Lunch was great. Anton and Evan talked almost nonstop through the meal, and there was hardly any awkwardness at all about Evan’s chair. Anton helped Evan get his food without having to be asked, but he didn’t act like Evan was a baby who needed everything done for him. It was just one buddy helping another.
At the end of the meal, Anton mentioned a party he was throwing in his room that weekend. Anton was a sophomore, so he had lots of friends and promised to introduce Evan around to people. The idea of it terrified Evan, but also excited him. Evan promised he’d think about coming to Anton’s party.
Evan’s dorm room was empty when he got back. He wheeled over to his desk and picked up some books, which he brought over to the couch. When Evan was studying, he didn’t like to be thinking about his wheelchair, so he often transferred to a regular chair to work, when possible. The dorm room had a couch, which was perfect.
Evan pulled up alongside the couch. He gripped one arm of the couch and one arm of the wheelchair for support. His chair was pretty sturdy, but that still didn’t preclude the possibility of slipping. A few times Evan he missed his target when transferring from chair to bed and it had not been fun to wind up on the floor. His abdominal muscles were weak but usable, so that helped in transferring also. Evan thought he was pretty good at it.
Taking a deep breath, Evan hoisted his body off the chair, onto the couch. His hips found their goal and he quickly moved his other arm to the couch. His legs were twisted from the effort, and Evan took a minute to straighten them out. His legs looked relatively normal hidden under heavy sweatpants (which was all he usually wore), but when he touched them, he could feel how thin they had become. Four years earlier, he had watched the muscle tone fading away from his thighs and calves.
Now that he was comfortable on the couch, Evan folded his chair and hid it behind the arm of the couch. Sitting on the couch reading, Evan could have been any other college student. That was what he wanted: to feel normal again.
Evan had barely started reading his book when Jonah walked in, which a cute brunette following close behind. The brunette’s eyes were darting around and she looked like she wanted to be anywhere but in that room. Until her eyes settled on Evan. She stared at him, her lips slightly parted, and a slow smile spread on her face.
“Evan,” Jonah said. “This is Allie. She’s in my psychology class.”
“Hi, Allie,” Evan said.
“Hi, Evan,” Allie replied. Her face flushed slightly. “Oh, you’re…uh, you’re Jonah’s roommate, huh?”
“That’s right,” Evan confirmed.
“Cool,” Allie said. She bit her lip, searching for something else to say. “Jonah was going to show me the psychology textbook. I haven’t gotten around to buying it yet.”
“I heard that’s a great class,” Evan commented.
“Oh, it is,” Allie told him. “The lecturer is great. You could still take it, if you want…”
Evan frowned slightly. He could tell that Allie was hitting on him, and it confused him. No girl had hit on him in four years. Why would a girl hit on a guy in a wheelchair?
Then it hit him. His wheelchair was folded and behind the couch. Allie must not have even noticed he had it.
“They play music in the beginning of class,” Allie was saying. “Good music. Like today they were playing the new Aerosmith CD.”
“Is that good?” Evan asked.
“It’s excellent,” Allie assured him.
“I never got around to buying it,” Evan told her.
“I could bring it over for you, if you want…” Allie offered.
Jonah came in at that moment, carrying the psychology textbook. “Here it is, Allie,” he said. “You can return it to me in class tomorrow.”
“Uh huh,” Allie said, never taking her eyes off Evan’s face.
Jonah looked at her with all the suggestiveness he could muster. “Or you can come by and return it…”
“Maybe I’ll do that,” Allie said, smiling to herself.
Jonah’s face lit up. He winked at Evan, apparently not thinking his roommate much of a threat. Evan felt his face burn as Allie left.
“I take it you enjoyed your visit with Jonah,” commented Reesa, Allie’s roommate. “Your face is glowing or something.”
Allie sighed. “I just met the greatest guy ever.”
“Jonah?” Reesa asked incredulously.
“Not Jonah,” Allie laughed. “His roommate: Evan.”
“I don’t think I know him,” Reesa said thoughtfully.
“He’s great,” Allie murmured. “He’s funny, and sweet, and interesting…and so cute.”
“Guys like that don’t exist,” Reesa said flatly. “You must be deluding yourself.”
“No,” Allie insisted. She grabbed the freshman face-book from the bookcase and flipped through it. “Here he is. Evan Chambers. Take a look.”
Reesa accepted the book and studied Evan’s picture. “Wow. He’s pretty fine.”
“See?” Allie said. “And he seemed to like me too, I think.”
“You should be careful,” Reesa admonished her. “Guys who look like that are generally pretty shallow.”
Allie lowered her eyes, “I know I’m not that pretty. But I really felt something with Evan. I know I wasn’t imagining it.”
“I’m just saying to be careful,” Reesa said. “That’s all. You can never tell when you’re just another conquest.”
“Evan’s not like that,” Allie told her. “He’s really sweet.”
“What about Jonah?”
Allie bit her lip, “What about him?”
“Please,” Reesa sighed. “The poor boy is obviously crazy about you. I mean, you can’t start dating his roommate. That’s just wrong.”
“I know,” Allie said quietly. “But it’s not like Jonah and I ever went out. I just met him. I think that if there’s something between me and Evan, I deserve a chance to follow up on it.”
Evan was working on his laptop on the couch when he heard the knock on the door. Once again, his wheelchair was out of sight. “Come in!” he yelled.
The door opened and Allie was standing in the doorway, holding a book. Her face lit up when she saw him. “Hi, Evan,” she said. “I brought the CD I was telling you about.”
“Great,” he said, grinning back at her. “I’m finishing up some stuff on the computer, but you can pop it in the stereo.”
Allie walked over to the stereo and fiddled with the controls. “Is…uh, is Jonah around?”
“No, he went out.”
“Oh,” she said, and Evan noticed a tiny smile touch her lips.
The music started playing. It was loud music, but surprisingly catchy. Evan watched Allie’s shoulders sway with the beat and his heart ached. She still didn’t know. It was only a matter of time before she found out and then the flirtation would be over. He could never have Allie.
“What are you working on?” she asked, taking a seat next to him on the couch. A little too close.
“A paper for my Tolstoy class,” Evan told her.
She moved closer to him to see what he was writing. He could feel her breath on his neck. “I’m not a big fan of Tolstoy.”
“I thought I was,” Evan sighed. “Then I started taking this class.”
“You’re pretty smart, huh?” Allie asked, in a serious voice.
Evan laughed. “You don’t even know me.”
“I’d like to get to know you better,” she said seductively.
“Oh, really?” Evan said. He lifted his head and his eyes met hers, and he had to swallow. No girl had hit on him like this since before the accident. Maybe ever.
“Really,” Allie confirmed. She smiled. “So are you busy this Friday night?”
Before Evan could answer, they heard the sound of fumbling with the lock. Allie moved away quickly. “It’s open,” Evan called.
The door flung open and Jonah stumbled into the room. “Hey,” he said absentmindedly. Then he spotted Allie and his face lit up: “Allie! What are you doing here?”
Allie’s face flushed. “I…uh…” She jumped up and retrieved the textbook from on top of the stereo. “I brought you your textbook back.”
“Oh, wow,” Jonah said. He took it from her. “Wow, thanks a lot. Really, thanks. You didn’t have to wait for me or anything.”
“No, it’s okay,” Allie said quickly. “I…I wanted to wait. Evan kept me company.”
Jonah flashed Evan a grateful smile and Evan felt his face burn. He was such a piece of shit. How could he do this to his only friend here?
“Hey, listen,” Jonah said. “Evan and I were going to hand in our Plan of Study sheets now, since they’re due today. Uh…do you want to come along?”
Allie stood up, “I really shouldn’t. I…I should be getting back to my room.”
“Have you handed yours in yet?” he wanted to know.
“No, but…”
“Come on,” Jonah urged. “You could keep us company. Evan would like to have you along, right?”
Jonah gave Evan a look, and Evan spoke through his teeth: “Yeah, Allie. You should come.”
Allie giggled. “Well, I guess I can’t argue with this. Okay, sure. I’ll come.”
“Great!” Jonah exclaimed. He turned to Evan, “Okay, let’s go.”
Evan felt his heart pounding against his chest. He had known Allie would find out about him sooner or later, but he had wanted it to be later, much later. Not today.
“Uh, do you need help?” Jonah asked him.
“No, I can manage,” Evan said quickly.
Keeping his eyes pinned on Allie’s beaming face, Evan pulled his wheelchair out from behind the couch. He put it into position in front of him and carefully eased his body inside. He quickly strapped himself in, then adjusted his lifeless legs into position. By the time he was done, Allie’s face had turned chalk-white.
“Okay, I’m ready,” Evan said in a low voice.
“Great,” Jonah said. He turned back to Allie, then frowned in concern when he saw the expression on her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I…” Allie was staring ahead blankly. “I just remembered…I was supposed to meet my roommate.”
“Well…bring her along,” Jonah offered.
“No, I…” Allie blinked a few times. “I’m sorry. I’m late. I have to go.”
With that, she ran out of the room.
Jonah scratched his head and looked at Evan. “That was strange.”
Evan bit his lip. “Yeah…”
“She must hate me,” Jonah decided, his shoulders sagging. “I said something wrong. I was too pushy, wasn’t I?”
“No, you weren’t,” Evan assured him. “Don’t worry about it. Really.”
Jonah ran a hand through his hair nervously, “She’s really pretty, isn’t she? And she’s so nice.”
“Um, yeah.”
“Do you think…?” Jonah trailed off. “Evan, do you think there’s any chance Allie would go out with me?”
“I don’t know, Jonah,” Evan said.
“If I had Allie,” Jonah said, “that would make life worth living. You know?”
Evan saw the scars on his roommate’s wrist and sighed, “Yeah, I know.”
It was ten o’clock on Saturday night. Evan had already brushed his teeth and was starting toward his bedroom to change for bed. He didn’t feel tired, but he also didn’t feel like studying. And he certainly didn’t want to go out. He was at his bedroom door, when he heard the knock on the front door.
Evan sighed and turned his wheelchair around. He opened the front door and saw Anton standing before him.
“Ready for the party?” Anton asked.
Evan stared at him. “What?”
“My party,” Anton reminded him. “I thought you might forget, so I came to get you.”
Evan shook his head. “Listen, Anton, thanks for the invitation, but I’m really beat and—”
“Did I tell you I don’t take no for an answer?” Anton said with a grin.
Anton seemed so friendly that Evan had trouble saying no. Then again, he wasn’t really in the mood for a party. Allie was still on his mind. Besides, a party would be a room full of people he had never met. Evan looked down at his legs and decided he didn’t want to face that. “I don’t know…”
“I don’t take ‘I don’t know’ for an answer either,” Anton said. “Come on.”
Evan looked down at his legs once again. For a moment, he considered bringing a blanket with him. The reasons for a blanket were twofold: a blanket would protect his legs from low temperatures, since the circulation in his legs was pretty bad; also, it would hide the abnormal thinness of his lower limbs. Evan rarely bothered with a blanket, but tonight he considered it. Then again, his legs didn’t look too bad. He didn’t want people to think he had something to hide.
“Well?” Anton pressed. “What are you waiting for?”
Evan sighed and followed Anton out the door.
Anton couldn’t get Evan Chambers out of his head since their first meeting. First of all, Evan was the best looking guy that Anton had ever seen, no contest. Second, there was something strangely alluring about those motionless legs. More than anything, Anton wanted to see what they looked like underneath Evan’s gray sweatpants.
Anton suspected that Evan wasn’t a homosexual, but thought he might be open to experimentation. A party would be a good time to suggest some “new experiences.”
Matt wouldn’t like it. Matt and Anton had been something of an item during their freshman year, but Anton thought that Matt was too needy and had broken it off. Anton missed Matt’s deep throat and nice ass, but he never regretted ending the relationship. And having met Evan, Anton was doubly glad he had done it.
But Matt and Anton were still good friends. They lived near each other and talked constantly. Anton didn’t tell Matt about Evan, but he didn’t have to. Matt could tell that Anton had someone special on his mind. And Matt wasn’t happy about it. Unlike Anton, Matt hadn’t yet gotten over the break-up.
The party was going strong with Evan and Anton arrived. Evan saw all the beautiful girls in skimpy clothing and muscular guys, and he immediately wished he had brought his blanket. He looked down at the floor, trying not to draw attention to himself.
“Let’s go over there and get a few beers,” Anton suggested, pointing to a couch.
Evan made his way through the crowd as Anton went to fetch the beers. A blonde girl’s face flushed when she got in his way, and two people nearly tripped over his chair. By the time Evan reached the couch, he wished he had just left.
“I got vodka instead!” Anton yelled to Evan over the music. He was holding a bottle of vodka in one hand and two shot glasses in his other hand. He settled down onto the couch. “I hope that’s okay!”
Evan looked at the alcohol doubtfully. “Uh…I’ve never had vodka before.”
“Oh, you’ll love it,” Anton assured him, pouring shots into the two glasses. He handed one to Evan. “Bottoms up.”
Evan did the shot in one gulp. The vodka burned his throat, and a pleasant warm sensation ran through his body. “Whoa,” he commented.
“Nice, huh?”
Evan nodded. He looked down and saw that Anton’s hand was on his knee. He didn’t know quite what to make of it.
“Can you feel that?” Anton asked him.
“No,” Evan answered.
Anton slid his hand a little further up Evan’s leg. “How about that?”
Evan was about to answer, but then his attention fell on his crotch. He could see a hard bulge straining at the seam of his sweatpants. He had an erection. He hadn’t had an erection in four years. Even though he couldn’t feel it, the mere sight of it brought tears to his eyes.
“Let’s do another shot,” Evan suggested.
“Good idea,” Anton said with a grin.
Anton poured another two shots into glasses. He counted to three and they downed the shots quickly. Evan coughed and wrung his hands together. “Whoa,” he said again.
Evan looked down and saw Anton’s hand sliding further up his leg. He looked up at Anton’s and took a moment to study his features. Anton had a nice face and a slim but muscular chest. His biceps that were hard and taut, and Evan found himself wishing he could touch them. Evan looked down and he could see that Anton’s dick was hard, even though his thick jeans. Evan stared at the bulge of Anton’s penis until it began to shift in his field of vision. He leaned over the side of his chair and threw up onto the floor.
Anton thought things were going great when Evan threw up. He hadn’t realized Evan was such a lightweight. A minute later, he was half-conscious, muttering apologies to Anton. Matt, who had been watching the whole thing from a far corner of the room, came over to help out. The two of them rolled Evan into Anton’s bedroom and laid him down on Anton’s bed, stomach down.
Anton lay down next to Evan on the bed and stared at his beautiful face. God, it would be nice to fuck him.
Matt grabbed Anton’s shoulder, “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?”
Anton shrugged off Matt’s hand, and traced his fingers down Evan’s cheek. “God, he makes me horny.”
“You know, you can’t do this,” Matt hissed.
“Why not?” Anton asked, rolling over.
Matt’s hands balled into fists. “Do I even have to tell you?”
Anton sat up and frowned. “Yeah. Go ahead and tell me.”
“First,” Matt began, “he’s passed out drunk. It’s not cool to go and rape him.”
“I’ll get his permission first…” Anton protested.
“Second,” he continued, “he’s in a fucking wheelchair, in case you hadn’t noticed. He’s fucking paralyzed.”
“What are you…prejudiced?”
“Third,” Matt went on, “I don’t think he’s gay.”
“How do you know?” Anton demanded. “You didn’t even officially meet him.”
“Oh, come on.”
Anton scratched his head, “Hell, he’s never been with me yet. How can he make an informed judgment?”
Matt stuck his face close to Anton’s. “What you do may be impressive, but keep in mind that this guy can’t feel his dick.”
“Fuck you,” Anton said. “I’ll make him feel it.”
“Anton…” Evan muttered in a slurred voice.
“Hey, buddy,” Matt said. “How are you doing? Gonna throw up again?” Matt raised an eyebrow nervously.
“Naw,” Evan replied.
“Hey, Evan,” Anton whispered close to his ear. “Remember me…Anton?”
Evan gave a barely perceptible nod.
“Hey, Evan,” Anton said again.
Evan groaned in acknowledgment.
Anton winked up at Matt. “Evan, would you let me fuck you?
Matt’s eyes widened and he grabbed Anton by the collar. “Don’t even think about it. I swear to you I’ll kick your ass if you take advantage of this kid.”
“Are you jealous?” Anton teased.
“Go to hell,” Matt said. “Just leave him alone, okay? Let’s get out of here.”
“Just one minute,” Anton said, holding up a finger. He stared at Evan’s peaceful face. God, Evan was good-looking. He was a nice guy too. Unable to resist, Anton pressed his lips against Evan’s and stuck his tongue in his mouth. He wasn’t sure if Evan was passed out or not, but then he felt Evan’s tongue move against his. Not trying to push him out, but pulling him in. Christ, I want you, Evan.
Anton barely heard the door slam as Matt walked out. Anton knew Matt was still bitter about their break-up, no matter what he claimed. They both knew it was the best thing to do, but often Anton suspected Matt was still in love with him. Matt hadn’t seen anyone else regularly since the break-up.
Anton quickly forgot about Matt as Evan’s hands slid over his chest and his mostly shaven head. Anton responded by sticking his hand under Evan’s shirt, and touching his nipples gently. Their breaths came quicker, and their mouths separated for air. “I want to fuck you,” Anton said. “Let me fuck you.”
Evan blinked his blue eyes. He touched Anton’s cheek gently and his cock was so hard, it hurt. Anton grabbed a handful of Evan’s short hair and pulled his lips closer. “What do you say, Evan?”
“My…it doesn’t work,” he stammered.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Anton whispered.
Anton pressed his lips against Evan’s and slid his hand between them to unbutton his pants. As Anton pulled down the zipper, Evan stopped him with his hand, “No, you don’t understand.”
Anton sat up. “Trust me, okay?”
Evan shook his head.
Anton placed his finger on Evan’s lips to silence him. Evan had partially rolled over, and Anton pulled him onto his stomach. He saw the look of fear on Evan’s face, and felt somewhat disconcerted. He pulled down Evan’s pants and his underwear, and had to suppress a gasp. He had never seen a catheterized penis before and the sight of it made him wince. But he wasn’t about to let on to Evan.
“No big deal,” Anton said gently. “I don’t need it anyway.”
He lifted Evan’s shirt over his head. Evan’s upper body was in good shape from working his chair, and it was still smooth and hairless. Anton ran his hand over Evan’s back while undoing his own pants. His cock was about eight inches long and slightly curved. He pulled Evan’s pants the rest of the way off and stared at Evan’s thin legs. He touched the skin and shivered with delight. He ran his hands over Evan’s legs until he couldn’t take it anymore, then he pushed himself between Evan’s ass cheeks.
Evan gasped. Anton couldn’t tell if it was a gasp of pain or pleasure, and that bothered him. “What is it?” Anton asked.
“I…I felt that,” Evan said. “It feels…good. It feels really good. It feels…” Evan stopped talking and cried out in pleasure. Anton tried to hold Evan’s legs as he pumped back and forth, and he when he came, it was like nothing he had ever experienced. He clutched Evan’s thin legs, trying not to black out.