before he went to his desk and cracked open his textbook.