Disclaimer: This story is a work of pure fiction and is not intended to imply that Hayden Christensen is gay.
If it is illegal for you to be reading this story in your city, state or country, or you are offended by homosexual activity, then leave now.
This story time frame starts about March 2002, the time when Hayden was in the west-end starring in "This is Our Youth". Remember, this is fiction, nothing more.
This is my first story, so any constructive feed back will be appreciated. This is a proper story, so if you're expecting smut on every paragraph, you should probably leave. I like to write with proper narratives, and so you'll have to wait for the hot stuff.
IS THIS OUR YOUTH?
PROLOGUE
I looked into the mirror to see that I didn't look as tired as I had felt coming down to the Garrick Theatre. My dark skin had gotten considerably lighter due the long winter months here in London. My black hair wasn't as spiky as it usually was due to the fact that I couldn't be bothered to put any product in it when I left the house.
Coming down to the west-end to watch this play had been a "spur of the moment" thing. I was going through some serious emotional problems and I was looking for an escape from reality, however temporary or fleeting that escape might be. Getting the tickets on the day wasn't a problem; it was a Saturday matinee and the three cast members weren't really well known in Britain, yet.
Anna Paquin was probably the most famous since she has already won an Oscar and Playing Rogue in "X-Men". Jake Gyllenhaal was completely unknown, although he probably will be in the near future. I heard good things about his film "Donnie Darko", although I won't be able to see it until it's released later in the year. Hayden Christensen, however, is being made famous for something that will be released two months from now. He's kind of the reason why I wanted to see this play so badly.
The mirror was showing me something that I was equally proud and disgusted of. I had lost a lot of weight in a year (from 180 to 145) but I had got this body for the wrong reasons and by means I didn't approve of. I'm not saying that I got fixated on my weight and started to puke up after every meal. More like my other problems just made me so depressed that I didn't eat as much (and I used to eat a lot). At least my height wasn't achieved through compromise. I had grown two more inches and was now six foot (quite an accomplishment for an English 19 year old of south-east Asian parentage).
An usher walked into the Gentleman's Toilet to announce that the play will start in five minutes and that we should make our way to our seats. I did as he suggested.
Chapter 1
An amazing thing about the Garrick theatre is that the cheapest tickets are actually the first two rows. I was just a few feet away from the stage and three seats from the middle. I was in the perfect position. If felt kind of strange being in that theatre. Everyone had a companion with them. I just didn't feel like being around my friends right now. I needed pure distraction. And I got it when the curtains were drawn.
They opened with Hayden standing right in front of me. His character was supposed to be watching a TV show while smoking a cigarette, but I guess I was sitting where his focal point would. He was staring directly into my eyes. To tell you the truth it was kind of making me uncomfortable because I knew that it was an acting technique. He broke eye contact when he had to answer the intercom of his characters flat.
I was mesmerised. I had the preconception that this guy might not be able to act; that he had been chosen to star opposite Natalie Portman due to his beauty rather than his talent. I was proud to have been corrected.
I could swear that he kept looking at me during the performance. When his character Dennis was laughing so much that he had to turn a way from Jake, or when Dennis was so angry that he need to time to calm down. I wanted it to be other than him using a technique. I wanted it to be real. When the play finished, I wasn't just in love with him, I was also in love with the play. I loved everything, from the characters; what they wore; the set; and the music. I loved the music, especially the last song. I had to find out what that song was. It sounded old, retro, but still contemporary, if that makes sense.
I left the theatre with such lightness. My troubles felt non- existent. But then something struck me, something that would make it all the more perfect. The cast would be leaving through the stage door. Their will be autograph signing and all that goes along with it.
I realised that I had walked all the way to Trafalgar Square. I started to run as fast as I can, wondering if I could catch them All I wanted was three autographs from three amazing actors. I had to at least get Hayden's. I was running so fast that I almost smashed into a skater. Luckily, he swerved to the right and I slowed down in time to readjust my heading. I got back to the Garrick so exhausted that all I could see was a crowd. I finally regained my composure and started to walk towards the rest of the "fanatics" when I saw that the cast had already said their farewells and was getting into their cars. I just stood there staring, angry at myself for missing the opportunity to talk to Hayden.
Hayden looked out of the window to look at the fans again and he saw me. I realised what he was doing and I started to smile. It was all too brief. The car began to move, but Hayden looked out of the back window. The cars continued down the road. They were no longer in sight.
I needed to sit. I wasn't about to dwell. That's the kind of thing that made me want to see a play and forget. I had to tell someone. I thought about the person that I didn't want to see today, my best friend, Tom. He's not the reason why I'm so down. He was going through some shit as well and I didn't feel like burdening him with mine. But I had to tell someone, and this was the sort of thing that would be good for him to hear. I got out my mobile (cell phone for those in other countries) and dialled his number.
"Joe, I'm working."
"No, you're not. You've just finished."
"Yeah, I have. So what's going on?"
"Um....you want to catch a play?"
"When?"
"Tonight."
"OK. Where are you?"
"I'm close. I'll meet you outside your work place in ten minutes."
"Alright then. laters."
"Later."
TO BE CONTINUED