Now Wasn't That a Party

Written By: LJ

(Introducing Jayson and Riley)


“Rowan, I’m home!” Darby proclaimed as if his noisy entrance hadn’t already caught his partner’s attention.

“Please, don’t…” SLAM “…slam the door!” Rowan called a little too late, shaking his head in defeat.

“Wow! It smells sooo good in here. When can we have some of those?” Darby breathed in deeply, enjoying the delicious aroma in the kitchen, and reached up for a kiss from his partner.

“Just as soon as you come back from shutting the door properly,” Rowan kissed the younger man, turned him around and with a light swat on his butt, pushed him towards the front hallway; “and after you put some milk on the table.”

Darby started to protest but quickly changed his mind when he saw his partner’s raised eyebrow.

“I shut the door quietly like you asked, so now can we have some cookies?” Darby asked when he got back to the kitchen and was placing two glasses of milk on the table.

“Thank you!” Rowan replied, pulling another pan of fresh-baked cookies from the oven and setting them on the counter to cool. “The first batch is ready to eat now.”

Sitting down at the table to enjoy their treat, Rowan questioned the other man about his day’s activities. “How did the job hunting go today for you and Shelley?”

Swallowing his milk, Darby excitedly told Rowan his news. “We both found summer jobs this afternoon. We read a posting at the youth employment office, called the number on the card and got an immediate appointment for an interview.”

“That’s great! Where will you be working? Are you both going to work at the same place?”

“Yes! Isn’t that terrific? We start this Friday evening at the Purple Parrot.” Darby was practically bouncing with enthusiasm.

“Hmmm,” Rowan thought for a moment or two before asking. “Isn’t that the new strip-bar on the other side of town?”

“Yeah! Great, huh? I bet we’ll make some good money there.”

“Are you going to be waiting on tables, bartending, or what exactly?”

“Dancing,” Darby mumbled through a mouthful of cookie.

“Did you say dancing?”

At Darby’s nod, Rowan continued in a rather shocked tone. “I hope you two aren’t intending to be part of a floor show. Certainly neither of you are thinking of stripping?”

“Well, not exactly. I mean, I’m allowed to wear a thong and I’m….”

“Forget it! You can both find other work because you are definitely not becoming strippers in some sleazy bar across town or anywhere else for that matter and that’s final, young man.”

“But, Rowan…”

“I said to forget it and I meant what I said. I’m sure there are a lot of more suitable opportunities for summer employment than that one. Just keep looking until something else turns up.”

Darby slouched in his chair and pouted. “You never let me do anything fun and interesting,” he complained. “Man, you are sooo old and crotchety sometimes.” Darby wasn’t able to keep a straight face any longer, so the pout disappeared and his eyes lit up mischievously. “Ha! Gotcha! I was only pulling your leg. We really haven’t found anything yet but we’re having a good time looking.”

Rowan laughed at the younger man. “You know, you sounded a lot like my mother when she teases my father about their ages.”

Darby’s ears perked right up. Having little family of his own, he loved to listen to stories about Rowan’s parents and siblings.  “Why did your mother do that? Aren’t your parents fairly close in age?”

“Yes, but my mother sometimes says she can’t figure out what happened regarding their ages. Mom says when they first got married, Dad was only fifteen months older than she was and now almost forty years later, he’s twenty years older than she is. Of course my dad’s explanation is that my mom is just taking a lot longer to grow up.”

It took a few minutes for Darby to stop laughing enough to ask more questions. “They sound like so much fun and I know most of your family live across the country, but will I ever meet any of them?”

“You will and maybe sooner than you think. I’ve been trying to talk Mom into coming out later this summer. Dad will not be able to come with her as he still works. We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, your good news almost made me forget to tell you mine.” Rowan laughed as he got up and started clearing the table. “We have been invited to a party next Saturday night. You don’t have any other plans do you?”

“Not yet. Where is the party and what is it for?” Darby didn’t sound too enthusiastic about the idea.

“It’s a barbecue at Jayson and Riley’s to celebrate Riley’s twenty-fourth birthday. They don’t expect a big crowd, just a few friends and family members. It should be fun. Would you like to go?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t met Riley yet and I’m not very comfortable around Jayson.” Darby didn’t really want to go but couldn’t think of a good excuse to stay home.

“Well you know Jayson and I have known one another for years. We met at university and now work for the same company. He is a very good friend. Jayson and Riley have been partners for almost three years and so I know them both well. Riley is only a couple of years older than you and is looking forward to meeting you. He has a great sense of humor as does Jayson and you’ll probably like both of them a lot once you really get to know them. I’d like us to go next Saturday. I’m sure you and Riley will get along and have some great times together as you both have many similar interests.” Noticing the look of reluctance on his partner’s face, Rowan gently added. “You certainly don’t have anything to lose by going, do you?”

“I guess not. But if I have to go, can I invite Shelley?” Darby asked hopefully.

Rowan realized the young man would feel more confident if he had someone he knew well, attending the party with him. Darby and Shelley had been friends since Jr. High and the young woman was like the sister Darby needed but never had. Nodding, Rowan granted the request. “Okay, go ahead and invite her. Tell her we’ll pick her up at six-thirty.”

************

Darby and Rowan were in the process of getting ready for the party on Saturday evening. The younger man was bouncing around in the bedroom and talking excitedly about his new job while putting on the jeans he had finally decided to wear. Rowan was in the bathroom trying to shave and follow the conversation at the same time.

“Shelley and I start work this coming Monday for the Summer Day Camp at the recreation center. Even though there is a schedule of sorts to follow, Shelley still has some great ideas for additional activities. It’s going to be so much fun being counselors together over the next two months and guess what else is…”

Darby’s non-stop chatter was interrupted by the telephone ringing. ‘Thank heavens!’ thought Rowan, feeling a headache coming on.

“I’ll get it!” Darby yelled, causing Rowan to smile and shake his head at the contrasts in the younger man’s personality. When Darby was comfortable with his surroundings, he was a going concern: excitable, enthusiastic, and sometimes unfortunately very noisy. On the other hand, when he was feeling insecure he was withdrawn, quite, and getting a word out of him was difficult to say the least.

Rowan was combing his hair when he looked up in the mirror to see Darby’s unhappy reflection. The young man was leaning against the doorframe of their en suite looking rather dejected.

“What’s up, love?” Rowan asked as he turned to face his partner.

“That was Shelley calling to tell us she can’t make it because a family problem has suddenly come up.” Taking a deep breath, Darby stated, “I don’t want to go now either!”

“Darby, I’m sorry your friend is unavailable but we are still going to the party. Jayson and Riley are expecting us and we aren’t about to disappoint them.”

“Then you go ahead by yourself! I’m staying home!” Darby actually stamped his foot before turning to walk out of the room.

Rowan caught up to his partner just as the younger man made it to the other side of their bedroom and hooked a finger in the back pocket of Darby’s jeans. “Hold on, Beethoven! You are not getting yourself into a snit over this. You are, however, going to settle down and finish getting dressed so we can leave in fifteen minutes.” Rowan held on to Darby’s arm and punctuated his edict with a couple of sharp swats to the seat of Darby’s pants.

Darby pouted and rubbed his backside while trying to keep his voice under control. “But I don’t want to go. I won’t know anyone but you and you’ll be with your friends while I just get to hang around watching everyone. How much fun will that be?”

“Sweetheart, there will be several young people your age at the party. I’ll introduce you to Riley and he will then introduce you to his friends. If you give it a chance, I’m sure you will enjoy yourself. And, young man, I said we were both going and that’s final!” Rowan was unyielding

“You can make me go but you can’t make me like it,” Darby grumbled quietly to himself as he pulled a clean shirt over his head.

“Are you being cheeky, little boy?” Rowan asked warningly.

“Nooo? I’m sorry. I’ll behave.” Darby hastily backtracked when he looked up to see Rowan getting the hairbrush from where it was lying on the dresser.

“All right then, we better get a move on or we will never get there.” With that, Rowan brushed his partner’s hair into place and dropped a kiss on the young man’s forehead.

Within minutes, they were heading out the door and each man was looking forward to this evening’s activities with mixed feelings.

************

Arriving at the home where the party was being held, Rowan had to all but drag Darby into the house. Jayson greeted them and led them out to the backyard to meet the rest of the guests.

A young man ran over and threw his arms around Rowan’s neck. “You’re late! I was afraid you weren’t going to come,” the man griped.

“Happy Birthday, Riley!” Rowan laughed as he handed the young man a gaily-wrapped package before returning Riley’s hug and kissing his cheek. “By the way, birthday boy, we are only two or three minutes over due,” Rowan added. “I promised we’d be here and we are.”

“Just complaining for form’s sake,” Riley merrily explained.

“Of course,” Rowan chuckled. “I’d like you to meet my new partner, Darby.” Rowan reached back and pulled Darby to his side. “Darby, this is Riley. I hope you boys will become friends as you will probably be seeing a lot of each other.”

“I’ve been waiting to meet you ever since Jayson told me about Rowan finally having a partner!” Riley spoke excitedly as he reached out a hand to shake Darby’s.

Darby shyly extended his hand and acknowledged the other young man with a soft, “Hi.”

“Come on! I’ll introduce you to everyone as soon as I open this.” Riley tore the paper off the parcel and opened it. “Wow! Thanks, guys. I don’t have this one yet.” After placing the video game on the table with his other gifts, Riley dragged Darby over to meet his friends in spite of the other boy’s reluctance.

After being introduced to the other guests, Darby was led over to a couple of young men who looked to be about Riley’s age. “These are two of my oldest friends, Pete and Freddie. We’ve been pals since grade school and are now business partners. We have had some of the best times together,” exclaimed Riley.

Darby was immediately included as one of the group and finally started to relax and enjoy himself.

The next two hours passed quickly with plenty of food, drinks and fun for everyone. The other guests gradually left until only Jayson, Rowan, and the four younger men remained to carry on with the party.

Approaching his partner, Jayson asked, “Riley, where is the extra bag of ice I asked you to pick up earlier?”

“Oh, I forgot to get it. Sorry!”

“Well, since we’ve run out, how about you taking a trip to the nearest service station and buying some?”

Riley recognized this as more than a casual request and called out to his friends. “Hey! Darby! Pete! Freddie! Want to come for a walk? I have to get some more ice.”

“Where can you get that and how far away is it?” asked Freddie.

“There is a gas station about four blocks from here. No more than a ten or fifteen minute walk. Come on!” Riley started walking towards the front of the house. Not wanting to stay behind, the other three boys got up and followed.

There was still some daylight left and the evening air was beginning to cool. It had been a long, hot few days but, fortunately, a refreshing breeze was starting to make the temperature more bearable. The young men strolled along joking and laughing as they exchange stories about past adventures.

Upon arriving at their destination, Riley and Darby went into the station to buy the bag of ice they had come for, while Pete and Freddie waited outside. Coming back outside with their purchase, Darby and Riley discovered that the other two boys had disappeared.

“Do your friends often just take off on you?” Darby asked.

Before Riley could answer, Pete and Freddie came around the corner of the garage pushing a couple of grocery carts. “Hey, look what someone left outside the store next door!” Pete hollered.

“Ready for some fun?” asked Freddie.

“Sure thing!” Riley laughed as he jumped into Freddie’s cart.

Before Darby had a chance to think about it, he found himself lifted off his feet by Pete and dumped into the second cart. Being a strong, husky boy, Pete had no trouble manhandling his slighter-built friend. All thoughts of returning home quickly fled as the new activity of grocery-cart racing got underway. Much to Darby and Riley’s delight, Pete and Freddie had smuggled some beer out of the cooler at the party. The four boys had a carefree time taking turns racing up and down the side streets of the neighbourhood. The beer only added to their enjoyment, not to mention their lack of good judgement. They eventually headed for the park to continue their games.

It was a beautiful evening and there were quite a few people taking advantage of the cooling temperatures by sitting or strolling in the park. Most found the young men’s presence very annoying. An older gentleman finally decided to call the police in order to put an end to the disturbance caused by the boys’ shouts and laughter.

************

Back at Jayson’s house, the two older men had passed the time enjoying the peace and quiet. “I sensed some reluctance on Darby’s part to come here tonight,” Jayson commented.

“Did you really? From the fight he put up, you’d think I was dragging him to a torture chamber instead of a party,” Rowan laughed. “I was sure Riley and his friends would quickly put him at ease.”

“Riley has been looking forward to meeting Darby and wanting to be friends as much for our sakes as for their own. He’s hoping we can all have some good times together.”

“You’ve just started your holidays, haven’t you, Jay?” inquired Rowan as he sat back with a tall glass of iced tea.

“I’m only taking two weeks for now. Riley and I will be spending most of it up at the cabin. This weather should be perfect for us to have a badly needed chance to relax and spend time in the mountains enjoying country life. We also hope to do a little fishing in the lake.” Settling back with a cool drink of his own, Jayson asked. “When are you taking some time off? If you have no plans made yet, you are welcomed to join us. You haven’t been to the cabin since you and Darby got together.”

“I know and I’m really beginning to miss the place. I haven’t made a decision about my vacation yet. One reason is Darby just found a summer job and for another, I want to have some free time if my mother comes out to visit next month. Also, having recently changed positions in the company, I’m not altogether sure what openings are still available.”

“Well, there’s no rush,” Jayson assured him.

“How far did the boys have to go to get ice? It is after ten o’clock and they have been gone for over an hour,” Rowan wondered aloud several minutes later.

“It should only have taken them thirty minutes at the most to walk there and back,” replied Jayson as he walked towards the back door. “I’ll call Riley’s cell phone.”

A few moments later, Jayson returned looking rather annoyed. “Riley didn’t take his phone. Now we’re just going to have to wait until they get back here in their own good time.”

“I hope they’re not getting into any trouble.” Rowan was beginning to feel concerned.

“Well, I don’t know about Darby, but Riley and those two friends of his often manage to find trouble without actually looking for it.”

“Yes, I seem to remember a few incidences in the past,” Rowan laughed. “Come on, I’ll help you straighten up here while we wait,” he offered and started to gather up dirty glasses.

************

As luck would have it, the police arrived in the park just as Darby and Riley were being pushed down a hill. The carts picked up enough momentum to continue traveling on their own, ending up in the lake, overturning and throwing their human cargo into the water. Darby and Riley sat there laughing hysterically.

“Having fun, boys?” someone bellowed.

Darby and Riley looked up to see two police officers standing by the side of the lake. Each officer had one of the other boys firmly by the arm.

“Get out of there right now! Bring the grocery carts with you!”

Two more officers arrived on the scene and in no time at all the four boys found themselves at the police station.

Meanwhile, Jayson and Rowan had finished the last of the party cleanup and heard the phone ringing as they walked into the kitchen. Rowan leaned against the counter while Jayson answered. Both men hoped it was one of their partners, preferably with good news but judging by the look on his friend’s face, Rowan knew it wasn’t going to be something he wanted to hear.

“Thank-you! We will be right there.” Jayson put down the phone and looked at Rowan. “Well, my friend, you are not going to believe this. Both our Brats and the other two boys are presently sitting at the police station waiting for us to come and bail them out.”

“What have they been up to?”

“I’m not exactly sure, but it apparently involved a couple of grocery carts and the lake.”

Once at the police station, Rowan and Jayson were quickly informed of their partners’ activities over the last ninety minutes. They were then introduced to the irate owner of the grocery carts.

“I’ll not press charges if my carts are replaced,” Mr. Jackson said. “And I get your guarantee that I will never see any of those young hoodlums near my store again.”

Rowan and Jayson not only met Mr. Jackson’s demands; they also took care of the fines handed out for disturbing the peace. Of course, they fully intended to recover the costs one way or another from the four miscreants involved.

While the older men were clearing the way for the younger men’s release, the mischief-makers were huddled together in a small interrogation room. They were definitely not enjoying themselves. Although Pete and Freddie worked hard at keeping up the façade of it all being a joke, in reality they were just as frightened as Darby and Riley.

“What do you think is going to happen now?” Freddie asked of no one in particular.

“Probably charge us with the theft of the grocery carts, causing a disturbance and behaving negligently or something,” Pete replied.

“Or maybe drunk driving,” Freddie jested.

“No way!” Pete exclaimed. “The grocery carts aren’t licensed.”

Darby and Riley were not taking part in the conversation. They were to busy worrying about how their partners were going to react to this evening's fiasco.

A short time later, four nervous and rather guilt-ridden young men were put into Rowan and Jayson’s custody. Two of the boys were very wet, still a little shaken and close to tears. The other two boys tried to pretend it was just a lark and not at all serious, but didn’t quite manage to pull it off. The older men didn't say a word as they embraced each of their respective Brats before grabbing them by the arm and hauling them off to Jayson’s SUV. They were followed by the two remaining partners-in-crime.

Jayson dropped Pete and Freddie off at their apartment building and upon arriving home, he immediately sent Riley in to clean up and change into dry clothes.

“Not the best way for the evening to end,” Jayson said to Rowan. “You better get your Brat home and taken care of. I’ll touch base with you tomorrow.”

“Good idea and thanks for everything. Talk to you later. ‘Night.” With that, Rowan bundled Darby into his car and drove off.

Upon entering their home, Darby stood in the hallway with his head down and waited nervously for Rowan to lock up for the night.

“Upstairs and have a shower; right now, young man.” Although Rowan had hugged the younger man earlier to reassure him, these were the first words he had spoken to Darby since picking him up at the police station.

Darby quickly ran up the stairs, only too happy to be out of his partner’s sight for a few minutes. He couldn’t believe how fast the evening had gone downhill and he knew it would likely get a lot worse before it was over. Finished with his shower, Darby entered the master bedroom wearing a towel around his waist and a look of apprehension on his young face.

Rowan merely pointed a finger towards the other side of the room and firmly spoke one word, “Corner!”

Standing quietly with his head against the wall, Darby thought over the events of the evening. The more he dwelt on it, the worse he felt. ‘Rowan must have been worried not knowing where I was, and getting a call from the police must have really thrown him. He’s going to think I’m more trouble than I’m worth.’ Darby wiped tears from his eyes and listened to Rowan’s movements behind him. He heard the sounds of his partner showering; then gathering up wet clothing and straightening up the bathroom. He heard him turning down the quilt and taking a seat on the end of their bed.

Rowan sat and watched his young lover struggling with his thoughts and gathering his own, realized he had to get on with the next part of the evening before Darby became too overwhelmed. He wished things had happened differently and it had not become necessary to impress upon Darby that his behaviour tonight was totally unacceptable.

“Darby, come here please,” Rowan spoke softly to avoid startling the other man.

Turning and keeping his head down, Darby took his time walking over to stand beside Rowan.

“Look up at me, Darby. I want you to tell me what happened earlier tonight.”

“We just went to buy more ice,” Darby said in a small voice.

“But what happened after you got the ice?” Rowan asked.

“Pete and Freddie found and borrowed a couple of grocery carts.”

“Didn’t you realize that was stealing?”

“Nooo? We were going to return them.”

“Where did the beer come from?”

“Pete and Freddie had taken it from the party.”

Rowan nodded. Although he pretty much knew the rest of the story, he wanted to hear Darby's take on things. “Go on. What happened next?”

“We drank the beer, only two bottles each! Then we started racing with the carts; first Riley and me against each other, followed by Pete and Freddie. We kept taking turns.”

“Did it ever occur to you it was dangerous and someone could get badly injured?” Rowan patiently inquired.

Shaking his head, Darby wailed, “Nooo! I don’t want to talk about it. Can’t we just move on now?”

“Not yet. How did you end up in the lake?”

“The hill was steep and we were going too fast to stop. We just wanted to have some fun.”

“Fun which involved disturbing and probably in some cases, badly frightening a number of people. Fun that also involved destroying someone else’s property. All of which is illegal,” Rowan stated sternly.

Darby looked down once again and nervously shuffled from one foot to another.

“You, young man,” Rowan continued, “are going to repay your share of the cost of the carts as well as the fine you incurred. You are very fortunate the charges were dropped. You are also grounded for the next two weeks. No activities away from the house, no visitors and no phone calls. I’ll take you to and from work every day. You will be in bed by nine o’clock every night including weekends. Do you have anything further to add to this part of our discussion?”

Looking at the floor, Darby just shook his head.

“Look at me, Darby, and answer the question properly.”

Lifting his head to look into Rowan’s face, Darby answered in a small voice close to tears, “No, sir.”

With nothing else to be said, Rowan reached for Darby’s hand and pulled the young man over his knees. Darby whimpered as he felt the removal of the towel he still had around his waist.

“Do you know why you’re going to be spanked, young man?” Rowan questioned without a hint of anger in his voice.

“Because I broke our rules. I did something dangerous and against the law,” Darby answered tearfully.

Drawing his partner closer to his own body, Rowan briefly rubbed his hand over Darby’s back before raising it and bringing it down hard on the bare bottom draped over his thighs. Darby cried out and tried to wiggle away but Rowan only held him tighter as he continued to spank him over and over again, getting into a rhythm and turning Darby’s rear end from a pale pink to a bright red. Listening to the younger man’s cries, Rowan recognized Darby’s acceptance of what he had done wrong and with half a dozen final swats to the center of Darby’s backside, ended the spanking.

Lifting up his sobbing partner, Rowan moved up to lean against the headboard of the bed and gathered his young lover onto his lap. Wrapping his arms around Darby, Rowan gently rubbed the young man’s back and helped him gradually get himself under control. Rowan lifted Darby’s face and using tissues from the box on the night table, cleaned away the remaining tears.

“Okay! It’s all over, baby.”

“I’m so s-sorry. I’ll n-never do that again.” Darby continued to sniffle as he tentatively rubbed a hand over his very sore bottom.

“I know you’re sorry, little one. Shhh. We’ve taken care of it.” Rowan kept up the soothing sounds while gently rubbing circles on Darby’s back.

Moving off his partner’s lap, Darby waited for the older man to lie down and then snuggled as close as he could against Rowan’s side. “I really am sorry. I’ll try to do better,” Darby whispered. “I love you, Rowan.”

“I know you do, sweetheart. And I love you very, very much.” Kissing his partner, Rowan continued the caressing massage. “It’s late, so let’s try to get some sleep.”

A few more minutes passed before Darby spoke in a muffled voice. “I guess I’m going to have to tell Shelley I’m grounded but I hope no one finds out I get spanked.”

Rowan smiled and kissed the auburn curls beneath his chin. “You can rest assured you are not the only one going to bed tonight with a sore bottom, little one.”

Raising his head to look at his partner, Darby asked, “What do you mean by that?”

“I know for a fact Riley will also be sleeping on his stomach tonight.” At Darby’s look of surprise, Rowan went on to explain, “I guess you haven’t figured out Jayson’s and Riley’s relationship is very much the same as ours.”

It took a little time for Darby to grasp the full meaning of that revelation. “I like Riley and I really had a lot of fun tonight. Well, that’s until the police showed up and busted us. You were right when you said we would become good friends.”

Noticing a look of uncertainty on his Brat’s face, Rowan gently asked, “What is still bothering you, sweetheart?”

Taking a deep breath, Darby hesitantly said, “I don’t think I like Jayson much.”

“Oh! Why not?”

“I heard him call me a brat when we were leaving to come home. He doesn’t even know me so why would he say something that mean?”

Rowan started to laugh. “Darby, you are a ‘Brat’. You are my ‘Brat’, and before you get anymore upset you should know it’s not meant to be derogatory. You could think of it as a…..hmmm, well….as a term of endearment.”

“Is that what you think it is?” Darby questioned dubiously.

“Most definitely!” Rowan assured the younger man. “Jayson also meant it as such and you will come to realize that when you have spent more time with him and have gotten to know him better. And yes, before you ask, Riley is Jayson’s ‘Brat’.”

Rowan heard a sighed ‘ooh!’ as he waited for this last bit of information to sink in. He pulled the blankets over them and gently kissed the young man in his arms. “Close your eyes, Sweets. It’s been a long day and we need to get some sleep.”

Darby yawned and cuddled in closer.

Rowan fell asleep with a smile on his face. The last thing he heard was a small giggle and a softly whispered….

“Man, now wasn’t that a party!”

The End