(Picture to the right is Liam)

Chapter 2

Finn

"This is it," Benji announced as he pulled his bright red Landrover LR4 into the parking lot of the Boy's Club.  He and Ajax had apparently squabbled over car choices when Benji decided to buy his first car; Benji wanted something used and that "normal" people would drive, Ajax insisted on 'new and safe,' he said as he defended himself when we were having dinner last night.  

Ajax had won the argument, even insisting on paying for it, which didn't go over well.  Ajax resorted to pulling out their contract and highlighting the fine print, pointed out that he had moved Benji too far from campus to take transit and closed the deal (as I was told by Benji in private) by teasing him mercilessly and not letting him cum until he agreed.  Ajax did give Benji the choice in colour, which of course he chose something bright and vibrant, just like his personality.  Benji also insisted on something that could hold at least 6 or 7 people so he could take his 'boys' places, of course Ajax didn't mind the size, wanting as much metal surrounding Benji as possible.

We entered the large building and signed in at the office while Benji introduced me around. 

"I texted Liam and he said he would be here today even if his brother and the other two were off working, usually he wouldn't if they weren't with him, but I told him you were coming with me and he promised."

"I thought they worked here?"

"Part time, they also have regular jobs.  Brett is apprenticing at a local mechanics, Aiden works in construction and Jonah got a job at the hospital.  Ajax helped them get the jobs, Jonah actually just finished his first year at U.C.L.A!  He got a scholarship and Ajax and his company has given him grants to pay for books and living expenses.  The four of them are sharing an apartment not too far from yours, kind of central to the school and their jobs.  Ajax won't admit it, but I'm pretty sure he's subsidizing it because the rent is really reasonable for a 4 bedroom place."

"That's great of Ajax."

"Yeah, they're really good kids."

"Kids, Benj, they're my age."

"And you're my itty bitty little brother!" He goofed grabbing my head in his arm and trying to give me a noogie.

"Oh no you don't, I grew up ya know, I can take you down now."  I growled as I stood up, bringing the now 'shorter than me Benji' up on his toes, he released his grip and patted my back.

"Down boy!" he said with a smirk.

"I don't know, they were the first boys I bonded with here at the club and we got pretty close," he continued, "they come out to the house pretty often and I'll just always think of them as my boys, and I'm really proud of them and all they've accomplished, especially with some of the issues they've had to deal with growing up."

"You're really an amazing guy B-bop," I said admiringly, using the nickname I had coined when we were romping around New York together.

We walked outside and suddenly there was a very small teenage boy in front of us.  He had long straight black hair which fell in his eyes, he was clutching a sketch pad and a leather pouch to his chest.  His blue jeans were worn and looked to be a few sizes too big as if handed down from a larger sized sibling as well as a huge UCLA hoodie which hung almost to his knees.

"Hey Liam," Benji called out, "Nice sweatshirt!"

"I borrowed it from Jonah," he said softly, breathing in.  "It smells like him," he added with a content smile.  Liam was about the cutest thing I had seen in a long time.  The type of cute you just want to hug and protect and put on a shelf to look at, often.  Just then he looked at me shyly.

"Hi Liam, I'm Finn."  I held back the urge to step forward and hold out my hand.  I didn't want to spook him and he seemed nervous and tense, like he would bolt at any minute if I did.  His big blue eyes continued to look at me through his long bangs and a small smile appeared on his lips.  I felt my heart melt at this small gesture after hearing so much about him from Benji.  Benji had told me how shy he was and I felt like that smile was a great gift.

"I brought my sketchbook with me Liam, I was wondering if I could show it to you, and if you wanted to show me yours, that would be really cool, but if you didn't, that would be fine too."  His little head nodded and the three of us went over to a table.

I pulled out the sketchbook I had brought, one of many I had, but this one had sketches of Elliott's sculptures and other things from New York and I thought Liam might be interested in seeing them.  I placed it on the table in front of him and opened the cover.  His eyes went wide and scanned over the first drawing furiously.

"Hey guys, Joe just waved me over, I think I need to referee a soccer game."  I watched Liam look up at Benji, concern etched in his features.  "It's okay Liam, Finn's my little brother, he'll stay with you, you don't have to worry."

"Yeah, we can even draw something after if you want," I encouraged. 

"Is that okay?"  Liam nodded and his eyes went back to the drawing, but I could see him peeking at me in his peripheral vision.  Benji ran over to a group of kids and I looked back and started telling Liam about the drawing he was looking at.  He seemed fascinated.  More fascinated than many avid art collectors I had come in contact with in New York.  He hadn't said a word to me directly yet, but it was okay.  His nods and smiles and the look in his eyes was enough.  More than enough. 

When he got to the last drawing his eyes peeked up at me.  I just smiled and rested my head on my hand, my elbow propped up on the picnic table.  After much thought, or so I imagined as I could almost see the wheels of his mind turning.  He pulled his sketchbook out from where it was still tucked against his chest under his arms and carefully placed it on the table in front of me.

"Thank you Liam," I said softly as I turned the cover over.  I was immediately amazed. It was a picture of three boys, I figured it was his brother and two friends.  Now my eyes went wide.  "Wow," I whispered as I gazed at the sketch.  His technique, the shading, everything about it was amazing.  The expressions on the boys' faces were so detailed that their energy hopped right off the page.  After taking my time admiring the first sketch I turned the page, each drawing I came to as I went through his book was breathtaking.  I truly believed, with his lack of training, his raw talent well exceeded my own when I was his age.  It was almost emotional looking through them.  I felt my eyes water at the passion of each stroke and his ability to capture each moment with such eloquence.

"Liam, these are so amazing," I breathed out in awe when I was only half way through the book.  I turned my head and his little face was bright red, his lips turned up in a smile that looked like he was fighting down.  "I really mean it, you are really talented.  They are way better than mine when I was your age."

"Leelee?"  I heard a deep voice behind us and Liam's head immediately popped up as he turned around.  His face lit up, but it was a different smile than I'd seen so far.  A kind of familiar smile I remembered from a long ago…happiness, excitement, love, longing…

"Who are you?" the boy asked almost gruffly.  I turned around, my thoughts interrupted.

"I'm Finn," I offered, standing up off the bench.  I looked at the boy.  He was about an inch shorter than me, but much broader compared to my more slim, lithe build.  Yeah, I was a lean, fast cheetah and he was more muscular and a little fierce, like a Siberian tiger…or a black panther with his dark hair.  Oh my god, I'm turning into Benji!  "I'm Benji's brother from another mother," I added trying to add a little humour to the moment.  He looked me up and down accusingly.  "Liam was just showing me his sketchbook," his face turned into a frown, more like a grimace, "umm…after I showed him mine.  I'm an artist too…"

The boy turned to Liam, I figured he was one of the other boys, Brett, Jonah, Aiden?  "You hardly ever show anyone your sketches?"  He sounded almost hurt and I watched as Liam's face fell and he looked down at his feet.  After a few minutes of silence, the bigger boy finally spoke again.  "It's okay Leelee," obviously feeling bad about the sadness he caused in the small boy, "hey, I brought you some lunch.  You probably didn't have anything to eat before you left the apartment did you?"

Liam shook his head no.  Just then Benji came running over.  "Jonah, did you meet my little brother, Finn?  He's the one I told you about, just moved back from New York, he transferred to UCLA so you two will see each other on campus maybe."

"Uh, sorta, yeah, not really, not yet," he stammered.

"It's nice to meet you," I tried again as I reached my hand out.

"I'm Jonah," he offered back, a touch more friendly now.  He turned to Benji, "I brought some lunch for Liam."

"Great.  I have to get back to this game, you guys just chill, get to know each other."  Benji ran back to the group of smaller boys.  Jonah led Liam back to the table a ways away from where he had been sitting and sat him down right next to him before unpacking a small paper bag with a sandwich and a small carton of chocolate milk.  I sat back in my same spot and continued looking through the sketch book, giving the boys some space to themselves.  I could hear Jonah speaking quietly to the younger boy, while the little one looked up at him nodding and smiling.  Jonah handed the unwrapped sandwich to him and he began eating it in small bites, almost like a little bunny.

I noticed some drawings had small poems or just a few words written alongside them.  He seemed to be pretty talented in more than just art!  It was when I was three quarters of the way through that I came upon a drawing that stopped me in my tracks.  It was stunningly drawn, deeply intimate and striking in the most passionate way.  Two boys sleeping in a bed, the larger boy holding the smaller one to his chest, wrapping him protectively in his arms.  The small boy resting his head right over the other boy's heart, head to the side so that his ear was right over the beating organ; a sublime look of relaxation and love on his face.

I realized it was the first self-portrait I had seen of Liam so far, and it was obvious the larger boy was Jonah.  Alongside the drawing was a poem, much longer than the others:

----------------------------------

Safe Arms

Tight hold, warm touch

Your heart keeps a beat beneath my ear

Always snug, like a bug in a rug :)

Cherished, protected

Sheltered from the storm

Never scared

In your safe arms

Cuddled, coddled, my thoughts muddled

Enfolded in your embrace

Emboldened by your fortitude

Addicted to your devotion

Unsure of my own emotion

Always safe in your arms

Don't define the sentiment

Don't analyze the tenderness

Our solidarity we hold true

Brotherly love held by four

Nothing can break our bond

A pact of ceaseless loyalty

Always warm in your safe arms

-----------------------------

After I read it I quickly turned the page almost feeling like I was intruding on a deeply personal moment.  I looked up and luckily the boys had not noticed.  Somewhere in that small boy was a secret maturity, one that you wouldn't suspect looking at him now.  Jonah was still talking to Liam, who was listening entranced and letting out the occasional giggle.  I smiled at the sweet scene, feeling lucky at the opportunity to see such a beautiful moment.  I'm sure at some point in the near future I would attempt to capture this very scene in my own sketch.  Even if only to save for myself when I needed to see something pure, simple and joyous.

When Benji and I returned home that evening, Ajax was sitting at the kitchen island drinking a beer and talking on his cellphone, I was the first one in while Benji stopped at the table by the front door to look at the mail.

"They're all set and just need your signature to finalize the sale, when you're in town next you can come by the office.  It's okay, no, it will be fine, just come by the office.  Yeah, Rob's not in any hurry and it won't affect the running of the club."

Benji came bopping in behind me, causing Ajax to look up.

"Hi Boys," he said with a smile.

"Hey Babe…Sir Babe, Babalicious," Benji replied bouncing in front of the fridge while he decided what drink to pull out.  I looked at Ajax who just observed him with a slight grin.

"Hiya," I said lifting my hand in a small wave.

"I'll call you back later, the boys just got home," Ajax said into his phone before clicking it off.

"Who was that?" Benji asked.

"Ahh…just my PA, talking about some contracts and other documents that need to be signed."

"She's out of town?"

"Mhm…yeah, just a little holiday," he mumbled as he got up and started pulling things out of the fridge.  "What do you guys want for dinner?" he asked, changing the subject.