James

Hello! Sorry I didn't put any personal touches on the last part. I kind of figured that people were ready for a new part and that I wouldn't take up any time with my ramblings... just on with the show. Well, here we are, a huge crossroad in the life of our heroes. Anybody care to speculate on what will happen next? I am as clueless as you are, since I write this thing as I go. I have basic stuff planned out, but when I get in the groove of writing I never know what will come up next.

Anyway, there's still plenty of story to tell and I don't plan to cut it off any time soon. So, without further adieu, onto lucky part thirteen!

Part XIII

A soft buzzing noise woke me from a sound sleep. What on earth was that, I thought to myself. I hit the clock, but it wasn't the alarm. I listened closely. As I turned my head, I noticed that the buzzing was coming from the sheet and blanket-covered lump lying naked in the bed next to me. I groaned. James had to pick now to become a snorer, after we had agreed to spend our lives together. It figures, I thought. I see the good side until I agree to put the ring on, then I see all the bad stuff.

I nudged James with my finger. He snorted a little. "James, you're snoring. Turn over." He mumbled a little and then snorted louder. I groaned, then poked him in the side. "Dude, turn over!" He mumbled again and then turned over. The snoring stopped. Whew, I thought. James had felt kind of odd for a day or two. He said he was having phlegm problems during our walk in the park earlier in the day, and then hocked something nasty into the grass for effect. I told him he was gross, and he laughed and said I shouldn't be surprised if he started snoring, which he sometimes did when he was sick. Great, I thought. Here we go.

About an hour later, I was awakened again, this time from James' restless tossing. I sat up in bed, wondering what the hell this was all about. James had a grimace on his face, and then I noticed that his breathing sounded funny. What in the world is up, I thought. I reached out for him and felt his skin. It was dry and a little on the warm side. Uh-oh, I thought. I laid back and waited to see if he would wake up, and he calmed down a little while later. I slipped back to sleep.

"Dave? Dave, wake up."

I turned over, instantly awake. My earlier observations had my instincts on point. James sounded really weird. I noticed that it was now light outside. I turned over. James was lying back on the bed, looking absolutely miserable. I reached out and felt his forehead. James was burning up with fever. "Damn! James, you're hotter than fire."

He nodded weakly. "I feel horrible, dude. Every muscle in my body is aching."

I jumped out of bed and went to his side. "What do you want me to do?"

He lifted his head and gestured over to the phone. "Call the doctor. Chris."

I nodded and went to the phone. As it was ringing, I noticed the clock. Five forty-five on a Sunday. Doctor Preston wasn't going to be very thrilled about this one, but to hell with his feelings. My love was sick.

After six rings, a grumpy-sounding man answered the phone. "This better be good," the voice growled. I didn't recognize it at first. It must be Chris' lover, I thought.

"Hi, this is Dave Collins. I need to speak to Doctor Preston."

"Hang on," the voice growled again. In a few seconds, another voice answered weakly.

"Chris, it's Dave Collins. Sorry to bother you so early, but James woke me up and he's really hot. He says he's achy."

Chris instantly sounded more alert. "Sore throat? Cough? Where is he aching?"

I turned to James. "James, sweetie? Where are you hurting? Have you been coughing or anything?"

James groaned a little. "All my muscles hurt, not in any particular place. I've had a little cough. My throat is kind of sore, and I've been sneezing."

I relayed to Chris. "Sounds like he just has a cold. I can't really prescribe anything that will help, since it's a virus. Has he been exposed to anything else lately, like the flu? Sex with anyone else?"

"No, none of that."

"Okay, then I would say he has a cold. With all the weather changes lately, a lot of people are coming down with it. Just give him fluids and keep him resting. Bring him in tomorrow and we'll make sure, though."

I thanked the doctor and hung up and went back to my love. "Sorry sweetie. Looks like you have a cold."

James groaned. "I never get sick! This sucks."

"We just have to let you rest a few days," I said firmly, going into my nurse mode. I retrieved a thermometer from the cabinet and took his temperature. "Hmm, nearly one hundred. No wonder you feel so bad."

James grinned weakly. Even sick, that grin still turned me on. "You know, you could try to take that temperature in another place."

I shook my head and laughed. "You never stop, do you?" I asked. James laid his head back on the pillow and coughed a little, loosening some gunk in his throat. I got the trash can from the bathroom and placed it by the bed. "Here, spit in this." James did so, and man it looked nasty. It had a yucky greenish tint to it.

I went back to the phone and dialed a number. I checked the clock again. Five after six. She should be up by now, I thought to myself. Mom was always an early riser, even on Sunday. The phone rang once, then again. I frowned. This was odd. It rang a third and fourth time before it was answered. "Dammit, this better be good," a voice growled at me.

I was momentarily taken aback. Did I dial Chris again? I took me a second to realize it was my father's voice. "Dad, it's Dave. Put Mom on."

He cursed and grumbled a minute before my mother answered. "Dave, honey? Is everything all right?" I noticed she sounded a little odd, really breathless.

"Well, no, James is sick. The doc thinks he has a cold. Are you okay? You sound a little out of breath."

"Umm, yes honey, I'm fine. We're fine. Everything is fine. Your father and I were... well, we just woke up. Right."

I stood there confused for a moment before it finally registered. My Dad was really grumpy. Mom sounded out of breath. Oh my God, I thought. I have just interrupted them... "Oh shit, Mom, uh, I mean, umm, jeez, I'm sorry. I didn't know."

I heard movement on the line and then Mom squeaked a little. "Oh, it's alright honey. No harm done... Larry, stop that! I'm on the phone... all right Dave, what can I do?"

Shit, I thought again. "What should I give James if he has a cold?"

Mom giggled on the other end. "Larry, stop it! Dave, give him some orange juice. Tylenol won't hurt him if it's a cold. Chicken soup, all that good stuff."

"Right Mom. Thanks. See ya!" I hung up the phone as fast as I could. Oh shit, I thought again. How embarrassing.

"What happened?" James croaked from the bed.

"Never mind," I said. "I'll be right back." I went into James' kitchen looking for juice. There was a little in the fridge, but not much. I put some in a glass and took it back to him. "James, honey, here's some juice. Drink it when you can. I need to go get some stuff at the store." With that, I started getting dressed.

James took a little sip. "Aww, come on Dave. You don't have to get dressed now. I like seeing you naked."

I smiled. "Well, sorry about you. You need some stuff that will make you feel better, and you don't have any of it here." I pulled on some sweatpants and a t-shirt and plopped a ball cap on my head. "You just lie back, and I'll be back as quick as I can."

James chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."

About thirty minutes later, I walked back into James' apartment with a grocery sack full of good stuff for sick people. I had chicken soup, orange juice, and various other stuff. Maybe this won't be a long bug. As I was getting stuff out of the sack, I heard a muffled sob. I dropped the can of soup on the counter and bolted for the bedroom.

James was lying on the bed looking as sad and miserable as I had ever seen him. He was crying. My heart dropped into my feet and broke about ten times. I went to the bed and hugged him. "What's wrong, sweetie?"

He sniffled. "Where were you, Dave? I called you and you weren't there."

My heart broke again. "I'm sorry. I had to get some stuff from the store that would make you feel better. I'm so sorry," I repeated as I held him tightly. He was still warm and shaking.

James sniffled. "Don't leave again, please Dave! I need you."

I hugged him as tight as I could. "I won't honey. I won't." As I said it, I was glad I picked up a lot of stuff. But I was resolved not to leave him alone.

"Is my soup ready yet?" the voice called feebly from the living room.

I had just poured what had to be the millionth bowl of chicken soup in the last three days. I shook my head. "Yeah, it's ready. I'll be right there." James finally felt well enough to have some crackers with his soup, and I arranged them on the tray with the bowl.

I walked into the living room and placed the tray in front of him, then sat on the couch. James looked, then scowled. "Chicken soup again?"

I rolled my eyes. "Look, that's what we have. I'm sorry it isn't lobster," I grumbled as I sat back.

James sat back. "I don't want any more chicken soup. Fix me something else."

I sat up again and looked at him incredulously. "Do you think I just wave my magic wand and the soup magically appears? I'll repeat: that's all we have here."

James frowned. "I'm tired again. I'm going to rest."

I laid back and groaned. "You do that." James got up and trailed his blankets behind him into the bedroom. Jeez, I thought to myself. What a fucking pain in the ass. Three days of "Dave, where's my juice? Dave, can you move the TV? Can you get my glasses?" I had gone from concerned lover to slave in very little time. Just as I rubbed my eyes and began re-thinking this whole commitment thing, the phone rang. I picked it up. "Hello?" I asked impatiently.

"Whoa, calm down Dave! Everything okay?" It was Laura. I had called Matt two days ago to get some stuff for me and bring it over, and Laura knew the whole scoop.

"Yeah, everything's fine. The man of the house is feeling better."

Laura laughed. "Sounds like someone is getting a little impatient with the patient."

I groaned at the bad pun. "Are all men such kids when they are sick?"

Laura was silent for a moment. "Physician, heal thyself. I remember someone having the flu last year and I don't think I have ever seen anyone so whiny."

I laughed. "Yeah, well, I can't have driven you and Matt nearly as crazy as I am right now."

"You need to get out of that apartment. Take a walk, do something to occupy your mind. Recharge your battery."

I stretched out on the couch. "Maybe you're right, Laura. Maybe you're right. How do you feel about babysitting?"

"Oh no," Laura said. "Don't try to put this on me. I made the suggestion, you have to find the solution."

I laughed. "Okay, okay. So what's up with you?"

"Nada. Just cleaning up. Graduation is next week, and I'm looking for a new place to stay."

I frowned. "I thought you could stay in the sorority house until the end of the summer."

"I can, but I want to get new arrangements as soon as I can. Matt and I have talked about getting a place together, but he can't get out of his lease yet."

"Yeah, I know. I'm almost completely out of school, but I'm stuck until the end of the summer at least."

"Well, I need to go. Matt's picking me up soon. Take my advice, Dave. Just go out for a bit, it will do you good."

"I will. Thanks."

I put the phone down and thought. Yes, that's what I need. I need to go out. Maybe get a short bite, go hang out with Todd for a while. I went into the bathroom and showered quickly, then I began searching for some clean clothes in the bedroom. "What are you doing?" James asked from the bed.

"Getting some clothes," I said.

"Why?"

I grabbed my jeans. "I'm going out."

"What? Now? You're going to leave me when I'm sick?"

I looked at James. "You're better. I'm about to go crazy here, dude. I have to get out for a little bit, charge up my battery."

James looked indignant. "I can't believe you, Dave. You told me you wouldn't leave."

I rolled my eyes. "James, you're going to be fine. You have tissues, Tylenol, and some soup left on the stove. You don't need a nursemaid every second."

"Dave, I'm sick!"

I looked at him. "I can't believe you, acting so helpless like that! Is this how you're going to be? Not doing anything for yourself, milking it for all you can get?"

James narrowed his eyes. "Fuck you, Dave. Go out, see if I care." He flopped back on the bed and turned his back to me, pulling the covers over his head. I just made a disgusted sound and finished dressing, then left.

What the hell am I doing here, I thought for the fourth time. In my anger, I had driven past every single one of my normal hangouts. I had ended up at the most notorious pick-up bar for gay men in the city. I was in jeans and the tightest t-shirt I had, and I looked good. And here I was, wasting it on men who didn't matter a bit to me.

"Hey, sexy. Wanna dance?" I looked over at the skinny guy with bleached hair who asked. He grinned and winked. He was wearing a tight sweater that emphasized his defined body but was a little small for him. The hem of the shirt didn't meet the top of his low-slung khakis. With a glance I could tell he wasn't wearing underwear. He was obviously interested in me, judging from the healthy bulge in the front.

I thought for a minute about James and how I felt whenever another guy hit on him. Then I thought about how much of a brat he had been earlier in the day and I stood up. "Sure, why not?"

We danced apart for a bit as the fast song boomed from the speakers. Then a sultry, seductive song came on that was vaguely familiar. As I tried to place it, the guy began dirty dancing with me. I responded on instinct and danced the same way, rubbing our bodies together. Then all of a sudden it hit me where I had heard that song before! The night of the Halloween party, this was the song that James and I had "danced" to when we put on our show of utterly depraved exhibitionism. And man, had that felt good. M y body responded to the memory, and the kid in front of me made an appreciative growl as my jeans began to tent out. "Mmm," he said. "Can I have it?" he asked as he began rubbing my bulging crotch.

I broke out into a cold sweat. What the hell was I doing? Here I was, a little less than a week since becoming engaged to the man I had waited my whole life for, and because of one little spat because he was sick I was out here with some twink who meant nothing to me. My mind raced through all the experiences James and I had gone through, and I felt intensely guilty. "Sorry, I have to go," I said and I raced through the crowd and jumped in my car.

I walked in the door of James' apartment, trying to be as quiet as I could be. None of the lights were on, but the TV was. James sat on the couch, wrapped in his blanket. He hadn't showered or shaved in days, but it did nothing to diminish his aura of pure sex appeal. My mouth literally watered at the sight. Here he was, my lover. My soul mate. My heart began pounding at the sight of him.

I walked over to the couch. James looked miserable again, only this time it wasn't fever. His eyes were red and puffy, probably from crying. What have I done, I asked myself again. I sat down next to him. "Hey," I said quietly.

"Hey." His eyes never left the TV.

I looked over at the TV. "What are you watching?"

"Weather Channel."

"Why?"

"Dunno."

I looked at the floor, trying to figure out what to say. James beat me to the punch. "Why are you so mad at me?" he asked.

I looked at James. "I'm not mad, James. Honestly, I'm not."

James looked at the remote control he clutched in his hands. "Yes, you are. You yelled at me today. You've never yelled at me like that, ever." His eyes began to fill again.

My heart tore. "James, I shouldn't have yelled. I let the frustration get to me."

James sniffed. "Was I really that bad?"

I tried to smile. "Yeah, you were. But it's okay."

James looked down. "I'm sorry."

I leaned forward and grasped his hand. "No, James, I'm sorry. No words can tell you how sorry I am. You needed me, and I just blew up."

James looked at my hand, then at me. "Where did you go?"

I looked away. "I went to Hook."

His eyes widened. "Hook? Why, Dave?"

"I don't know. I just ended up there. I wasn't thinking."

James' eyes puddled up again. "What happened?"

I leaned back. "I got hit on by this really cute guy. We danced, and he wanted to hook up with me." James' lip quivered. "Everything reminded me of you. Everything. The dancing, the songs, everything. So I left."

James grabbed a tissue and blew his nose and wiped his eyes. "James, listen to me." I touched his chin and tilted his head. "There's no one else in this world I want. I want to be with you. I love you. I love you more than anyone. You are my life, my breath, everything."

James looked me in the eye. "I love you too, Dave. And I don't doubt you. Even as mad as we both were, it didn't change anything."

I grabbed his hands. "It's all part of life. We have to learn to live together. We're used to our own space, our own lives. Yeah, we sleep together every night, but our lives are still separate."

James nodded. "I know."

I breathed out. "So, I have an idea."

James' eyebrows lifted. "I'm all ears."

I swallowed. This thought had popped into my brain in the car. I knew exactly what to do. "All right. Laura needs a place to live, and Matt and I are stuck in our leases until the end of the summer at least. Matt wants to sign a new lease since he has a job lined up already. I have no idea what I'm doing yet, so I'm balking on the lease. Laura is working here at least for the summer."

"Yeah," James said.

"So how about I move out of my apartment, let Laura move in with Matt, and I move in here?"

James thought for a minute. He was so adorable, all tousled and cute. "You think we should? I mean, I get sick and we have a huge fight..."

"I think we can both agree we overreacted on that. I should have been more patient."

James nodded. "And I could have been more understanding." He leaned into my shoulder. "You've really been great the last few days. I should have known you needed a break."

We rubbed our foreheads together. His was cool as a cucumber. "Mea culpa. Equal fault on both sides. But, what about my idea?"

James nodded. "Sounds great if the others agree."

I grinned. "Great." I leaned back on the couch and pulled James into the crook of my arm. He snuggled into my body.

"You smell like cigarette smoke," he mumbled.

I sniffed. I didn't just smell of it, I reeked of it. Then I noticed something. "Yeah, I smell like smoke, but you never complained before, Chain Smoker."

James chuckled. "Well, I don't like it. I don't like the smell of another guy mixed with smoke on you."

I pulled James tighter. "Well, you don't have to worry."

We sat for a few seconds before James spoke again. "I've made a decision."

"Enlighten me."

"I think I wouldn't have felt so bad with this cold if it weren't for my smoking," James said. The doctor had said as much on Monday when I dragged James in. "So, I am going to quit."

I blinked. "Just like that?"

James nodded. "Just like that."

I groaned. "Oh man, I've just gotten over you being sick. Now we have to go through withdrawal?"

James laughed and settled back into my arm. "I haven't smoked since the day before I got sick. Haven't you noticed?"

I thought. Come to think of it, that was true. "Hmm. That would also explain why you've been such a bitch the last few days."

James poked me in the ribs. "Watch it, bub. Anyway, I'm going to quit smoking."

"Okay," I answered. We watched several local forecasts and ogled Jim Cantore for a bit before James spoke again.

"We graduate on Saturday, you know."

"Yep."

"What do we do after that?"

"I move in here, and we decide as we go."

James was silent for a bit. "Okay, I know what we can do after that."

"What?"

"You can come with me."

I frowned. "Where?"

"Home. Back to Kentucky."

My eyes widened. "Are you sure?"

I felt James nod. "Yes, I'm sure. It's time I went home. And since we're going to be together, I want you to come with me. If they are going to accept me, they have to accept you, too."

I shook my head. "James, dude, think this over. It's going to be hard enough for them. You don't think bringing me is going to make it worse?"

James was resolute. "Maybe it will, but that's how it has to be."

We sat silently through another local forecast. "Okay, then. I'll come with you. When do you want to go?" I looked down at James. His mouth was set in a determined line.

"The week after we graduate." I nodded, and bent my head to kiss him.

End of Part XIII

Well folks, that's all for this one. How's this for drama? The long-awaited journey home for James is almost upon us. Comments? Questions? Random thoughts? Feel free to email them to me. Until next time, stay healthy!