Just like a dream -- or Fly into the Sun.
Hey everybody. I'm new at this, but reading other peoples stories has often given me a lot of fun, so I thought it was time for me to contribute. I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I don't know any of the persons in the following and have no idea what so ever of their sexual orientation. That's strictly their own business -- and this is purely fiction -- not intended to offend anybody. If it does anyway: I'm sorry, but a guy's allowed to dream, right? ................
Chapter 1 -- An unexpected encounter
One night a few months ago I woke up in a sweat at 3 a.m.. Woke up from a dream that was both delightful and troubled me at the same time. Usually I don't think I have dreams like that. It was almost painfully real, and it stayed with me even after waking up. I dreamt of me and a man. He wasn't someone I know - and yet he did seem familiar to me. I was with him in every sense of the word, and all the time I felt both pleasure and anxiety. The pleasure I could understand: I am gay, right, so that should be no surprise. But the anxiety I really didn't understand, because there was nothing in my dream to provoke it. Anyway, my heart was pounding way too fast, and I felt like I was on an adrenalin rush.
It took a while for me to go back to sleep again, so when the alarm buzzed the next morning I was totally beaten. I still remembered the dream quite vividly, though. Who was that guy? I was sure I had seen him somewhere, but I really couldn't remember where. As I sat in the kitchen drinking my coffee, I started daydreaming -- going over the dream again. Remembering the intimate little details of it all.
How I suddenly found myself in a beautiful garden with this incredible guy. He was probably a bit younger than me (26), short -- only about 5 ft. 7, messy dark hair, tanned skin. He wore a thin cotton button down shirt, open enough to show his nice, smooth chest muscles. He was slim, but with a muscular build. Not too muscular, though -- only just the way I like `em. Bodybuilders never really turned me on. The sight of his butt and thighs in those slim blue jeans really lit a spark in me. But the best thing about him was his eyes. Hazel brown, warm and caring eyes deep enough to drown in.
He came towards me, and very confidently he pulled me into a tight hug. When we let go again, he kept his hands on my shoulders and looked at me with those incredible eyes of his. Then he leaned in again and kissed me, like I've never been kissed before. He poured everything I need from a lover into that kiss. Caring tenderness, devotion, craving curiosity and passion -- all in one kiss. I never knew it could be that good.
"Shit!!" I jumped to my feet. My eyes had evidently glanced at the clock on the wall, and my brains -- though occupied with other and more important things -- had decided to stop my daydreaming -- cause if I was going to make it to work in time, I had to rush for it!
Getting into City with the rest of the morning crowd is always a challenge. I live in a quiet residential area in Notting Hill, and it's only about 20 minutes with the tube to where I work in central London. I own my own business -- a bookshop. I'm doing quite well. The shop gives me a comfortable income, enough to afford my house in Notting Hill, a nice car, a holiday abroad every year and the daily necessities of living -- like going out, buying fancy clothes etc. And my two housemates Minerva and Albus -- who are my two gorgeous Norwegian forest cats, named after two of my favourite Harry Potter figures. My parents died way to early in a car crash, leaving me the house and a small fortune at the age of 20. After fooling around for about a year, I decided, that the rest of the money had to be used to earn me a living. So I went back to school. I worked my way to a B.A. degree at the Business school at the East London University, and decided to use the rest of my inheritance to buy a bookshop, as books and reading are probably my greatest passion. I found a nice shop with a good location, bought it, and worked my butt off to make it what it is today. I now have nine employees, whom I have chosen very carefully. They are all about my own age, presentable and with a passion for literature, just like me. My business philosophy is, that you have to be passionate about what you work with. You've got to want to give the costumer all your special attention and all your knowledge and love for the product. If you can't do that, you might as well get a job as a cashier in a supermarket!
Anyway -- even if the shop is doing quite well now, I like to come in before opening hours in the morning to make sure, that everything is ready and presentable for the costumers, and to have a chat and a cup of coffee with the morning staff, before we open the doors. We're all in this together and work as a team, and I consider most of them some of my closest friends.
That day the morning team consisted of Ana and Nigel. As I rushed in like a storm ten minutes before opening hours and tried to start my usual morning routine at maximum speed, Ana came over and put a hand on my shoulder. "Easy now, Nicky, everything is just fine." she said with a teasing, sweet smile. "Come and have your coffee. I think you might need that." "But..." I started, before she cut me off. "No buts. Come on now!" She said, pulling me out to the staff room in the back and got me seated with my coffee mug.
"But what about..." I started.
"Already done!" she stated.
"But I need to..."
"No you don't. We did that too, so just cool off. You need to calm down and find that usual costumer friendly smile of yours!" she said with a smirk. "What got you so worked up anyway?"
"Well" I said, finally starting to relax. "The short version is that I didn't sleep well last night and got going too late. I really hate that. And I had that dream of some gorgeous...hnng!"
She looked at me over the coffee mug speculatively. "Hm! You need to go and get laid!"
"Do not!" I fired back.
"Yes you do -- and I need to go and unlock the doors!" she said getting up from the chair.
I started to get up too, but she looked at me with a bidding expression, and I slumped back again.
"OK, OK, Mummy, I'll just stay here and finish my coffee!" I said with a pout.
"Good boy!"
So I leaned back and started to relax. What a girl! If I hadn't happened to be gay...
But then again I was. I knew it, and she knew it, and there was nothing more to say about that. Except she was completely right: I needed to get laid.
I don't believe in what people seem to think is the gay lifestyle. The idea of fucking around all the time just doesn't appeal to me. I want something solid. Something safe. Something where love comes first and then sex as a natural follow. And I hadn't had the time to look for that in years -- well actually not since I accepted, that I was gay. I definitely have been attracted to some odd guy from time to time, but I never put in the time to find out, if there could be more to it. So actually -- I've never really been laid. And now I wanted to. I wanted...him!
My god, was that pathetic. I was falling in love at first sight...with a dream image! How sane was that?
I realized then, that I had to do something about it. And taking a vacation would be a good start. I needed to forget about the shop for a while and do something else. And this time of year would be a good time. The springtime is never the busiest time of year in London. The tourists don't start to really pour in before June, and people are starting to think about other things than reading. So now was actually a great time. And Ana and the others could easily manage on their own for a couple of weeks.
So I went to my office and turned on the computer and started looking at travel sites on the Internet to get some idea of where to go. I had just found something interesting, when the bell rang, to tell me, that I was needed in the shop.
I immediately went in there. And the shop was indeed unusually busy for a Thursday morning -- meaning that there were eight costumers at the same time. Ana and Nigel were both occupied, and another couple of costumers were waiting at the desk while yet some more were browsing on their own. So I started to serve the waiting costumers at the desk. Twenty minutes later, the last costumer waiting to be served was a young guy, who'd found a book on his own. Or more correctly -- a cute young guy. He was kind of a short, with messy blond hair and somewhat sharp features - and a nice mouth. He sported a small beard on his chin, and he was lean, wearing denim jeans and jacket and lightly shaded glasses.
"Hello Mate, what can I do for you?" I greeted him.
"I found this book, that I'd like to buy" he answered, laying the latest novel of one of my favourite writers -- Paolo Coelho -- on the desk. The Zahir.
"Well, that's an interesting choice" I said "If you like a good story with a spiritual message, that's really the best choice at the moment! It's actually one of my all time favourites!"
"Really?" he asked with an interested smile.
"Oh yes!" I said "It really gives you something deep to think about, like the nature of love and the meaning of life in general. And he really is a gifted writer. Once you get started, you can hardly let it go again, until you've finished it."
"Oh! I like that!" he said. "Do you have anything else like it?"
"Well...I think we should have a few other books by Coelho. He's actually written quite a few others with a similar twist, but there's also ..."
And we started an animated conversation about interesting books. I was definitely dealing with a passionate connoisseur here. The kind of costumer that really makes it worth the while to run a bookshop.
"What else do you like?" He asked at one point during the conversation, removing the shades - and I nearly had a heart attack. Suddenly I found myself staring into the eyes of my dream lover !!
"You!" I said, almost in a whisper, before I had a chance to pull myself together.
"Well, thank you" he said with a short laughter "It's always nice to meet a fan. Hello -- I'm Jon Lee." he continued, reaching out his hand. Nice hand.
I took it. "Nick Turner" I replied automatically, while my brains were racing beyond the speed limit. Jon Lee...oh good Lord...JON LEE. The S Club Jon Lee? The guy of my dream was Jon Lee??? No wonder I thought I should know him from somewhere. I'd had a crush on him for years while he performed with the S Club 7. And now he was standing there in front of me, a little older than I remembered, not a scrawny teenager but a real man, talking literature with me. Oh God!"
"Turner? Like in "Turner's Books"?" he asked with a smile. "Wow, this is your shop?"
"Yes, it is actually" I answered. Realizing I was still staring into his eyes, I looked away. "Look...I'm sorry about that, it's just..."
"No worry!" he said with a grin. "It happens regularly, so I'm used to it. But right now I just happen to be an ordinary guy having an interesting conversation about books with the nice owner of "Turner's Books". Now, where were we. Oh yes. So. What else do you like?"
I grinned back at him, and forced myself to relax. "Well, I hate to admit it, but I really like Fay Weldon. I think she writes in a unique style, so witty, and razor sharp at the same time."
"Really? Me too. Which book do you like best?"
And so we were at it again. And it felt so natural, that I almost forgot who he was. But those eyes, and that voice. I just savoured it all along with the conversation.
"Oooops!" he suddenly broke of the conversation after glancing at his watch. "Look, I have to be somewhere in a moment. But I really enjoy talking to you. How about if we continue over lunch?"
Needles to say, I agreed immediately. He would be back to pick me up at one o'clock.
When he was on his way out, I spotted the book on the desk. "Hey Jon. Remember your book!"
"Oh yeah! I wouldn't want to miss that! How much is it!" he said, pulling out his wallet.
"Never mind -- it's on the house!" I said.
He looked at me with a sort of tired expression. "Nick, you don't have to! I wanna pay like anyone else!"
I had to think fast to wiggle myself out of that one without being too obvious. "I know -- but I want to. Consider it a gift from one lover of books to another."
That made him smile again. "OK. Thanks! See you in couple of hours!"
And then he was gone - and I was in Heaven.
Ana immediately came over. "Wasn't that..."
"Yes! That was Jon Lee!" I interrupted her with a silly grin. "And guess who's having lunch with him later!"
"WHAT!" she almost screamed -- and realizing that the few odd costumers in the shop turned around and stared at her, she quickly smiled at them. "Sorry!"
And back to me"You are what?!" This time at a lower volume. "Staff room! Now!"
So we left Nigel to look after the shop and went out back.
"You must be joking, right?" she asked.
"Nooo -- I'm not!" I answered "He's a really, really nice guy -- and anyway it was his idea!"
She looked at me and seemed to consider the silly grin on my face.
"Oh my God. It's a kind of date, isn't it?" she then asked, looking worried.
"I don't know" I said "So far it's just two literature freaks discussing books -- but there might be more to it."
"Hmm! Just be careful Nicky. I don't want you to get hurt. I think you're already falling in love with him, aren't you?"
"I don't know yet!" I said. "But I have a really good feeling about this. How do I look?"
She checked me out. "You look just fine" was the verdict. "I suppose you're not going anywhere posh?"
"I wouldn't think so. There's nothing posh about Jon!" I smiled.
"Well, then you'll do just fine -- as always!" she said. "And don't worry about getting back here. Michael and Lynn are perfectly capable of closing up without you here!"
...
I checked myself in the restroom mirror at least twenty times during the next hour. I guess my looks are OK -- well, OK plus then. I dress pretty sharp and my dark hair is usually newly cut and rather short. I have good regular features, though slightly exotic due to a Chinese ancestor. But my eyes are very blue. I'm slim but fit and not very tall. Only a couple of inches taller than Jon. And I came to the conclusion, that my looks wouldn't be the reason, if he didn't want me.
A quarter to one I was ready to go. At five minutes to one I was really nervous. At five minutes past one I was slightly worried, as Jon hadn't shown up yet. At a quarter past one I was on the verge of despair. And just before he rushed in at 25 minutes past one I was ready to jump in the river.
But the sight of him washed it all away.
"Sorry Nick!" he exclaimed, as he entered the shop "I really am sorry I'm late!" It was clear that he meant it, and just one look into those deep brown eyes, and I was ready to forgive him for anything.
"It's OK!" I said with the sweetest smile I had. "Easy now. You're here, so don't worry. Just let me grab my jacket, and we're off."
"Where do you want to go?" I asked him, when we got out of the shop.
"Actually, I've already made arrangements." He said, laying a hand on my shoulder -- which of course caused my heart to jump."Come this way!"
He lead me over to Covent Garden and into one of the old streets of central London.
"Here it is" he said and stopped in front of an old fashioned pub. We went inside, and he greeted the keeper. "Hello Mason. Is my table ready?"
"No problem, mate" was the answer, and Mason led us to a table in the back. "What will you have?"
"I could do with a pint of lager." Jon said "How about you Nick?"
"Just fine with me. I'll have the same."
We ordered some food too, off course, and it was on the table shortly after.
During lunch we talked mainly about literature, but gradually we moved on to getting to know each other. Talking about what was going on in our lives, what we liked and didn't like to spend time doing, which values ruled our lives, etc.
I think that he was pleasantly surprised, that I was not at all updated as to what he'd been doing since S Club 7 split a few years ago. I guess it proved to him, that I was there mainly because of Jon, the nice guy -- and not to obsess over Jon, the pop star. And that was the truth anyway. I mean -- I did have a idol crush on him years ago when we were both teenagers, but right now I just happened to really, really like the person sitting across the table.
We had another pint and the conversation continued. Flowed freely, as if we were two old friends updating each other. The were lots of laughs and smiles -- but also serious and passionate moments, when we talked about things that mattered to either of us, or both of us. During the conversation it became increasingly clear to me, that I might have found my soul mate. We really related well and had many common views on different subjects. And it didn't take long, before we had started finishing each others sentences. It turned into a game of "I start and you finish". As if by mutual agreement we didn't touch the subject of romantic relations, though. But from some of the things he said I got enough hints to know that he was single. I dropped a few hints too completely on purpose, and that was that.
Before we knew it, it had become late afternoon. I guess we wouldn't have noticed if it hadn't been for the gradually growing crowd in the pub. But when we did, I could sense, that Jon was getting increasingly restless.
"Should we get out of here?" I asked him, expecting him to be a bit uneasy because of the crowd.
He smiled a slightly sad smile. "Yes. I have to get home and walk my dog." And realising that it sounded like a cliche of a lame excuse, he laughed at himself and continued "Honestly! I do. She's and old girl, my Molly, and she's got to get out before an accident might happen! But I do have to see you again soon. This has been a really great afternoon." He paused for a while and our eyes met.
"Me too!" I said with she sweetest smile I could muster.
"On second thought" he said shortly after "What are you doing tonight?"
"Nothing really! The great thing about cats is, that they can take care of themselves for a while!"
"Then why don't you come with me." He continued "We can cook dinner at my place and play a video game or whatever."
"I'd love to!" I said "But Jon: How do you know that you can trust me? You really should be careful who you invite in. I might be a vampire!"
He just looked at me with a teasing smile. "I might be one too!......Anyway, I know we just met, but I think I really know you too well already not to trust you, right?"
"Point taken -- and of course you can!" I said "I just didn't want you to have regrets on the way to your house!"
He tilted his head and looked at me. "That's sweet!" he said "Now let's swoosh out of here. The sun's almost down now!"
That sent me laughing all the way out of the pub. My god, he's fun to be with.
...
That's it for now. Chapter 2 will be ready shortly.
If you need to find out who Jon is, you can check his website at jonleeofficial.com.
If you have comments or suggestions, I would be very happy to receive them at lcwrite@gmail.com