Trying Temptation

chapter 2

After I fell asleep, a nightmare started to form such as it has for the years after I left the center. The nightmare shows every painful experience I faced while with my biological dad. As I try to escape the nightmare the dreams shows two police stepping towards me. They call out to me.

"Eric, wake up! It's only a nightmare!" James called out to me.

I start awake and start hitting and kicking the air. All I hear is "damn, watch his legs." And "ouch that's my arm!" They call out again trying to hold my legs and arms down.

"Eric it's us, Edward and James you're in the dorm rooms!"

I finally snap out of it and everything seems to refocus. I see Edward and James hold my legs and arms down looking at me with confusion and concern. I groan and cover my face.

" I'm sorry guys, I didn't mean to wake you." I mutter feeling scared and lost.

" What was that about and don't say it was just a nightmare. That didn't sound like just a nightmare." James remarks sitting on the floor in front of their bunk.

I sit there quietly for a few minutes debating on if I should tell them or not. My fears pop up of being disowned, of rejection but I force them down. After making up my mind I decided to tell them.

"Fine I'll tell you what the deal is but it's a bit of a long story." I say.

They nod their heads and sit down on the bed waiting for me to tell them. I tell them the basics of what happened, leaving out the graphic details. I tell them about my parents, about the situation, me staying in the hospital and about the orphanage.

After I was done talking they sat there for a few minutes. Their faces dance between shock, pain and disgust. I waited to hear the disappointment and disgust they had towards me.

"Dude, that is so messed up. He should have never done that to you." James remarks his face is mixed between rage and disgust.

"It's better that you came to us. You didn't deserve any of that!" Edward exclaimed, pure rage showing on his face.

I didn't expect this from the twins. Edward and James hardly talked to me when we were at school or the house so why they would act this way completely shocked me.

"You don't find me disgusting?" I ask absentmindedly.

"No Eric, what he did was disgusting. You were the victim." Edward states. James just nods his head in agreement.

We sat in silence for a while the truth of my past weighing heavily on us. The twins seem lost in thought for a while.

"So that's what your nightmares are about? You're reliving your past?" James asks.

I nod my head unsure of what I should say. I haven't told many people besides the cops what had happened. I didn't even told the center what I went through when I got there. They were the first ones I told about my situation and my nightmares.

“ How about we pop in a movie? We need to get our minds off of things." James remarks.

He jumps up and gets his laptop out and starts digging in his bag for some movies. Edward nods his head, grabs some drinks from the mini fridge and starts some popcorn. The idea of a movie didn't sound too bad and I was grateful for the change of topic.

We get nestled in on my bed and start the movie. I was sitting in the middle of Edwards and James. I wasn't comfortable with them being so close at first but soon I relaxed into them. I actually felt better after telling them.

During the movie I would feel their legs bump into me or their hair would tickle my neck when they moved. Their cologne was faint but it had a calming effect.

I never noticed little things like that before. I try to focus on the movie but it's hard as I keep noticing these small things. Surprisingly I found that these little things stirred something inside me that I didn't recognize.

The movie was one I had never heard of before and needless to say it was funny. In between the movies we decided to watch we all took turns going to the bathroom, restocking our drinks and settled back in place. As I was watching the movie I started to get tired again. Before I knew it I passed out and I don't remember having any more nightmares that night.

I wake up feeling two boulders being pressed against me. I open my eyes and see Edwards back against me. I see how toned his back is and the little birthmark he has on his left shoulder. Edward has a small mole under his left eye. Edwards stern features seem to relax in his sleep.

I turn and see James face turned towards me. I get to take a real close look at his face. James has a small mole under his right eye. He looks so calm when he sleeps, not the play boy act he puts on. He looks almost innocent as he sleeps.

They start to move around so I decided to move away from them and go use the restroom. I grab my clothes for the day and head inside. I'm about to get my boxers off when I feel a hand touch my back. The air leaves my body and I turn around. When I did I almost fell backwards into the shower but James caught me by my hand. He pulls me up a bit while I rebalance myself.

" Sorry I didn't mean to scare you." James remarks. He glances at me and states " It's messed up that he put all these scars on you."

He gently touches one of them again causing shivers to run down my body. My body heats up where his hand is touching and I'm not sure of how I feel. I should be nervous showing my scars but some how I feel seen and safe.

"There's not much I can do about it sadly." I mutter softly as I turn to set the water temperature.

James nods his head and leaves, his expression troubled. I take a quick shower to wake up and try to clear my mind. I step out of the bathroom and grab my things my mind still whirling with thoughts. I go to the food court to grab some breakfast. As I'm eating, Edward and James come in and order their food.

They decided to sit across from me and started talking among themselves. As we eat they glance at me, talking softly amongst themselves.

“ So Eric have anyone caught your eye?“ James asks watching me closely a teasing tone in his voice.

“ I wasn't interested in dating in highschool. I just focused on my studies “ I state.

“ Well maybe it would be good to just take things slow and figure it out but by bit “ Edward states as he nods his head in understanding.

“ Well I did figure out some things. I actually liked both men and women despite what had happened.“ I state

I did want to be with someone when I was ready and find a relationship that was more meaningful than my biological parents. The twins glance up at me quickly seeming shocked. I saw their curious looks and understanding their questions.

“ I had a lot of soul searching time throughout the years I was living at the family house. It wouldn't bother me if I found a partner, male or female, that could just treat me right." I say as I pack up for my afternoon classes.

I head to my class in a daze still shocked by how much I opened up to them. I never meant to tell anyone from the house about what happened or that I am bisexual so I can't believe what's gotten in me.

All my classes go by in a blur and I wasn't able to fully focus on any of it. I would see Edward or James from time to time. They would glance at me or try to say something but stop before the words came out. I could help but think of how silly they looked but I dreaded when it was time to head in for the night.

I grabbed a quick bite from the food court and sat outside in hopes to avoid them a little while longer. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't hear them walk up. They set their trays in front of me and sat down. We sat in awkward silence for a while before.

" So what's your type?" Edward asks causing me to choke on my bite of lasagna.

They seriously just asked me that. It takes me a moment to catch my breath. I look between them and see the honesty in their gaze.

" I don't really have a type. I go basically on how they treat me." I state.

" Have you ever had a crush on someone?" James asks.

"Not really, I wanted to wait on that stuff but I'm wondering if it won't help me overcome my past”. I state.

They shared a look and went back to eating. The rest of the time we hardly spoke. It reminded me of the times we were eating at the house. At the house after I was introduced, the twins hardly spoke to me. It seemed as though they couldn't figure me out.

They would tease me or pick on me a little but they never hurt me. They seemed to watch every reaction I had. The twins would pick on me a little at school but nothing else besides that as though testing my reactions to their behavior.

I decided to head to the library after I was done eating. I needed a few books and I needed some time to recover from the awkward conversation with the twins. I checked in and went to the section I was needing. I grabbed some business text books, I need to write an essay for class and head to a nearby table in the far corner.

I wasn't able to read any of the chapters before I was told I needed to leave. I quickly grab my things, check out the books and head back to the dorm rooms. The twins' words were heavy on my mind..not only did we spend time together but they had asked true deep questions about me.

On the way back I noticed James talking to a cute young lady in the hallway. As I'm about to pass him I overhear some of their conversation.

" I would love to have some alone time, sexy." James remarks.

" I am not interested. I have a boyfriend." The lady states.

James keeps trying to woo her until she slaps him and walks away. James stands there for a minute before he slowly walks over to me like a zombie.

" Why is it so hard to have a fun night?" He asks while he drops his head on my shoulder dramatically

" I suppose it's how you approach people." I remark.

He looks up at me a bit and I can see his handsome face up close. His light blue eyes staring back at me. He actually looked handsome with a boyish charm this way. I don't know what came over me but for a second I found him attractive.

I feel my face heat up and I look away. I have to tell myself to stop thinking like that and scolding myself for thinking that way about my step brother.

" I'm sorry I can't help you with your fun tonight. If I could give you advice I would but I need to study a bit." I say trying to shake him off my shoulder.

I finally get him off of me enough to try to move past him when he cages me in between his arms. My back hits the wall and our bodies are extremely close together. I look back up at him to see a smirk on his face.

" w-what are y-you doing?" I shudder out, face flustered.

" You said you would help me. So how will you keep your word?" He asks with a sly smirk.

My brain bounces around trying to figure out what he means. My face heats up again at the thought of those cheesy anime romance novels. I felt like a deer in headlights.

JAMES P.O.V

When Eric turned away with his face beat red I smirked. I actually found his reaction interesting so I decided to try to mess with him. I backed off a bit to let him move past me. When he gets past me a little bit I come back with both my arms caging him in between me and the wall. I smirk at his shocked reaction and have to hold back a laugh.

"w-what are y-you doing?" He stuttered and I found that a bit cute.

"You said you would help me. So how will you keep your word?" I ask finding his face priceless.

I can see his mind working to figure out how to respond. I find it funny watching him squirm with his face beat red. It makes me want to tease him more. Before I can he snaps back to reality and pushes past me. I chuckle at his action but find that his behavior stirred something inside me

Eric's P.O.V.

I finally snap out of my daze and push past him. I have to remember he is the playboy type. Nothing he says is serious. His words and actions are to be ignored because he doesn't mean it. He will play around and lose interest shortly afterwards. I got inside our dorm room and set up my study material. I pop in my headphones and start my assignment. I always found studying as a way to get away from the reality I was in.

I'm so deep into studying I didn't realize that Edward had come up behind me and was bent over the back of my chair until he poked my cheek. I jumped about a foot out of my chair, threw out my ear buds and spun around a bit to face him.

" Dude you scared me!" I nearly yelled. Both Edward and James burst out laughing.

" I tried calling out to you but you were so into your studying you didn't hear me." Edward said after he was done laughing.

" ok well what's up?" I ask a bit irritated.

" We were thinking about joining this party and were wondering if you would join us?" James states.

“ No thank you. I'm actually about to head to sleep.“ I state still trying to slow my racing heart.

They shrug their shoulders and head out. After that I finish up my work, clean up and head to bed. I laid in bed thinking everything over for a while. Their behavior is starting to make me wonder. The fact that they seem so different from at the house to now is odd.

I finally dozed off around ten thirty unaware of the crazy dream I was about to have. The nightmare started at first, the rundown apartment and the raunchy beer bottles came into focus around me. I know this isn't real but I have not been able to wake myself up from it. So I have to see and feel everything over and over again.

Just as the worst part of the nightmare starts, Edward and James voice rings out. The apartment fades away and turns into a solid white room. Edward and James stand there just watching me before they slowly walk over to me. I watch them closely as they approach but I don't feel any negativity come from them.

“ We can help you forget about your past, Eric.“ James says. “

“ We do care about you more than you know.“ Edward remarks.

James moves his hand gently up my arm sending goosebumps along my skin. Edward places a gentle kiss on my neck. My skin is set on fire where they touch. They are touching me and kissing me all over my body. I'm feeling hot all over the place. Pleasure clouds my mind in the dream. That's when I feel an intense warmth engulf me, making me jerk.

“All you have to do is say the word and we will stop.“ Edward says his voice husky in the dream.

My mind is clouded for a moment, not used to this kind of pleasure. My mind is trying to process this change and understand what is going on. My body finally snaps me out of the dream, making me jolt awake.

I looked around and noticed that no one was in the room. I looked down and realized that my body wasn't just affected in my dream. I get up and try to calm myself down by taking a cold shower.

I finally calmed down enough and tried to go back to sleep. My mind still wanders to the dream I had and my body starts to heat up again. Every time I think about Edward or James I remember the dream I had, what they did and my mind starts panicking again.

I dont understand why I dreamt of them like that and I don't know how I could face them tomorrow. I never had this problem before. I had never dreamt of someone like this before so why now? My mind remains restless all night not letting me get back to sleep.