This is the first of a new series. The title of the series is Circle of Friends. This installment will serve at the scene setter and will introduce you to the main characters and the background characters.
Disclaimer: This story involves sexual situations between consenting mature adults, and is therefore intended for mature audiences. No one under the age of 18 or in an area where such material has been deemed unacceptable should read any further. This story is fiction and the characters involved are not meant to represent the lives of any individuals living or dead. Any resemblance is coincidental. This story deals with homosexual relationships, and expressions of love. If this offends you, then again, you should read no further. Otherwise, enjoy.
Circle of Friends Episode 1: The Introduction
"Where are we going for dinner?" yelled Steven from the living room watching T.V.
"Jerod said something about wanting Italian so I'm thinking Olive Garden," yelled Weiss from his bathroom.
"Why Olive Garden?" asked Steven.
"It is Jerod's birthday and that's what he wants. Plus they'll have the space" answered Weiss.
"Why, who all is going?" yelled Steven.
"The entire crew as far as I know," yelled Weiss.
"When?" yelled Steven. "I'm hungry."
"As soon as everyone gets here," replied Weiss. "I suggested everyone meet here that way we could all leave together. They should be here any minute."
Just 24 Steven's life is coming together. He has a nice job making very good money, good friends, and a loving family. An avid kickboxer, daily workouts have given his 5'10" frame a nice, toned physique. Add to that physique sandy blond hair and piercing blue eyes and its not surprising that he gets stares from both men and women. Here lately, the stares from the men are starting to stir something inside him that he can't really put his finger on.
At 26, Weiss is the grandfather of the crew. Steven and Weiss have been roommates for the last 3 years right after Weiss graduated and Steven decided he needed a break from college. For the past couple weeks he hadn't had an opportunity to see much of anything besides his office at work. He'd been on call at the hospital where he worked at as a computer consultant for the last two weeks. He needed this chance to get out and do something with his friends. He'd even gotten the courage to ask Clarisse, one of the nurses at the hospital, if she wanted to come and she said yes. Although she would have to meet the crew at the restaurant after her shift was over.
"How's my bitch today?" yelled Jon as he walked through the seemingly never locked front door.
This was his typical greeting to Steven whenever they saw each other.
"Nothing much, Queen," was Steven usual comeback. "Just sitting here waiting on Jerod so we can go eat."
Jon was the quiet shit talker of the crew. He and Steven always seemed to be at each other in a joking kinda way. Neither meant anything by what they were saying, just good ol' boys making fun at the others expense. Ordinarily it would be just Jon, Weiss, and Steven hanging out.
Jon knew Jerod but they weren't the best of friends. They weren't enemies either but they just weren't that close friends. Jerod was Weiss's friend and Jon was Weiss's friend therefore they all hung together occasionally, but neither really knew the other. In part because Jerod could be a real asshole at times and Jon would always call him on it when it happened, something Steven found funny, as he really wasn't that close to Jerod as well.
At 25, Jon stood 6'1", 215 pounds of what was becoming more muscle than fat since he'd committed himself to improving his health and getting back in shape. Jon had short black hair and deep brown glass framed eyes that are typical of most black men although his would turn dark as night during the winter months. Jon was still in school working on his Master's while working part-time at an advertising agency as an administrative assistant.
"Who all is coming?" Jon asked.
"All Weiss said was the entire crew," replied Steven.
"Damn!" replied Jon. "I hope that doesn't include that prick, Mathew."
"What is it that you have against that dude?" asked Steven.
"Nothing really, I just get this sense about him that if I got to know him better that I'd really dislike him," replied Jon.
Mathew was one of Jerod's closest friends. Mathew had never really done or said anything personally to Jon to make him feel the way he did toward him. Jon thought Mathew was a spoiled rich kid. Mathew never missed an opportunity to let everyone know he didn't have to work if he chose not to. Every chance he got to let people know his wealth, he took. Jon hated people who acted that way. It was Weiss who told Jon and Steven that Mathew's last girlfriend said that it was a good thing Mathew had money otherwise no one would be willing to over look his personality and his looks.
"Yeah and I know how you are about your 'senses'," replied Steven.
Steven often wondered if perhaps Jon knew about the feelings that had begun to stir in him. At times Jon said things that made him think this was the case but Jon never really pushed the subject any more than necessary. He'd usually make some smart-ass comment garnering laughter and just like that the subject was changed and an awkward moment averted. He did this on other occasions as well, particularly when he was the subject of the conversation. He was especially good at doing it when anyone asked about anyone he was dating. Steven at first thought that weird, but then he rationalized that perhaps Jon was like him, he might just prefer to keep private things private. Besides with everyone's hectic weekday schedules, weekends were usually the only time they could all get together outside of the occasional weeknight basketball game, so no one really knew what Jon was up to during the week. Actually that could be said for any of them for that matter.
"Hey Jon, is Tyson coming tonight?" asked Weiss as he came into the living room.
"Nope, He already has plans plus you know he doesn't really like Jerod," replied Jon.
Tyson was J's bestfriend. They'd been friends since high school and all through college. Up until a couple months ago Tyson was the 4th musketeer but then he moved closer to his job about a 30 minutes drive and he ever since then he hadn't been around as much. Tyson was a unique character but there was never a dull moment with him around for he was liable to say anything to anyone at anytime.
"I did invite Mark though," replied Jon. "He's coming straight from work."
Mark was Jon's roommate. Mark was a workaholic spending up to 12 hours a day at the investment firm where he worked. Mark's goal was to retire at 40 and at 26 that only gave him 14 short years to get it accomplished. Mark was on the thin side. At 6' he barely weighed 150 pounds soak and wet. Mark was a blue eyed, brown haired country boy from the mountains although you couldn't tell it from talking with him. Because he was however, most of his free time was usually spent outdoors hiking or camping. Although Jon and Mark have been sharing an apartment for the last year and a half they'd just started making more of an effort to hang out together.
Jon said, "He didn't have any plans and I didn't want him seating around the house doing nothing all night."
"Has he meet Jerod before?" asked Steven.
"Yeah, last weekend when you went out of town. We all we out to dinner," replied Weiss.
"He said he had fun. He and Jerod actually hit it off. I can't explain it," said Jon.
The doorbell rings.
"That must be him," said Weiss. "Everyone else just walks in like they're at home."
"Yeah, that's true. We might have to start locking our door to keep the riff raff out," said Steven as he punched Jon on his way to the door.
"Who you call riff raff?" replied Jon jokingly. "You know your heart lights up every time you see me. You fairy."
"You wish," was Steven terse reply as he answered the door.
Mark followed Steven into the living room and ducked as Jon sent one of the couch throw pillows in Steven's direction. Steven dodged the pillow and was about to charge Jon when he heard the door open and the voices of the rest of the gang.
In walked Jerod, Johnson, Mathew, Allison, Kate, and Elle. Jerod was leading the way as usual followed by Allison. Johnson had his arms around Kate while Mathew and Elle were bringing up the rear.
Jerod worked with Weiss at the hospital. They were roommates in college their first couple years and their friendship had continued. Jerod had the reputation of being somewhat of a know- it-all without knowing as much as he thought he did. It was part of the reason that Steven and Jon could tolerate him in small non-continuous doses. Jerod stood about 6'2" 180 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes hidden behind wire framed glasses. He wasn't drop dead gorgeous but then again he wasn't deputy dog either, he wasn't muscular but you could tell his body had definition. Jerod was just a typical guy who for whatever reasons both Steven and Jon thought swung both ways.
Allison was his new girl friend but not girlfriend. He'd meet her over the Internet and they'd been talking and hanging out since then. She wasn't unattractive but if she didn't have the body that she has you'd never give her a second look.
Johnson and Kate were total opposites but it seemed to work for them. Johnson was a practical joker and Kate was little Miss Prim and Proper. He was about 6'4", 230. She was barely 5'5" 105. Johnson had short black hair while Kate had long blonde hair. Opposites but it seemed to work and there was an ongoing pool as to when Johnson would pop the question.
Jon and Steven shared a secret laugh as they were filing in. Jon knew that Steven was not happy at all when he saw Elle walk into the door. Elle was a pretty girl, 5'6" 110 nicely proportioned pounds with a cute face. However it wasn't Elle's face that turned Steven off. It was Elle's personality. Steven felt toward Elle the same Jon felt toward Mathew. Elle could be very confrontational at times and it seemed her and Steven never agreed on anything from the color of the sky to how many cents are in a quarter.
Tonight was shaping up to be an eventful evening and the gang's was all there. The Circle of Friends.
Author's note: I know after ready the disclaimer you were expecting more but this is just the beginning. This was just to set the stage. Any comments, constructive criticism, or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Next Episode: Let's go Clubbing.