"Help!" Came a frightened voice from above me.

Looking up into the darkness where the voice had come from I spotted a young blond boy, his slight frame hanging precariously from a tree limb with one hand, the other clutching a squirming black kitten that was clawing his hand fiercely.

"Damn," I murmured, running over to where the boy hung. "Let go."

"You’ve got to be kidding?!" The boy squeaked.

"What else? Like I can climb fast enough to reach you before you let go. Besides, that limb won’t hold us both, so let go I’ll catch you," I urged despite my own mind arguing about the brilliance of the plan.

"Ok, take the kitten first."

"Are you serious?!"

Suddenly the sound of wood breaking echoed through the night as I watched the pretty male face go blank in shock. Unable to think I suddenly felt a rough wet tongue swipe across my face as my eyes snapped open to see a large fat black cat pinning me to my bed .

"Urg, Prince get off," I growled in disgust.

Prince meowed in protest, flexing his sharp claw which I avoided by pick the big ball of fluff up by the scruff of the neck and gently tossing him into the center of my bed. I looked over at my clock and groaned, it was already ten and I had missed my first lecture. Damn, it had been a while since I thought of Kyle, too long. He was my best friend and yet since I had enrolled in college I had hardly seen him. Kyle was the one that should have gone to college with his perfect GPA and love of learning. Yet he had instead refused his scholarship, despite the fact I pleaded with him to enroll with me. He had given me no reason other than he couldn’t bear to be around so many people anymore.

Kyle was just too shy and quiet, he needed to stand up for himself more. He had plenty of courage when it came to helping others but when it was himself he just retreated, letting others use him like a doormat. He had it rough the first couple of years of highschool but when he had literally fallen into my hands he had found a protector. Despite the odds I had found a kindred spirit in the quiet, shy boy who had the same tastes as me and often seemed to thinking the same things. The only thing that was truly different between the two of us were our looks and temperaments.

The last two years of highschool I had stood up for Kyle and the bullying had stopped, after all, nobody was willing to pick on the captain of the basketball team or anyone he considered a friend. Kyle had become the moral compass and restraint keeping me out of more trouble than I care to think about. Helping me realize the right path to choose. I in turn had tried to help him become stronger and more outspoken and helped to show him the enjoyment that could be found in life. I wish it had been enough for Kyle to at least try college with me. He was far more intelligent than me and I had thought that he’d be willing, after all he had applied for the scholarship that would pay for his way into the same collage as me. Then just before enrollment he had declined the scholarship.

"Damn," I growled, feeling frustration well upside of me yet again at the thoughts of Kyle.

My own girlfriend had told me Kyle had broken off his relationship with her friend Melissa and since then I hadn’t even heard from him. It had been almost three weeks now and I had yet to get a hold of Kyle to find out what was truly going on. As usual nobody was at his home, his parent constantly away on business, and Kyle was no where to be found. His neighbors had assured me that Kyle was still living there just that he kept odd hours, leaving at night and sleeping during the day, making me wonder what in the world he was doing.

Shaking my head I climbed into the shower, letting the warm water run down my tall lanky frame. Pushing back my long black hair I closed my eyes seeing Kyle’s shy face yet again in my mind. He was my best friend and yet he wasn’t telling me anything. The dream had brought back how much I wanted to see him. Shutting off the water I decided tonight I was going to track him down no matter what.

"Hey Gabriel, want to hang out?" Anna asked cheerfully as I passed.

"Nope, not tonight. I’ve got plans," I said, stopping in front of my curvy blond girlfriend and pulling at a spiraling golden curl teasingly.

"That’s no fun. Just for that I won’t tell you what I learned," Anna pouted her full lips, frowning teasingly at me, daring me to take back my words.

"Oh, come on… I think I could persuade you," I answered, leaning down to kiss her into submission.

"Fine, although I’m not sure that is enough," Anna said breathily as I smirked.

"Come on, give me a small break. I’ll make it up to you," I pleaded, widening my light hazel eyes innocently knowing Anna couldn’t resist them.

"I found out from Melissa that Kyle’s working on a strip club off of 10^th street," Anna whispered quickly, her eyes dancing at the juicy piece of gossip.

"You’re lying," I said flatly standing up.

"Hey, what’s gotten into you? Melissa is the one that should be pissed. He dated her for almost a year and would only kiss her even though she tried repeatedly to get him into bed. Now he’s taking off his clothes for money," Anna scowled up at me her eyes narrowing.

"Whatever," I grated and turned, walking away from her, not even paying attention to her angry reply.

It wasn’t possible. No way. Kyle couldn’t be a stripper; he was too timid, too shy. Speech class was the one class Kyle had failed because he couldn’t stand being in front of people. There was no way a man like that could be a stripper, there was no way his friend could do such a thing. It just wasn’t possible.

I had finally found it after searching. It wasn’t a huge club by any means but it wasn’t shabby either. I hesitated looking up at the black sign with dark scarlet lettering. NightFall, the only strip club off of 10^th street and the place where Kyle was suppose to work. It couldn’t be possible, there was no way if I went in there I would find my friend. The gentle boy who patiently tutored me through algebra and biology, who listen to me complain about my parents and friends without protest, the shy young boy who had literally fallen into my arms with a kitten because he couldn’t bear to see the young cat helpless, couldn’t possibly be a stripper.

I watched the entrance hesitating as I watch man after man enter. I began to laugh at myself with so many men it had to be a female strip club there was no way Kyle could be working there, it was a mistake. Shaking my head at believing Anna’s gossip I decided since I was already there I might as well enjoy some entertainment. I could always stop by Kyle’s later it was still early.

I finally entered the club and found a table off in a corner my mind lost in thought about Kyle. It wasn’t until a heard a low male voice that I looked up in shock to see a thin lithe man wearing nothing more than a g-string smiling down at me. I stammered out the first drink that came into my mind as I watched the naked ass of the man walk away stunned. Looking around wildly I realized there wasn’t a single women in the entire room. Scantily clad servers brought drinks to customers some who where uncomfortably close together even kissing, all of them male.

My mind was reeling as I realized I was sitting in the corner of a gay strip club. A gay club my mind shrieked as music started to play. My eyes darted up to the stage as I saw a thin delicate blonde appear on stage where a business suit. My eyes raked over the man trying to deny what I already knew. I watched as my friend danced slowly gracefully stripping out of the business suit as the men around me whistled and called out. I felt a surge of anger at the men who were leering at Kyle. I wanted to get up and haul him off the stage and the prying eyes. At the same time I also felt the urge to get up to walk out of the room to avoid to lewd spectacle of my friend’s porcelain body being slowly revealed in front of my eyes. Yet I couldn’t do either as I sat glued to my seat as conflicting desires warred with in me. Something was different, Kyle was different.

I watched as the pure white shirt dropped to the stage floor exposing the same creamy white chest and small pink nipples that I had seen countless times before as we had changed for gym and dressed when we had stayed over at each others houses. Gone was the shy naivety that had always surround Kyle as the bright white lights shown on his body. He moved with a sensual grace that I had never seen before. There was no fear or timidity in his face or movements. I watched at more and more of his body was revealed feeling an unexpected throb in my lower region. I closed my eyes to the show wondering what in the world was going on. Was that really Kyle? And why was I hard!

I opened my eyes surprised to see that Kyle had shed the last of his clothes and was completely naked and hard on stage. The cheering was almost deafening as I watched my best friend saunter off the stage whistling and applause following him. I hated it. No one should look at Kyle like that, no one should look at him as an object. I couldn’t stand it anymore I stood up walking over to the bar.

"I want to see that performer, now," I snapped.

"You and everyone in this club," the tall bald bartender snorted.

"I’m his best friend, what will it take to see him," I growled.

"Talking like that nothing, besides your wasting your time, Kyle doesn’t put out like the others no matter how much money," the bartender replied.

"I don’t want to fuck him, I want to slap the snot out of him," I said harshly. "What the hell is he thinking. He could have been a fucking engineer instead his stripping naked for a bunch of...."

"Hold it are you Gabriel?" the bartender asked suspiciously.

"Yes, god damn it."

"Kyle ain’t going to want to see you here. In fact you’re the last person he would want to see him here," the bartender sighed.

"That because I’m going to knock the sense back into him. He should be studying in college right now. I want to see him," I growled.

The bartender shook his head and sighed looking me over carefully.

"Well at least I can see why," the man said cryptically. "Look it would be better if you just forgot about Kyle."

"Like hell, he’s my best friend," I said stubbornly.

"That’s why but I guess it isn’t my place to interfere. It’s Kyle’s problem anyway. Come on but I warn you now no hitting, or your find yourself on the receiving in of Charles’s fist," the bartender said looking over at the six foot two bodybuilder standing in the background looking fierce.

I followed the man backstage as a few of the performers looked curiously at me. Before long I was standing in front of a closed door. The bartender looked over at me curiously for a moment before shrugging.

"You might want to wait until he comes out but I guess that’s up to you," the man said as he walked away.

I looked at him wondering what in the world he could mean but decided it didn’t matter. There was no way I was waiting any longer. I was going to drag Kyle back to college no matter what, even if I had to collar him and pay for his tuition myself. There was no way I was going to let my friend strip in a gay club for those perverts pleasure.

I opened to door to here my name being called in a raspy breathless voice. Looking in I found myself once again in a state of shock as I saw Kyle kneeling on the dressing room floor with a small dildo burying deep inside of him. I watched amazed as Kyle oblivious to my entrance frenzying worked the obscene blue object inside of him even as his other hand worked his own slim length that was red in hard in lust.

"Gabriel, please," Kyle gasped as he pushed the toy deep inside of him his whole body trembling.

I stood watching the surreal scene not realizing that my own body had responded to Kyle’s desperate pleading to a friend that he didn’t even know was there. Suddenly everything click into place in my mind as I heard my name. I knew now why Kyle had run away from college, no away from me. My mind swirled around a half forgotten memory of Kyle asking about sex and if I had ever thought about a three-way with Anna. I had thought he was joking, and had laughed it off. Who would ever want to see your naked ass? I don’t swing that way. The words echo through my mind. Three days later Kyle had cancelled his enrollment and started avoiding me.

Without even thinking I opened my pants letting loose the half hard shaft stroking it quickly as walked the three steps into the room and pulled the toy out of my friend’s ass. He turned in shocked surprise, that quickly shifted to horror and denial as he saw my face. He tried to rise but instead I grab his arm spinning him to me.

"Gabriel what are you doing here!? You shouldn’t..."

I leaned forwarded and kissed Kyle pushing him back onto the floor moving between his legs as he squirmed under me.

"Gabriel what are you doing?" Kyle gasped.

"This is what you want? Right?" I asked rubbing the head of my shaft against his opening.

"I don’t understand," Kyle blushed even as his legs spread wider giving me full access to his opening.

"Neither do I," I sighed closing my eyes pushing deep inside of my best friend.

"Maybe we should shut the door," I observed wryly as I noticed people walking by.

"Oh my god," Kyle blushed bright red and squirmed away from me to get up, running to the door to close it firmly.

"You just stripped buck naked in front of a room full of people and now you’re embarrassed?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

"But I can’t see them," Kyle whispered.

"What, you mean you’re not wearing your contacts?" I asked curiously.

"No and here," Kyle said, handing me small clear ear pieces.

"Let me get this, straight you go onto that stage half blind and deaf?" I asked incredulous.

"It is the only way. I can’t see the crowd between not wearing contacts and the glaring lights and those pipe in loud music so it’s all I can hear. It was the manager’s idea really, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to move," Kyle explained.

"Manager? Alright Kyle what the hell is going on," I asked sitting up.

"I was frustrated with what I was feeling and confused about it. I found this place on the web and decided to confront what I was feeling for men and you. Before I knew it I was coming here two or three times a week and the manager noticed me. He’s the one that found a way to put me on stage and I found that for a little bit I could forget who I was and become someone different. It helped me forget for a little bit how unhappy I was," Kyle explained softly.

"Because of me," I said grimly.

"No...well," Kyle stopped looking away. "It’s my fault. I just couldn’t be around you all the time, my feelings were growing to big. I knew if we stayed together as friends I would do something that would make you hate me."

"What about Melissa?" I asked.

"I dated her because she was Anna’s friend, because it was what was required," Kyle said miserably.

"I never said you had to date anyone, nobody did," I retorted angrily.

"And if I didn’t? What would you have thought?" Kyle said softly, looking at me with sad green eyes.

"Not that you want me that’s for sure," I sighed wondering what the hell had just happened.

"I’ve always loved you Gabe, ever since I broke your arm falling from that tree. But I also knew that you were straight. I couldn’t tell you," Kyle explained, turning away to pick up a robe but not before I’d seen tears in his soft, pale eyes.

"Damn it, don’t cry on me," I growled, standing up and putting a hand on Kyle’s slight shoulder only for him to turn into my chest, crying softly against me. I could feel the hot tears flooding down my naked skin as I wrapped an arm around him gently.

"Why did you come here?" Kyle asked his voice cracking.

"Hey, you just got what you wanted, why are you crying? Was I that bad?" I asked teasingly.

"I didn’t want to have sex with you Gabe," Kyle sobbed, his whole body shaking.

"Well it seemed that way when I came in here," I said, a little bit disgruntled by that response.

Kyle pushed away from me walking away. I could see that he still was crying, something I had never seen him do before. No matter what was said or done to him, he never cried, now it seemed he couldn’t stop. Those tears bothered me more than I cared to admit. I couldn’t understand what was bothering him now, we’d had sex and much to my surprise I had enjoyed it. There was something about the way Kyle looked at me, his soft eyes glazed over in lust and some unnamed emotion I had never seen before. I hadn’t been gentle with him yet his breathy little moans only encouraged me further, stoking my passion far beyond anything I had experienced with Anna or the other women that had spread their legs for me.

"Kyle, I’m sorry I know I’m a little dense, but..."

"Stop it Gabe, we both know that you’re far smarter than you let on," Kyle choked out protesting.

"Well, as smart as I am I don’t get it. Why are you crying?" I asked, more than a little frustrated.

"Because you don’t love me and this is just going to make it harder for me when you wake up to the fact you just had sex with a guy," Kyle said, his back totally ridged.

I stood looking at him, mulling over his words. Was he right? Perhaps, but what we had did bother me a lot less than it should, certainly less than the catcalls from those perverted men looking at Kyle with lust. Kyle had always been a little bit more special to me than anyone else. I had always been more protective and sheltering of him, even more so than Anna. Was there more to my feelings for this man? I wasn’t sure, too much had happened in the space of hours. Too many things about the man I thought I knew were being rearranged. Too many things about myself.

"Well I’m not screaming in hysterics yet. I don’t know what to think Kyle, you’ve laid a lot onto me in a short period of time. Hell, I didn’t even know that you were gay or for that matter I might be," I said cheerfully.

"Don’t joke like that," Kyle said, turning his eyes wide.

"Why I did enjoy fucking you more than I have any girl? In fact..." I said looking down at my half erection with amusement. "I’m usually not this quick to restart."

"Gabe, no," Kyle said, shaking his head as he bit his lower lip.

I sighed regretfully, deciding to get dressed and hoping that it would help calm my raging hormones. Kyle was probably right, the backroom of a strip club wasn’t the best place for a night long sex marathon but the thought did have a great deal of appeal to me. The question was why, and until I figured that out I wouldn’t know what to do with the relationship between Kyle and myself.

"Come on, let’s get out of here," I said after dressing.

"I still have to perform again," Kyle said, shaking his head.

"Like hell you are. You’ve quit effective immediately. Your ass is going to college even if I have to chain you to me," I said firmly.

"No Gabe, it’s too late. I’ve already rejected the scholarship. Besides, I don’t think it would be a good idea for us to see each other," Kyle said stepping back from me.

"Oh no you don’t. I’ll pay for your college if I have to, god knows I have the money. Mom’s been very generous, besides, she love you more than me I think," I grinned.

"Gabe..."

"I’m not taking no for an answer. As for us? Let’s take it as it comes. I can tell you one thing Kyle, you’re the most important person in my life right now, so let’s start from there," I said with a shrug.

"I don’t know what to do," Kyle said, turning his face away from me.

Looking at the blushing man with amusement I closed the remaining distance between us and turned his face towards me. Leaning down I took his lips with mine, kissing him deeply, enjoying the trembling body next to my own as I pressed him against the wall. When I finally let him up for air I smiled gently at my best friend.

"Trust me to take care of you like I always have. You’re my best friend and that Kyle will never change, whether we become lovers or not I will always be there for you."