At the Edge of Our World

At the Edge of Our World 2

This story is purely fictional. If you are not over the age of 18 or are opposed to this type of material please Do Not Read It. This story belongs to Green and reproductions without permission are not allowed. This story will have cameos from some of the characters in my other stories. You can find my other stories at www.geocities.com/greenmeccatoon Please let me know what you think. Email me Greenmeccatoon@Yahoo.com

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At The Edge Of Our World

by Green

~Two~

New Beginnings

~Chris~

Run, my conscious tells me and I do just that. “I'm sorry I shouldn't have came,” I blurt out as I'm leaving the house. Ben chases after me and pulls me back towards him.

“Wait Chris please,” Ben says, pulling me close. “We need to talk.”

Inside he's driving me crazy. He looks different, much different. His hair is cropped close and his eyes are brighter than I remember. He's not he seventeen year old Ben I once knew. No that Ben was lost once ago and this new Ben, the tall handsome Ben pulling me closer, is driving me crazy.

“I have to go,” I say, moving his hands from my arms. I step away, walking towards Mary's car.

“Chris why are you here?” Ben asks me. I find myself unable to answer his question so I break down, crying. I can't let him see me cry so I walk away. I know he's walking behind me. “Chris wait!” Ben yells but I don't stop.

I ran away that summer night long ago, my heart couldn't take anymore of it. When I saw Ben kiss Catie I took off, running towards nowhere just like I am doing now.

“Chris, where are you going?” he asked me.

“Go back home Ben. I just want to walk for awhile,” I said, but he didn't turn back.

“Do you want me to go with you?” he asked. “All of us can go.”

All of us? In reality it was Catie and him. I wasn't a part of that, not anymore. “No I want to go alone,” I said then I grabbed my camera and took his picture. “I'll see you later, go back to Catie.”

I took off running and I didn't look back. I knew he was watching me run, wondering what the hell my problem was. Now here I am once again running from him unable to face my real emotions. He is following me, wanting answers that just a few minutes ago I was prepared to give him.

“Chris!” he says, grabbing my hand. I try to get away but he pulls me close once again. This time he surprises me by kissing me. He grabs the back of my head melting away all of the nervous anxiety I just had. I pull away from him once again.

“But Catie aren't you and her together?” I ask as my heart beats faster and faster. “Wait, you kissed me. Ben you kissed me.”

“Yeah Chris I kissed you,” he says, stepping closer. “I should have done that a long time ago.”

“What?” I ask. “Why didn't you?”

“I was so confused back then between you and Catie. You have to understand that I was afraid of telling anyone that I had these feelings and I chose.”

“You chose her,” I finished for him.

“I was stupid of me Chris and I let you go,” he says, taking my hands into his.

“No I am stupid Ben. I am stupid for coming back here,” I yell and I try to break away but this time he doesn't let me.

“No Chris, you can't go. I've waited way too long for this,” he says.

“And what about me Ben? I waited, I waited until I couldn't,” I say with tears coming from my eyes. “It hurt when you kissed Cate and not me! Now you're telling me that you wanted to be with me but you chose her because it was easier? How do you expect me to feel?”

“No Chris it wasn't like that!”

“Then how was it then Ben? What stopped you?” I ask, making him angry.

“You want to know what it was that stopped me from telling you?” he yells back.

“What's that Ben?”

“It was you Chris,” He says. “I wanted to be with you, I just never thought that you could ever feel the same way I felt. I never chose her over you, I wouldn't do that if I knew you were like me,” Ben says before he walks away from me.

I feel horrible so I chase after him. “Ben hold up!” He stops and looks at me I notice that he is crying. “Ben I'm sorry and I feel horrible. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that.”

“Sorry I yelled Chris. It's just that I've been dealing with this for a long time,” he says taking my hand. “What really hurt me, is that you stopped talking to me.”

“Ben I'm sorry but I had to. It hurt to talk to you,” I tell him. He looks heartbroken but just for a second. He grips my hand a little tighter and we start walking.

“Do you remember what you said to me the day you left?” he asks and I nod. “You told me you'd be back and that I could come visit you but I knew I wouldn't see you again.”

“I never thought I could make myself come back here,” I say leaning on his shoulder as we walk.

“I really wish I had told you about this a long time ago. I feel like we've wasted so much time,” Ben says. “But if I told you the truth, you would have stayed here and what kind of life would that be for you?”

“It would be a happy life,”I tell him, pulling him close. “I'd be with you.”

“But you wouldn't have been a world famous photographer,” he says, kissing me.

“So I could still take pictures,” I tell him, leaning on his chest. “I could take pictures of you and me.”

~~~

“Ben I'm, going to take Jerry Back home,” Ben's mother says as we walk inside Ben's house.

“Hi I'm Jerry,” Ben's friend says extending his hand. “Ben's told me so much about you.”

“Hi I'm Chris, sorry for leaving without introducing myself,” I say, taking his hand. “I hope whatever Ben said isn't too bad.”

“Chris it's nice seeing you again,” Marry says, hugging me. “Don't become a stranger Chris. We like you here.” She leaves us with that, pulling Jerry out of the house. Ben and I share a laugh and then sit down next to each other on his sofa. A minute later we are sucking each other's faces off.

He starts taking my shirt off, rubbing my chest as he does. It feels good having him do that. He then starts rubbing my increasingly growing hard on. “let's go to the bedroom,” Ben says, pulling me off the couch.

“Ben wait,” I say pulling him back. “Is this a good Idea? I mean we are moving too fast.”

“Don't you think we've waited long enough?” he asks pulling me closer.

“I don't know,” I say as he starts kissing at my neck.

“Chris if you want to wait then we'll wait.”

“You aren't making that easy,” I joke. “But seriously what are we? Are we together?”

He stops kissing my neck and looks at me. “I want us to be together Chris. I hope that you want to be with me too but I won't force you into anything. I can't do that.”

“But how are we going to do this Ben? I live in New York and you live here. My job takes me around the world while yours, wait I don't know what you do.”

“I'm running dad's store Chris, but what does that have to do with us being happy. I can deal with you going away for long periods of time as long as I know that you are coming back to me.”

“Ben my job requires me to live in New York. I can't live here.”

“And you won't have to. My brother is taking over the store soon so I can go to medical school.”

“Ben that is fantastic,” I say hugging him. “But that means.”

“That means that I can go to school in New York City,” he says cutting me off.

“Are we ready for this?” I ask.

“It's alright we have a whole summer to deal with each other. If it's not working by the end of the summer we don't have to do this,” he says.

“I guess I can deal with that, I just can't help but thinking that this is too easy,” I tell him, hoping that it isn't.

“I don't know if it is Chris,” he says, hugging me. “I know that I love you and that I want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you too Ben it's just that,” he stops me with a kiss and I melt into his arms.

~~~

“I'm going to miss you,” Ben says.

“I'll be back next week. I have a whole bunch of stuff to do and then we have a whole month together,” I tell him.

I spent the night at Ben's house. He looks so good early in the morning dressed only in his underwear. “I wish I had my camera.” I say and he smiles.

“What time do you have to leave?” he asks me.

“My flight is at four, but I have to pick up my brother at three,” I tell him.

“Great that gives us a little more time,” he says snuggling up next to me.

“Time for what?” I ask. He smiles at me and starts kissing my neck.

“Take off your underwear,” he whispers in my ear.

“Only if you take yours off first,” I whisper back. A second later we are both naked and making out. He grabs my dick and starts rubbing it stiff. He kneels down and takes me into his mouth. I rub the back of his head as he does and he strokes my length with his tongue.

“Let's take a shower together,” Ben says leading me to his bathroom.

“Alright,” I say as he turns on the faucet. He pulls me into his shower and kisses me.

“My turn,” I say as I notice his huge manhood pointing upward. I grab it and put it in my mouth stroking his length as well. He moans and fucks my face.

“I'm going to cum,” he says, pulling himself out of my mouth. I strokes him until he finishes and then I kiss him. He responds by grabbing my hard on stroking it stiff again. “I want you to fuck me,” he says.

“Ben I,” I begin but he's already pressing his butt onto my crotch. Slowly I enter him, thrusting slowly at first and moving faster until were both spent.

“That was amazing,” he whispers in my ear as we finish.

~Ben~

“I can't believe that you are living in New York City,” Catie says, hugging me.

“I'll be back for Christmas,” I tell them.

“Catie it's not like Ben is going to be across the country. He's going to be here in New York City,” Jerry says, spreading his arms. “It's only a few hours away.”

“Don't you have a husband to call?” Catie asks.

“No he's working at the restaurant tonight,” Jerry says. “He says goodbye Ben.”

“When is Chris coming back?” Catie asks.

“He's coming back next week,” I say, grabbing another box. “Bring those in here please.”

“This building is beautiful,” Catie says as I lead them inside Chris's loft. I've been thinking of this since he left and here I am starting anew with Chris. I wonder if I even deserve this.

“Where are all of his pictures?” Trevor asks. “I don't see any of them.”

“He doesn't keep them up,” I say placing a box down. “ He thinks that it's presumptuous of him to display his own pictures. He only keeps them up in his darkroom, I'll show you it later. He keeps a lot of them up on the wall in there.”

“Hey look at this,” Jerry says, taking out a copy of that picture he took of Catie and I dancing. “Does everybody have a copy of this?”

“I guess so,” I say. “Come on we have a lot more boxes to move.”

I miss him more than I've ever missed him before. I know he'll be back but I know he'll just leave again in a couple of weeks. He told me that he'd try to get jobs here in the city for awhile, but his work is so in demand that it's taking him around the world. I thought that I could handle it but I am living alone while he is away and it doesn't feel good.

“Where do you want these?” asks Trevor, holding two boxes filled with my clothes.

“Put them in the guest room. That's where I'll be staying,” I say, grabbing a couple of boxes from the back of the truck.

“Why are you staying in the guest room?” Catie asks.

“I don't want to impose on Chris anymore than I have. If Chris wants me to move into his bedroom then I'll do so but for now that's where I have to stay.”

“Wow you're really stressing about this aren't you?” Jerry asks.

“Yeah I feel like I'm imposing on him,” I tell them.

“He wouldn't ask you to move in if he didn't want you here Ben,” Catie says padding my arm. “Come one let's finish.”

~~~

I wave at Jerry, Catie and Trevor as they leave. “Thanks for the help,” I yell. “I'll see you at the Ceremony.”

“Sure if you can get yourself away from Chris,” Jerry yells back. Catie and Trevor also wave. “Bye Chris.”

As I close the door the phone begins to ring. I run to it hoping that it's Chris. “Hello?”

“Hi Ben,” Chris says.

“I miss you.”

“I miss you too. That's why I need you to meet me at Laguardia tomorrow at ten. I'm coming home early,” He says, bringing a smile to my face. “I got all of the photo's I need. So I'm coming home.”

I feel bad. I don't want him to neglect his work because of me. “Chris, you shouldn't come home early because of me. I can wait until you're done,” I tell him. I can hear him sigh.

“Ben I'm done I swear and that gives us a couple of weeks to spend together, until I have to go away again and it gives me a chance to go to your friends ceremony with you.”

“Alright Chris it's just that I feel like I've impose on you way too much.”

“No Ben, you can't impose if I want you there,” he says, making me feel better. “And Ben please move your stuff into our room.” He makes me laugh and I can here him giggling on the other end.

The way he says that makes me feel warm inside, and suddenly I don't feel alone any more. “Chris thank you for that,” I whisper into the phone.

“Ben I love you and as long as I can say that I want you near me,” he states.

~~~

For years after Chris left I would dream of him leaving. It happens exactly the same as it did four years ago. “I'll call you,” he said. “Maybe you can come and visit me.”

“Sure I'd like that,” I replied and that was that. I just watched him leave deep down we knew we wouldn't see each other again but when he did I saw something in him I wish I had seen back then. I saw his love and his pain.

So know as I lay in his bed missing his arms around me I wonder if this is real. Don't get me wrong I know what I feel and I'm sure he knows what he wants, but will it last? It scares me to think that it wont, that some day I wont have him coming home just to see me.

Where will we be in ten years? I want to start a family, with two kids and a dog. I want something real to come home to. I want us to be like Jerry and Jamie, the perfect supportive couple. Maybe what I want is too much. Maybe he doesn't want the same things that I do.

My thoughts don't let me sleep. I leave his bed heading towards the kitchen. I make myself a cup of cocoa and I sit. A minute later I am lost in my thoughts again. I just started this whole new life. It's been just a month since Chris came back into my life. How can I expect him to give me what I want.

“Go to bed and don't think of it,” I say to myself. I down the rest of the cocoa and I head to bed.

The alarm wakes me up at eight thirty. I take a shower and I dress in something nice. As I leave the apartment it occurs to me that I don't know how to get to Laguardia Airport. Just then the doorbell rings. I walk over to the front door wondering who it could be.

As I open the door I see Chris standing there waiting for me holding his camera. He takes a picture of me and my shocked expression. I pull him inside. “I wanted to surprise you,” he tries to say as I kiss him.

I start to pull his clothes off but he stops me. “We are going to have company in about ten minutes,” he says. “I want you to meet my friends.”

I can't say that I'm not disappointed, yet he makes me feel good when he gives me a huge kiss, hugging me close. “Come help me bring my stuff inside,” he says.

“So who's coming to meet me?” I ask, following him to the bedroom.

“My friend, Steve is coming by with our friend Lisa.” he says, pulling me close to him. “Don't worry they'll like you.”

“I'm not worried It's just that I wanted to be with you. I haven't seen you in two weeks.”

“We will have our alone time I promise. I have the rest of the week to make that up to you Ben. Come help me make lunch.”

“Alright, Chris as long as you promise.” Somehow I feel like life is cheating me. Chris is back but I can't have him alone. It's driving me crazy. But how can I say no to him when he smiles at me like that?

He grabs my face, kissing me then resting his forehead on mine. “Thank you Ben,” he says. I kiss him back melting into him when the doorbell rings. “That must be Steve and Lisa.”

~~~

“So you met Chris when he got stuck in an alley?” I ask Steve. “What was he doing in that alley?”

“Chris was photographing stray cats,” Steve answers as Chris rolls his eyes.

“Chris, I didn't know that you were an animal lover,” Lisa asks.

“I'm not, it was for the Art magazine I was working for at the time,” Chris says.

I like Chris's friends. They aren't like my friends. They're a little more loud and more interesting. Chris's friends are fairly new compared to mine. Steve is very quick witted While Lisa is a more subdued and well spoken.

“So Chris's tell us that you are starting med school,” Lisa asks me.

“Yes. I start at the end of summer,” I reply.

“Wow I never had much ambition other than the occasional painting,” Lisa adds.

“And you should see her paintings,” Steve says. “You would think she's talking about her painting like it's a hobby. You think Chris's photographs are good, her paintings are phenomenal.”

“Hey!” Chris yells.

“I'm just telling the truth,” Steve says holding up his hands. “You should go see her gallery show next week.”

“Yes will your brother be there?” Chris asks.

“No that bastard has managed to miss every one of my shows since I was in high school. He missed my first show because he was in a car accident,” Lisa says. “His band is playing a charity show that night.”

“Oh yeah he told me about that last night,” Chris says, as I look on with a questioning look. “Lisa's Brother is a famous rock singer by the name of Brian Black.”

“Wait a minute. You are Lisa Black?” I ask.

“Yes, why do you know my work?” Lisa asks me in turn.

“Oh my god yeah. My parents bought one of your paintings,” I tell her.

“Which one?” she asks.

“It's one of a house in front of a lake,” I tell her.

“Oh wow I painted that a long time ago,” she says dazing off for a second. “Do you think I could see it sometime?”

“Sure,” my mother still has it up in her house.

“Alright enough about our good friend Lisa and more about you Ben,” Steve says, slurring his words. “I want to know what makes you tick.”

“Alright I think it's time we called it a night,” Chris says, winking at me.

“Wait, wait I want to know,” Steve says.

“Alright come on I'll drive you home,” Lisa says, pulling Steve towards the door.

We say our goodbyes, and then Chris jumps on me. “Take your clothes off,” he says. “Come on faster.”

~Charlie~

Silence Is something I've learned to respect ever since I was young. When you grow up practically friendless and you live alone, you find that you are able to deal with a constant level of solitude. Unfortunately Jerry can't be silent. He has to talk to me when I'm obviously ignoring him.

“So I met Jamie in college. He really is a nice person and a great cook. You should have him cook his lasagna for you sometime,” he says as I take an exit. “Where are you going?” he asks but I keep ignoring him.

I drive towards a fast food place. I run out of the car as soon as I park it. “Charlie!” Jerry calls out. I head straight towards the restroom. For the first time in the last hour I can breathe. God I wish I had a cigarette.

“Charlie? Are you okay,” Jerry says, knocking on the door.

“Can you give me a minute please,” I yell at the door.

“Charlie, what's going on?”

I look at my concerned brother staring at me from the door. It reminds me of the day I left Maybury. I left early in the morning before the rest of my family woke up. I looked at my rear view mirror when I left. My brother was standing in my driveway with a concerned look on his face, watching me leave. It was the same look that he's giving me right now.

“Why is it so hard for you to talk to me?” Jerry asks.

Tears begin to come from my eyes as he walks into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. “Because I don't trust you, Jerry,” I barely let out through my tears.

He hugs me. “Charlie I know about your job and your apartment,” he says. “I just want to spend some time with you. Charlie look at me.”

He breaks through, causing me to cry. “I, I don't know what to say.”

“Don't say anything come on, I bet you're hungry and I'm buying,” Jerry says pulling me out of the bathroom. “What do you want? I'm getting a burger and fries, I think you should too. Great comfort food.”

I smile, my brother knows how to make a bad situation good. He orders me the same and we sit at the far end of the restaurant. I watch him stuff food into his mouth. It reminds me of when we were younger. Jerry was always hungry. My parents had to stuff food in my mouth.

He looks at me. “Why aren't you eating.”

“I don't know,” I say, shaking my head.

“Can I ask you a question? Why are you like this with me? I mean we're twins. Twins should be closer than anything.”

“I can't answer that,” I say, looking down at my burger.

“Charlie I don't understand,” he says. “and I can't understand unless you tell me what I did so wrong.”

“Look it's more like what you didn't do,” I tell him. “When we were kids, I remember you told one of your friends that I wasn't your really your brother. You never let me do stuff with you or your friends.” He looks away from me. “In high school you guys went out of your way to avoid me. At some point I figured that I'd make it easy for you so I moved away as far as I could.”

“Charlie I,” he tries to say, but I walk away from the table. I am angry and talking about this is opening up old wounds that I never want to revisit.

“Come on I'll take you back home.”

“No Charlie I want to talk about this,” Jerry says, pulling me back to the table. “You've been holding this in for a long time and I want us to be brothers and if not, I want you to be comfortable around me.”

“Jerry, look It's no problem I just want to go back home and live my life. I'll take you home and then I'll leave.”

“And then what? You go back and I don't see you for another four years?” he asks me.

“Yes, It's better that way,” I tell him.

“For who?” he says, looking away from me. “You or me?”

“For the both of us. I don't have to be a burden to you anymore and you don't have to be in my life.” I tell him.

“Why are you being such a jerk. Charlie I'm trying, I don't see why you don't. Look I'm sorry alright. I wasn't a good brother, but we were kids back then. Were adults now Charlie, we can fix this. I just need you to try.”

He is right. Maybe I'm just stubborn. Maybe I'm being a jerk, but I know that he hurt me when we were younger. Now he wants to make up for that by just saying he's sorry?

“Jerry all I wanted when we were younger was to be treated like I was your brother. I can't just forgive you for what you did. It's not that easy,” I tell him.

“Then why did you come?” he asks. “Why didn't you just stay at home?”

“Because I wanted to be happy for you Jerry and I found that I couldn't,” I tell him, leaving the table. “Come on I'll give you a ride home.”

~~~

Jerry is angry and defeated. The sad part is that I like that he's angry. “Can I ask you a question?”

“What's that?” Jerry says.

“Why is it so important for me to be a part of all of this?” I ask him.

“Because I want you to be my best man,” he says.

“But we barely know each other Jerry. All we have in common is a shitty past. Why would you want to relive that?”

“Look I just want to be your brother again but if you don't want it then let's leave it at that. I'm not going to force you into doing what's right Charlie,” Jerry answers. “I just hope that you will on your own.”

“Jerry I have my own life now. I moved far away because it's what you guys wanted,” I tell him and he gets annoyed.

“When did I say that?” He asks. “Because I don't remember ever saying that to you.”

“You never said that but your actions did. You and Catie made sure to let me know that I wasn't wanted. Do you remember what you guys did to me when we turned fourteen?” I asked.

“No?”

“You guys threw me into the basement and locked the door. I missed the whole birthday party and when mom and dad found me I was passed out on the concrete floor,” I say, taking another exit. “Shit like that makes me feel the way I do.”

“How can you remember stuff that happened so long ago?”

“Because it's all I remember of you guys. I don't have one good memory of you or Catie. You never gave me one,” I say as tears come from my eyes.

“Charlie I'm sorry I never meant to,” He said before I cut him off.

“Save it!” I yelled. “I don't want anything from you Jerry. I just want to live my life in peace.”

“And I want you to be my brother again!” he yells back. “Is that so much to ask? I'm tired of feeling like I failed you.” He stops talking, realizing what he just said. I also realize what he just said and i finally begin to understand.

“Jerry you feel like you failed me?” I ask.

“You know something Charlie, when we were kids I used to think that you were mom and dad's favorite. It used to piss me off that they treated you different. It wasn't until you left that I realized the reason why mom and dad treated you different was because we treated you different.”

“Jerry, I,” I try to say but he keeps on talking.

“I was horrible to you because I could never relate to you,” he says. “You're straight and I'm gay. It's the reason why I could relate to Catie and not to you.”

I start to laugh. “Wait, you think I'm straight?” I ask through my laughing.

“Well aren't you?” Jerry asks me.

“NO! I thought that you were straight,” I tell him. “I thought I was here to see you get married to a girl.”

“Charlie can you please pull over?”

“Wait why?” I ask.

“Charlie just do it.” I pull over to the side of the side and he gets out. He walks over to my door and opens it.”Come on get out,” he says, pulling me out. He puts his arms around me and whispers, “I'm sorry Charlie. I did fail you. I should have been there for you.”

As he hugged me I found in myself forgiveness for my twin brother. “I'm sorry too Jerry,” I whisper back.

~Steve~

I'm holding a glass and I'm lying next to someone I don't know. I look around the room. Wait I'm in Chris' house and the man next to me is Charlie. “Hey what happened last night?” I ask, waking Charlie.

“I don't remember and why do I have my shirt off?” Charlie asks, groggily. “Wait do you know where the bathroom is?”

“Yeah it's down the hall to the left. Hurry I need to get in there too,” I tell him as he steps out of the room.

“Oh good you're awake. Wild night huh?” Chris says, stepping into the room. I nod and reach for a cigarette. “No not in my house,” he says taking them away from me.

“What happened?” I ask.

“Well it all started after you met Charlie?”

~~~

“You like taking pictures?” Charlie asks.

“Well yeah, especially of you,” I tell him, wondering how that left my mouth. He blushes and quickly chugs his drink.

“Whoa take it easy there man. You can't drink it that quick you'll,” I try to say but he's pulling me towards a corner. I look back at the bar where Chris' and Charlie's brother, Jerry are speaking with Brian Black. Chris smiles and Jerry motion's for me to go. “Wait where are you taking me?”

“Just outside, I get claustrophobic,” he says as we step out of the bar. “and I wanted to talk to you.”

“Wait don't you think that this is a little forward?” I ask.

He nods and takes out a pack of cigarettes. “Yeas I think it's very forward but I know what I want and what I want is you. Do you smoke?” he asks. I nod as he hands me a cigarette then lights it. “I decided to turn a new leaf in my life. I'm tired of living alone.”

“So how did you know I was taking pictures of you today?” I ask.

He takes a long drag of his cigarette and points at Chris through the window. “You friend told me a few minutes ago.”

I blush and take a drag of my own cigarette. I really don't know how to take this. Charlie is a bit intense for me. “But you don't even know me.”

“I've seen you around a couple of times and to be honest I used to look for you in the neighborhood,” he says, taking another drag. “I ran into Chris this morning as he was coming to your apartment and he told me who you were. That's when he invited me to come. Your a really good singer by the way.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. “Well we should hang out sometime.”

“Are you going to Chris's party?” he asks.

“Yeah, after my next set,” I tell him.

~~~

He watches me as I sing. I like him. I don't know why because I really don't know him but I do like him. He smiles and raises his beer when he notices that I'm looking in his direction. Some people are singing along with me. Even Brian Black is singing. I motion for him to come on stage. Brian stares at me for a moment and then heads in my direction. I begin to play the melody from one of his songs and he takes the microphone.

Chris runs outside and returns quickly with his camera, snapping pictures of us singing together. At some point Drew also joins us and we have an makeshift concert going on. We perform song after song until a television van and photographer's start to show. “Hey everyone come to my house,” Chris yells.

Brian pulls Drew and I out the back way of the bar. “Come with us you can show me how to get to Chris' house,” Brian says. There is a limo waiting outside of the bar. “Shit look.” Brian points to the reporters gathered around his car.

“Wait I have an idea,” I whisper before, walking over to the car. “Guys can you get away from my limo?” I ask and the reporters started to look at me like I was some type of disease. I get in and look at the driver who is getting angry fast. I point over to the alley and he sees Brian. He nods and starts to move. The reporters walk away angry as the limo pulls into the ally.

“That was amazing,” Brian says.

“Thank you,” Drew adds as they get into the limo.

“You're welcome I just can't believe that worked,” I tell them as we leave the alley. “Oh my god I can't believe I just played with two of my idol's!”

“Well the fact that you can play the way you do makes me a fan of you,” Drew says. “How long have you been Playing?”

“I've been playing for a while ever since I was little kid. My granddad taught me how to play,” I almost whisper. “He would have liked to see me play.”

“Where is your granddad now?” Brian asks.

“He died when I was fifteen,” I tell them. My granddad played guitar in a folk band. Even though he was almost always on tour he was the glue that held my family together. When he died my father found comfort in his alcohol and my mother, well let's just say that things no longer meant anything for her. I wasn't wanted anymore, not until my father needed his punching-bag and my mother needed someone to blame for her shitty life.

“I'm sorry Steve, we both know what it means to lose someone special,” Drew says, taking my hand. “Look at it this way. He probably heard you sing from heaven.”

“That's a good way to look at it,” I say.

“So who was that cute guy you were talking to earlier?” Drew asks.

“His name is Charlie and that's a long story,” I tell them.

~~~

Chris pulls me into his house. “You won't believe who is here,” he says as he pulls me away from the door. “Melissa Browning, the actress.”

“The one from that book,” I ask.

“Yes and she's letting me take her picture for my book,” Chris says as his boyfriend, Ben hands me a drink.

“You're going to need this. Especially when you see that,” Ben says, motioning to the table where a shirtless Charlie is dancing to some music. He looks so sexy dancing alone like he's a go go boy. “Go on young man enjoy yourself this is all for you.”

Chris' house is full of people. Drew and Brian disappeared somewhere. I notice that some of these people are either the subjects of Chris's photographs, real famous or just interesting people. In one corner I thought I saw Jonathan Williams a best selling author. In another corner there were three models conversating with a movie star who is obviously flirting with them.

As I reached Charlie, I noticed that he had obviously had one drink too many. He was dancing and sweating, slowly taking off his pants. I downed my own drink and grabbed another from a waiter carrying glasses on a tray. I downed the next drink and I helped Charlie of the table, zipping up his pants. “Hey why don't we get you some water?” I ask, pulling him towards the kitchen.

“Steve, you finally came,” he barely made out.

“Take him to the spare room.” Chris whispered in my ear. “I'll bring some water.”

“Get me another drink,” I tell him as he leaves. “You're right I need it.”

“Where are we going?” Charlie asks.

“We are going into the guest room, you need to sober up,” I tell him. “Come on it's down the hall.”

As soon as I get him in the room he pulls me close. He starts to kiss my neck and rubs my back with his hands. He's small but he can control me. I almost let him too but Chris walks in. “Here give him this,” Chris says handing me a cup of coffee. “and for you.” He hands me a glass filled with a blue drink. “Oh and Steve, be gentle with him, he's never like this.”

~~~~~

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