Disclaimer: This story is fiction. It makes no claims to the true personality or sexuality of anyone involved. You already know if you shouldn't be reading this.
------------------ Just Together by jm_stories ------------------
Chapter XXXI
*** [ 9/29/02, Sunday, continued ]
"So what's for breakfast?" Michelle asked as she walked down from the loft, fully dressed.
"Coffee and leftovers from last night. Help yourself. Cups are above the pot," I said.
"Hurry up, blondie. We need to hit the road soon," Josh said.
"Watch it, or you can find your own way home," Michelle shot back as she went to get some coffee.
"How'd you fit everyone in your little Honda. Did you finally get a new car?" Michael asked.
"Yea. It's a four door now."
"And still cramped as hell with five people," Kerr said.
"Well it'll only be four on the way back. I'm going to stay a day to figure out the apartment stuff," Chad said.
"How are you getting back? You still have all your shit in Wilmington."
"I don't know. I'll try to get a flight tomorrow. Worst comes to worst I'll just rent a car and drive back. I'm good as long as I catch my plane Tuesday afternoon."
"Why don't you just have someone pack your stuff and send it to you? You can leave from here. It'll suck to rush to get there just to get your bags and catch a plane," Michael said.
"Give me the key to your apartment and I'll send your stuff to you," Kerr offered.
"Thanks," Chad said. "I'll have to call you with the address to send it to."
"You don't know where you're staying yet? Isn't it a bit late to find a place?"
"They arranged it. I know where I'm going. I just don't know the mailing address."
"When are you going to start framing? You're still going to be done by Christmas, aren't you?" Justin asked me.
"We start framing on the first, and I'll do everything I can to make sure everyone can move in by Christmas," I said.
"Are you going to hire some help? It took you months to get just your place done," Charlie said.
"Yes, I'm going to hire help when I need it," I sighed. "Though you're all welcome to come help when you can."
"I'll make sure he does. Don't worry," Michael said.
"Don't you worry, either," I said. "Contractors are doing the HVAC and plumbing and I'll probably be able to get Kolya to help with the drywalling again. I also plan to hire some student helpers. Just general labor. You won't have bookcases or other built-ins, but they will be finished enough to get occupancy and move in."
"What built-ins do everyone have?" Chad asked.
"I've got bookshelves and a dumbwaiter," Justin said.
"The dumbwaiter will be done. It's framed into the wall," I interjected.
"I've got bookcases and an entertainment center," Randy said.
"I've got an entertainment center," Charlie added.
"I think everyone has at least bookcases or shelving," I said to speed things up. "Ian also has a window seat under his front window between the bookcases."
"We'll have window seats, too, eventually," Michael said.
"You know, there's something strange about all your tenants being guys," Michelle said.
"Some of them are straight, so you shouldn't have any complaints," I shot back.
"I'm sure you'll convert them eventually," she smiled.
"Who says I haven't already?" I said casually.
"It's that damn interview process. Turns 'em every time," Randy said.
"So this isn't the interview?" Chad asked.
"Only the first bit. Next you get to be buggered by all the current owners. Wasn't too bad being one of the first few, but the last few..." Charlie smiled.
"Don't listen to him. That's just Charlie's way of saying 'hi'," Scott smirked and shot Charlie a look.
"Unfortunately, he's right," Kate said as she joined us and gave the back of Charlie's hair a tug.
"Quiet, woman," Charlie said pulled her down into his lap.
"You really shouldn't let them keep their balls. It makes them cocky," Michelle said to Kate.
"Yes, but it's more sporting that way."
"Like you would know," Josh teased Michelle. "The guy you're seeing doesn't have any balls."
"Just because Connor isn't a dumb pretty-boy doesn't mean he's a eunuch. Who's ever written a song about you?" Michelle said.
"Whiney songs."
"Oh? Dating another musician?" I asked Michelle.
"Conor Oberst. His band is Bright Eyes," Michelle said.
"Hey. We met him at some rent party he was playing at," Michael said. "He's Lisa's cousin or something, right?" He asked me.
"I think it was Mel's cousin."
"Right. And she's the one who was dating Nick Carter, right?"
"Yep."
Josh choked on his coffee as he started laughing and Kerr quickly covered his mouth to keep from spraying the table with food.
"Fuck you both," Michelle said. "There's no accounting for family. And since when did you two start hanging out with Nick Carter?" She asked Michael and me.
"I've told you that before. He drops by once or twice a year when he's bored," Michael said and shot a look at Josh to shut up. "Jonah usually has to deal with him."
"And that night was totally by surprise. Mel was Lisa's roommate and Lisa was the stage manager for 'Jack Shine'," I explained.
"Are you listening to boy bands now?" Kerr asked me, trying -- unsuccessfully -- to keep a straight face.
"Watch it," Justin warned.
"Shit. Sorry. Forgot you were one of them," Kerr said.
I just laughed.
"Don't you dare put me into the same group as Nick Carter," Justin said.
"You did that, yourself," Charlie teased.
"Well as much as I'd like to sit hear and listen to this stupid banter all day, we need to get back," Michelle said.
"You need to stop by when you can stay a little," I said. "Minus the peanut gallery, of course."
"I will when I have time. Maybe in the spring."
A half-hour later the Wilmington crew was gone, soon followed by Justin, who had a plane to catch. Charlie and Kate left with Randy a couple hours later, also catching planes. Michael and I spent the day with Chad going over plans and options. He chose 4C, the first one of the back apartments to be sold.
Monday morning Chad changed his plane ticket to leave from New York and started the mortgage process before helping Michael and I move supplies into each apartment and start the framing. He wasn't a carpenter, but he was decent enough at driving screws into the metal 2x4s. He left Tuesday afternoon.
The next couple weeks were spent in full construction mode. Framing first, then wiring while contractors did the rough plumbing and ductwork. I was glad that I'd had the HVAC contractor put the tubes down everywhere back when he did our place. It saved time, not to mention money. Fortunately no one had changed where I'd planned the walls to be. It wouldn't have been a complete disaster if they had, but it would set back that apartment by several weeks.
Michael helped quite a bit with everything that didn't involve power tools and Scott helped in the evenings when he had time.
*** [ 10/21/02, Monday ]
"What time is the inspector supposed to be here?" Michael asked as I was getting ready to head out.
"Two. I should be back by then."
"Anything you need me to do while you're gone?"
"No. We can't do anything until after the inspection and you'd need help bringing up the drywall. Okay. I'm outta here. Love you," I said and gave him a quick kiss good-bye.
I took the train into town and was a few minutes late meeting Kolya in the Green Room.
"Hey, man. Sorry I'm late," I said as I sat down beside Kolya on a sofa.
"No problems. How was your summer?"
"Good and very busy. You'll see how much I got done if you're going to help again."
"Of course I will. Never turn down money," Kolya smiled.
"Great. I've got seven apartments and the hallways to drywall. All the outside walls are staying brick and the halls are only the ceilings. If inspections go well today then I'll start hanging this afternoon. You can help with that, too, if you want."
"Is okay. I will do that."
"Perfect. What times are you available?" I asked.
"I have Tuesdays free and Thursdays until four for day work. Saturdays are good and other days for a few hours. I still need time for school work."
"Of course. Don't blow your classes doing drywall. So I'll call you this afternoon if everything is good with the inspections. You can start tomorrow?"
"Yes. Tomorrow is good."
I sighed and sat back. "One thing taken care of."
"You worry about getting done?" Kolya asked.
"On time, yea. It's just a lot of little things that add up. I'm hiring other helpers, if you know anyone who's looking for work."
"Doing drywall?"
"No. Well, helping hang, maybe. More general labor and installing brick veneer."
"You need a mason for brick."
"No. It's just a veneer that gets thin-set to the wall. It's going on all the inner hallway walls and in one of the apartments. They just need to put it on straight. I may have a mason do the grouting. I'll have to wait and see how difficult it is. If it works easy enough then I'll just have the same people do it," I explained.
"I know a few people, but not who you would want to do that. Business majors. It should not be too difficult, though. You pay more than campus jobs," Kolya laughed.
"Most of them. Okay. I'll call you later to let you know about tomorrow. I've gotta hang a few notices and talk with some people," I said, pulling some flyers out of my bag.
"Okay. I've got class to get to. Talk later," Kolya said and left.
"Hey, Jonah. I thought we got rid of you," someone said as I was hanging up the flyer on the board. I turned around to see Mike, the TD.
"Hey, Mike. Just looking for labor. How've you been?"
"Same as always. What are looking for labor for? You open your theater already?"
"Yea. We opened at the end of last month. We've got one group doing 'The Cherry Orchard' in there in a couple weeks."
"Chekhov is boring as hell," Mike groaned.
"I agree, but they're paying. Anyway, I'm looking for general labor for the rest of the remodel. Semi-skilled at most. Send some people my way?"
"Yea, sure. I'll send you a couple dozen freshman slavecrafters," he smirked.
"I said semi-skilled, not semi-conscious. I need to be able to tell them what to do and then leave them to do it, not stand over them to make sure it gets done."
"I may be able to help you out, if you can help me out."
"What do you need?"
"Furniture building, of course. Possibly even do a workshop on it. You were my only good finish carpenter. I should have had you do more training before you graduated."
"Like there was time. How much are you paying?" I asked.
"You won't do it for free?"
"Nope. I've got expenses, and you aren't paying for my labor. Of course I'd do it for free if you sent over a crew or three to work for free."
"Sure. That'd go over really well. You also know the time constraints," Mike laughed.
"Yea, I know. I'm in the same boat. Every hour I'm away something else doesn't get done. I could probably help you out next semester more easily. After the first of the year I'll only have minor stuff to do. Bookcases being the main one. Actually, you could send your best carpenters over to help build the bookcases."
"Bookcases are a bit too easy, don't you think?"
"It's an option. They're going to be finished bookcases. Some with cabinets below. It's not tables and chairs, but it's more than flats and stairs."
"I need the tables and chairs. We'll talk about it when the time comes. You still have the same phone number?" Mike asked.
"Still the same. Stop by sometime and I'll show you around. I'm there almost all the time."
"I may some weekend. How's the tech space? Any space?"
"It's okay for what it is. There's crap for wing space, but the depth is okay for the space. The shop area could always be larger, but it's workable. Lighting, sound and the fly system are all new," I said.
"New flies? I bet that cost a pretty penny. What'd you put in?"
"Just a plain old single-purchase counterweight system. Nineteen lines. It wasn't cheap, but not as bad as I thought it would be. The grid was already steel. The insurance cost difference is huge over the old hemp lines -- not enough to pay for it, but a good chunk over the life of it."
"Probably. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about that shit."
"You've got plenty of other shit to worry about. Anyway, I need to head back. I've got an inspection in a couple hours and still have to hang a few more flyers. Call me."
"I will. Later, Jonah."
"Later," I said and left. I hung up the fliers on a few more bulletin boards and got home in time for lunch.
The inspection went fine and I called Kolya to let him know to start work tomorrow. Michael and I spent the rest of the day wheeling heavy pallets of drywall to each floor and stacking each apartment with a majority supply. We were exhausted when we finally quit for the night.
Kolya showed up the next morning and we got to work by nine. The lower ceilings in the apartments made thing go a lot quicker than it had gone in my place. Michael carried and held and kept us fed.
Over the next couple days I got several calls and had interviews for helpers. I hired seven guys who would start on the 28th and work when they weren't in class.
*** [ 10/27/02, Sunday ]
"Which apartment are we hanging today? We're still working today, right?" Michael asked over coffee.
"Yea. Still in Ian's. I want to try the brick veneer first to see if I can let the helpers do it tomorrow. We'll do that first."
"Cool. Where at?"
"I was thinking around our doorway. That way we can figure out how we want it. I'm not sure if we should do a running bond corner or a stacked corner around the frame."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Is it something I can help with, or do I just get to watch?"
"Don't know yet. I think you can help. It's supposed to be like setting tile."
"I didn't do anything with that except mix the mastic."
"Same thing, but a much larger space. You can set them, too. We're using the premixed stuff for this," I said.
"Good. I hated mixing that shit. Ready to get started?"
"Let's go."
We went down to the dock for supplies and wheeled everything up. After getting everything unpacked and ready we set up opposite corners and decided the stacked bond looked better. Decisions made, we started working. I spread the mastic and handed pieces to Michael to put on. He seemed quite happy with this and it was made much easier by using tile spacers to keep everything straight and even. The bricks went up quickly, but didn't cover much space per brick. By lunchtime we had all around our door frame done to about three feet out on either side. It was slow going, but simple enough to do. It also looked a bit odd without the mortar yet, but that would have to wait.
After lunch we finished what little remained to be hung in Ian's place and started 3A before quitting for the night.
*** [ 10/28/02, Monday ]
"Don't we have help coming today?" Michael asked as we were hanging drywall in 3A.
"Not 'till later. Rick and Kyle will be here at two. I'll have them start the brickwork. Jimmy and Brandon will be here at four. They'll be helping us."
"How late are you planning to work?"
"Ten, with a half-hour break for dinner at seven. Yea, I know it's a long day. This is just until all the drywall is up and finished. Then I'll go back to quitting at seven," I said.
"Yea right. I know you'll just stop the heavy stuff and spend all night doing little shit. That's fine. I'm starting to feel the pressure, too."
"It'll be a little easier with professional tile setters doing all the bathrooms."
"Yea. That'll help. I hate grouting. They'll probably take longer, though."
"Probably. That's why I have multiple contractors doing a couple bathrooms each. A week is all the time we can afford. We'll still have to seal everything," I said.
"That's easy, though. Ready for the next piece?"
"Yep."
The helpers showed up mostly on time and I put them to work right away. Everything went much faster with lots of hands, not to mention Kolya's expert drywalling skills -- though I was getting much better with all the practice. The tile contractors finished their work on time and everything was ready to prime by the ninth when Randy showed up to help paint.
*** [ Sunday, Nov 10, 2002 ]
"Chad's here," Scott called out. Michael and I were snuggled up on the sofa reading. After weeks of working full steam, it was finally to the point we could take off Sundays.
"Hey, guys," Chad called out as he climbed the stairs to the living room loft. Some guy was right behind him.
I set my book down and stretched. "Hey, man. Checking up on things?"
"Yea, and here to help paint. Man, it looks awesome. It's so close," Chad raved and dropped down into a chair.
"Yea. This time next month."
"Oh. This is Josh. He's gonna help paint, too."
"Hey," Josh nodded and sat in the other chair.
"Hey. Hartnett, right?" Michael said.
"Uh, yea," Josh said uncomfortably and scratched the back of his neck.
"Don't get weird. Just checking," Michael said and gave me a look.
"So how long are you in town?" I asked Chad.
"Until Thanksgiving."
"Staying here?"
"If that's okay."
"Yea. Randy is the only one here right now, so you'll have a bed -- well, beds. I assume you're staying too, Josh?" I asked.
"Yea. Just for a week."
"Okay. Today is downtime. Randy is in the room with the bunk beds, but you can probably switch with him when he gets back so you guys can be in the same room," Michael said.
"Where'd he go?" Chad asked.
"Shopping. He was going to get paint for his apartment and look for furniture."
"Do I need to get my own paint?"
"Only if you want something other than the soft white we're painting everything and didn't already tell me you wanted something else."
"Oh. Okay. When does the floor go down?"
"After everything is painted and the cabinets are in," I said.
"When are the cabinets going in?"
"They're supposed to be delivered next Monday. I'll put them in as soon as the painting is done."
"Why not before?"
"It's just easier to paint when you don't have to paint around things."
"Ah. Okay. So just hangin' today?"
"Reading and relaxing," Michael said. "There's a matinee at three if you want to watch it from the observation booth."
"Yea, I saw the sign. 'Cherry Orchard', right?"
"Yea."
"What's it about?"
"A cherry orchard," Michael smirked.
"It's typical Chekhov. A family losing their estate. Lots of talk," Josh said.
"You've seen it before?" Chad asked Josh.
"Yea. It's okay. Kinda slow."
"Typical Chekhov," I smiled.
"Yea, okay. I slept on the plane. Do you want to go get paint?" Chad asked Josh.
"Sure. Whatever, man."
"Where's a good place to go?" Chad asked.
"There's a Home Depot down on Avenue U," I answered.
"Can you give me directions? Is it within walking distance?"
"You wouldn't want to carry all the paint back even if it was. Just take Flatbush south and turn left onto Avenue U. It's a couple blocks down on the left."
"Easy enough. How much do I need to get?"
"Ten gallons should do all the walls. Add four for the ceiling and one for the bathroom. Probably two gallons for each bedroom."
"Okay. We'll be back," Chad said and got up. Josh followed.
"Be here by six if you want to have dinner with us," Michael said.
"Okay. Later."
"Josh seems to be really talkative," I smirked after they left.
Michael shrugged and then grinned.
"Hey. We're back. Where should I put the paint? Should I put it in my apartment, or do you want it somewhere else?" Chad said as he walked in around 6:30.
"In your apartment is good. Put them in the room that they're for."
"Gotcha. I'll be back. Hey Randy," Chad said and disappeared.
Randy gave a wave because he'd just taken a bite of food.
"So what colors did you get?" I asked Chad as he and Josh walked back in.
"I got swatches," he said and set them in front of me. "This is for the main living area," he said and pointed to a medium gray.
"That's going to make your apartment feel really dark. You don't have a lot of natural light anyway."
"It's not that dark. I like gray walls. It goes with everything."
"It's not that dark on a small swatch with white all around it. It'll seem a lot darker when all the walls around you are that color. But it's your place. You can repaint it later if you want."
"Trust the queer guys," Randy said. "You need a color with that. Something bright on an accent wall."
"Probably, but something lighter would be better to begin with. Like I said, it's your place. You have to live there," I said.
"What did you get, Randy?" Chad asked.
"Pink and yellow," Michael said.
Randy casually flipped Michael off. "I got a cream for most of the walls with a deep red accent wall for the main areas. The bathroom is a medium lavender and the bedrooms have an aqua-teal and a muted drab green."
"All the colors of the rainbow, eh?" Chad smirked.
"They won't be right next to each other. The bold color is only for accent and the tile in my bathroom is white with purple glass tile accents and borders."
"It's more a light buff than a pure white," I said.
"Close enough," Randy dismissed. "It looks good. What'd you get? I didn't look at yours."
"I got black and white subway tile."
"No color for an accent?"
"No. It doesn't need one. All black and white."
"You should paint the upper walls and ceiling in your bathroom the same color as Randy's red walls. That would look good in there," Michael said.
"No. It's gonna be the same gray."
"You'll have a drab place," I said. "No color on the walls. The floor will be a neutral light cork and natural cherry cabinets. You're gonna need some color. You'll see."
"I can always repaint," Chad shrugged. "So I guess no dinner for us?"
"Not here. You're too late. Sorry," I said.
"You want to go out or order something in?" Chad asked Josh.
"Doesn't matter. Is there anything to order besides pizza?" Josh asked.
"This is New York. You can order anything for delivery," Michael said.
"We've got menus for pizza, Chinese, Indian and Tai," I said.
"Tai sounds good to me," Josh said.
"Works for me," Chad said.
I got up and dug the menu out of a drawer to hand to him. "Pay attention to the spicy scale. Their 1 is about a 3 most places."
"Go for sixes?" Chad smiled and gave Josh a look.
"If you think you can handle it," Josh smirked.
"A pissing contest?" I asked.
They both shrugged with a grin.
"I think it'll be a screaming contest," Michael said.
"You may want to run out and get some beer to drink with it, too. It'll help ease the burning," I suggested.
"You don't have any?"
"Just a couple bottles. We need to go grocery shopping."
"There's a market just down Flatbush a couple blocks," Michael said.
"I'll pay for the food and you can go get the beer," Josh said.
"Fine," Chad said and decided what he wanted from the menu. They called and ordered before Chad ran out to get the beer.
Scott walked in a minute later. "Hey guys," Scott said and stopped by his room to drop off his bag. "Any leftovers?" He asked as he returned.
"Nope. Sorry," Michael said.
"Chad and Josh just ordered Tai. You could probably get in on their order if you called right away," I said.
"No thanks. I'm not up for Tai tonight," he said and went make something.
"They ordered sixes," Michael said.
Scott turned and gave Josh a "are you crazy?" look. "You guys are gonna be hurting tonight. I got a four from there last time and it was too spicy for me to eat."
"I like spicy," Josh shrugged.
Chad was soon back with the beer and the food wasn't too long after that. Though the rest of us were done eating, we had to watch them eat the acid drenched food. Even the smell made my eyes water. Chad was the first to take a huge bite in challenge. His face immediately got red and he choked it down with the immediate help of the beer. We all laughed.
"Fuck!" Chad gasped and then took another drink of his beer.
"Pussy," Josh smirked and took a bite of his. He held his reaction better, but still nursed the beer.
They challenged each other bite by bite and were soon so drenched in sweat it looked like they'd just stepped out of the rain. Chad gave up first after having eaten only half of his meal -- though Josh only had one more bite.
"I think it's still eating my stomach lining," Chad said as he sat back.
"Have some more beer. It's supposed to help neutralize it," I said.
"You guys got farther through it than I thought you would. I don't think you'll be able to taste anything for the next week, though," Scott said.
"And crapping fire," Randy added with a smirk.
"Been there. Done that," Josh chuckled.
*** [ Monday, Nov 11, 2002 ]
"Time to get started," I yelled and knocked on Randy's door, and then Chad and Josh's, before going to make some coffee. Michael had run out to get bagels for breakfast and Scott was just getting ready to leave for class.
"Morning," I said as I poured the last of the coffee Scott had made into cups for me and whoever got it first before starting another pot.
"Morning. Later," Scott said and ran out the door as Randy came down the stairs and went to the big bathroom.
Josh stumbled out a minute later in boxer-briefs and a T-shirt and headed for the little bathroom, followed by Chad, who was only wearing boxer-briefs.
"Morning. Coffee. Please," Chad mumbled as he sat down at the counter.
I set a cup in front of him.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. We've got paint suits if you don't want to mess with getting it on your clothes."
"Okay," he yawned. "It's nice and warm in here. It feels good."
"Yea. I'm diggin' the radiant floor heat, myself. Wait until you try the shower. The tile floor is all nice and toasty warm," I smiled.
"Sounds great," he said and headed for the bathroom as Josh walked out.
"Coffee?" I asked Josh.
"Yea. Thanks. What do you have for breakfast?"
"Michael's out getting bagels," I said as I poured him a cup.
"Cool. Thanks," he said as I handed him the cup. "Sugar?"
I handed him the sugar jar and a spoon.
"Thanks."
"Coooofffeeeeee," Randy groaned as he sat down next to Josh.
I poured him a cup and set it in front of him.
"Thank you," he sighed as he took the cup.
"Where are we starting?" Chad asked as he returned from the bathroom.
"You guys will be priming, starting in Ian's place. I'll be painting in Justin's."
"Why all of us priming, but only you painting?"
"Because you need to use rollers and it takes longer."
"Okay."
"I'll use a sprayer for most of the painting after everything is primed -- well, except the ceilings. It makes too much of a mess. The sprayer makes the walls go quicker -- except in yours and Randy's."
"Because we have our own paint?" Randy asked.
"Because your ceilings are a different color than your walls in the main space. We could just paint the walls first and then roll the ceilings, but you'd get roller spatter on the walls and have to touch them up anyway. I guess we could just mask off the ceiling as well."
"The ceilings are going to be the same gray."
I looked at him a few seconds. "Dude, it's gonna be like a cave. Are you sure you don't want the ceiling white?"
"I can always repaint it if it's too dark."
"Okay," I shrugged.
"Everyone else is just doing plain white?" Randy asked.
"No, but most didn't know what would look good and just decided to go with white until after they move in. I'm sure most will do some repainting later."
"I've got breakfast," Michael announced as he walked in.
"Didn't anyone hire a professional interior designer?" Randy asked. "I would have figured that Justin, at least, would have."
"Nope. Everyone just picked from the choices we had," I said.
"An interior designer is too much money. It's just an apartment, not a showplace," Chad said.
"What the hell is going on? Why wasn't I invited to the nude painting party?" I laughed as I walked into Ian's apartment. Chad, Josh, Randy and Michael were all down to shorts and shoes.
"You are way over dressed," Randy said to me. I was, of course, in a full body paint suit.
"It was too hot in here," Chad said. "Especially in those painting suits."
"You could have opened..." I started.
"We did, but then it got too cold and the paint didn't flow right. This is good," Michael interrupted.
"I suppose turning down the heat was too easy?"
"We did. It's almost off, but it still stays warm in here and we're working. You're just jealous you're missing out," Michael teased.
"Definitely. Just remember to turn the heat back up and leave the exhaust fan on."
"We will. You done already?"
"Yea. There aren't many painted surfaces in Justin's place."
"How's that?" Chad asked.
"All his outside walls are brick or brick veneer and the bathroom is mostly tile," I said.
"And the mirrored ceiling," Michael smirked.
"Why didn't you do that?" Josh asked Chad.
"I wasn't given the choice," Chad said and gave me a questioning look.
"Justin came to me with the mirrored ceiling. I think it's too damned expensive. He also wanted all his walls to be brick when he learned we were doing that to the hallways. That's also more expensive than drywall and paint and not very flexible if you want to hang a picture or something. I don't really like the look of his place, but he seems to be happy with it -- at least from the pictures he's seen," I explained.
"Is anyone else getting brick?"
"Not the veneer over everything. All of the front apartments have the plain brick of the building showing on the front wall," I said and pointed to the wall covered with plastic.
"Oh. Right. Why didn't you guys do that in your place? It would have been cheaper than drywalling. Wouldn't it?"
"We wanted to be able to insulate the outside walls," Michael said. "Even Randy and Ian chose to have their long outside wall framed so it could be insulated. Only the front one that isn't very long is plain brick."
"And the outside wall brick on the back apartments looks like crap, so I covered it by default," I added.
"Are you going to help us prime now?" Michael asked me.
"No. I'm going to start mortaring the brick in Justin's place."
"Do you need help with that?"
"Uh, yea. I guess one person for now. Kyle and Joel will be here around three to work on it with me. Who wants to tool mortar joints?"
Silence.
"Okay. My pick. Chad," I said.
"I don't know how to do that."
"No one does. You'll learn. I'll be up in Justin's place," I said and headed upstairs. I had the drop-clothes spread out, a hose run from the utility sink in my apartment and the mortar mixer plugged-in by the time Chad showed up.
"Sorry. I had to clean up my stuff," Chad said as he walked in.
"No problem. Here's what's gonna happen. We'll mix a batch of mortar. I'll squeeze it into the joints and then you tool it," I said and handed him the tool.
"How are you going to squeeze it into the joints?"
"Like decorating a cake," I said and held up the mortar bag.
"Cool. Why don't I do that part instead? The tooling is the finish and I don't want to be blamed if it looks like shit."
"Fine with me. The mortar bag will be heavy. Ready to start? We can't stop until we use everything we mix or it'll harden."
"Let's go."
I put on a dust mask and cut the top off a bag of mortar mix and slowly dumped it into the mixer, trying to keep down the dust. Next was turning it on and adding water until it was the right consistency. Chad held the mortar bag while I filled it. It looked like we'd get two bags full out of one bag of mix.
"Damn. This is heavy," Chad grunted as he lifted the bag.
"Yea. Keep a finger over the hole."
"Oh shit," he said and quickly covered it. "Only a little bit got out."
"That's why there's a plastic drop-cloth down. Ready to climb to the top of the scaffolding with that?"
"Uh, yea. I think I'm going to need some help with that."
"Pussy," I teased.
"Okay. You can take it to the top," Chad said and offered me the bag.
Not to turn down a challenge, I made sure the top flaps were closed tightly and took the mortar bag from him, turning it upside down so the tip was facing up and cradled it in my right arm.
"You'll have to bring up the joint tool and brush," I said and climbed the scaffolding with one hand.
"Show off," Chad teased.
"Actor," I shot back.
"Sometimes, but I'm a mason right now," Chad said as he climbed up. "You picked me, for some reason."
"Because Michael needs to supervise, I hardly know Josh, and Randy is too gay. You're just butch enough to be able to do it," I smiled.
"Randy is too gay?!" Chad laughed.
"Yea. He gets all melodramatic when he has to lift heavy things. It was really just between you and Josh, and I just met him and he doesn't talk much. I have no idea if he'd be able to do it or not. Is he always that quiet?"
"He gets a little more talkative, but not much. Just new people, you know. It takes him a little while to warm up to people."
"Okay. Here," I said and handed him the mortar bag.
"Now how do I do this?"
"Put the nozzle in the joint and squeeze. We'll try for 3/4 full at first and see how that works," I said.
"Start in the top corner?"
"May as well. Do about six courses and then move over."
Chad heaved the mortar bag up to shoulder height and sighed. I stepped out of the way and he moved into position. It took a while for us to figure out how full to fill it and how soon I needed to tool over it to push it back into the joint and smooth the surface. After a half-hour, though, we were moving through it fairly quickly -- quickly being a relative term.
Michael brought us lunch around one, at which point we had a six foot strip the length of the apartment done. Kyle and Joel showed up at three and the four of us were able to complete the apartment by seven when Michael came to get us for dinner.
"I won't need to do any weight training at the gym for a while," Chad said and rubbed his arms as we cleaned up our tools -- Kyle and Joel were going to continue in the hallway 'till eight.
"Sore?" I asked.
"A little. I'm sure I won't be able to move in the morning," he laughed. "Maybe I'll paint tomorrow."
"Painting is just as bad. All that up and down."
"Yea, but a roller is lighter. You can squeeze and I'll tool tomorrow."
"Squeeze whose tool?" Michael asked, catching the last bit as we walked into the apartment.
"Did I pick the wrong job?" Randy asked with a grin.
"Nah. My arms are exhausted. You couldn't handle it," Chad smirked and went into the little bathroom to wash up.
"Bet you never thought you'd hear that, huh?" I teased Randy and went to the big bathroom.
"How far did you get with priming?" I asked Michael as I returned and sat down at the table.
"We finished the fourth floor. We should be able to knock out the third tomorrow."
"Don't forget I'm leaving tomorrow morning," Randy said.
"Oh, right. So maybe not. It'll be close, though. Are you doing the brick again tomorrow?"
"Yea. No one can work tomorrow and it takes so long to do that I need to. I want it done by Friday, at the latest."
*** [ 11/15/02 ] Friday
"So?" Chad asked as I walked into Charlie's apartment where everyone else was painting.
"It's done."
"Cool. How does it look?" He asked as he walked over to check it out.
"Dark," I answered as I followed him back over.
"This is the same paint I gave you?" Chad asked as he looked around.
"No, I went out and bought something darker," I said sarcastically. "Of course it's the paint you picked. I told you it was too dark."
"He's always right. You'll learn that," Michael teased. "Way too dark."
"Damn. I really like that gray, though," Chad muttered.
"How much time do you want to spend on it?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I can show you texturing techniques so you can keep the same saturation, but it'll take time for you to do -- I don't have time to do it."
"I don't know if I can do it. Is it easy to do?"
"Worst that can happen is you have to repaint it all. It's not difficult. You could do a wet sponge that would give it a kinda marbled look, or use a paint brush and splatter lighter shades. A garden sprayer for a finer spatter would also work. It might look kinda cool if you went over it with a light crackle paint," I offered.
"Crackle?"
"You paint it with the crackle and then brush over it with a color. It causes it to shrink and leave crackles. Kind of an antique looking finish."
"The garden sprayer sounds the fastest."
"It is, but it also has the most chance of a fuck up."
"Like how?"
"Like to get the consistency right so it sprays but isn't too watery. To get the spray somewhat even and not too heavy so it doesn't run."
"Sounds difficult."
"No. You just have to be careful."
"Yea, okay. Which would be the easiest for an actor with no painting skills to do?"
"Um... Probably a wet sponge. You'll have more working time if you use a glaze, but you can do okay with two people as long as you keep moving," I explained.
"How long will it take and what do I need to buy?" Chad asked.
"It'll probably take a full day to do all the walls in here. You'll just need to get a gallon of a color, probably something a little muted. I've got buckets and white paint, but you'll need to get a couple big sponges."
"The natural ones?"
"Doesn't really matter. They just need to be large and be fairly coarse. You're doing wet sponge instead of dry, so you won't really see the pattern as clearly."
"What color?"
"What color do you want?"
"I think you should use orange. Hazard orange," Michael smirked.
"I think the paint fumes are going to your head," I said.
"Okay. Hazard yellow, then?"
"Ignore him. It's the Jersey side coming out," I said to Chad.
"Yea, okay. How about a real color?" Chad asked.
"Whatever you want. Use a blue or a green if you want to keep a cool feeling, or use a red if you want it warm."
"I'm asking. What would you do?"
"I'd use a pale medium green and a pale medium blue with the white and base color gray," I said.
"Both colors?"
"Yea. It'll help keep the color tone more neutral."
"Do I have to wait for this to dry a day or so?"
"No. It'll be dry enough by the time you get back."
"Guess I'm going to Home Depot," Chad shrugged. "Need anything else while I'm there?"
"Nope. Just come get me when you're ready. I assume you don't want me to continue to the bedrooms with this gray?"
"No. Not yet. Let's figure out the living room first. Okay. I'll be back," Chad said and left.
"He should paint one wall bright red or something. He needs some contrast and color in here," Michael said.
"I wouldn't go bright red, but I agree. The wet sponge on the wall will add color and I'm sure he'll repaint the ceiling lighter."
"You should do it so he doesn't mess up the walls and have to redo those as well."
"Probably. Guess I'm moving on for now," I said and started cleaning up. I moved all my stuff to Randy's place.
"Okay. How do we do this?" Chad asked after he'd gotten the paint and I'd gotten him all set up.
"Who wants to sponge and who wants to brush?" I asked.
Chad looked to Josh to decide.
"I'll take the sponge. There's only one sponge and four brushes," Josh smirked.
"Okay. That's settled. Here's how it works. Chad slops on heavy and random splashes of each color. Josh, you then tap the sponge across all of it to blend everything together. Keep the sponge clean and wet, but not dripping wet. Any questions?" I explained.
"How do I know when it's blended enough?" Josh asked.
"When it looks good."
"Ah. Then I'll let you do the sponging so it looks how you want," Josh said to Chad.
"Thanks," Chad said sarcastically.
"Okay. Are you ready to start? You can't really stop in the middle of a wall once you start or it'll be much harder to blend together."
"Let's get started."
"Okay. I'll start you off, then you're on your own," I said. I walked them through a couple feet of wall.
"How does it look?" Chad asked as I stepped back.
"Good, but I'd only do that one wall for today, and make sure you keep the blending level as consistent as you can."
"Why only one wall? We can probably get two or three done today."
"Because it might be too much texture in the room if you do all the walls. Let's start with just that wall and look at it tomorrow. If the room still looks too dark then we can try a lighter gray on the ceiling."
"I've gotta get more paint?" Chad complained.
"No. It's just gray. I'll add some of your gray into the white. Just enough that it's a couple shades lighter."
"Why not just add white to the gray instead?"
"Because it's easier to darken than to lighten. It'll work out eventually," I said.
"So what you're not saying is that I should have paid attention when you were talking about interior finishes and had you do the renderings," Chad groaned.
I shrugged. "I didn't say anything. Anyway, it's just paint. It's only expensive in time. I didn't let you do anything else crazy."
"What'd he want to do?" Josh smirked. "Have mirrors on the ceiling?"
"Not in the living room," Chad laughed.
"No ceiling mirrors -- that's only Justin. No. He wanted rubber flooring for the entire place."
"Rubber?"
"Yea, man. It's totally cool," Chad said.
"Yea, it is, we're putting it in the hallways, but not large areas over a radiant heat floor. Anyway, he went with cork instead. Not the best for radiant heat, either, but not horrible."
"Do you have that sample still?" Chad asked me. "Oh man, you gotta see this stuff. It's so cool," he said to Josh.
"I still have the sample upstairs. The full load should be in Tuesday, along with everyone else's flooring."
"Who got what? Did anyone else use cork?" Chad asked as he tapped the wall with the sponge.
"No one else got cork everywhere. Ian was thinking about it just in the kitchen area, but decided to just do the same wood everywhere."
"So what'd everyone else get?"
"Um... Justin has a natural finish maple strip -- his place is gonna look like a basketball court -- with a mirrored ceiling."
They both laughed.
"Uh... Charlie is boring and is using the same stuff in my place: Kempas plank. Ian is using a honey finish birch strip. Randy is going with white oak plank. And for the unsold ones I'm putting pecan plank in 3A and African walnut in 3C."
"I don't think I'm going to be able to move my wrist tomorrow," Chad said and stretched.
"You'll just have to learn to jack-off with your left hand," I smirked.
"Only? Usually I use both," Chad shot back.
"Suuuure you do," I nodded. "Anyway, I gotta get back to work. Have fun."
"Hey. Do you have another radio or something you can put in here?"
"Nope. Sorry. You'll just have to sing a negro spiritual work song or something to keep yourself entertained. 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' should be easy enough."
"Oh? I would have figured that 'YMCA' was more your style," Chad shot back.
I laughed. "Actually, that's probably more Nick Carter's style. Now that I think about it, you are too white for anything with rhythm or soul. Maybe something like 'Puff the Magic Dragon' is better for you," I smirked and walked out. I could hear them both screaming 'Puff the Magic Dragon' at the top of their lungs and laughing.
Painting. Painting. Painting. All was painting for the next couple days. I fortunately got out of it on the 18th when the cabinets came in. Michael and Chad continued the painting -- mostly closets remaining -- while I installed kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities with a helper or two.
*** [ 11/20/02, Wednesday ]
"Hey, big boy," Charlie said and goosed me while I was screwing in a wall cabinet in Randy's place. I jumped and almost ran the bit through the back of the cabinet.
"Shit, man. I told you not to do that while I'm using power tools. Give me a sec. to get another screw in this," I said and did so.
"Sorry."
After the cabinet was secured I put down the screw gun and jumped on Charlie, wrapping my legs around his waist, causing him to fall.
"Hey, big boy," I smiled and gave him a quick kiss before letting him go and standing up. "You just get in?"
"Almost. I was talking with Michael and Chad for a little while before searching you out. Things are flying along. It looks great," he said as he stood up.
"I can see the end of the tunnel," I smiled. "So give me a hand and tell me how filming went."
"Okay, boss," he teased. "Oh, before I forget, I think I found someone for 3A. Well, two someones. Twin brothers."
"And they want to live together?"
"They're both actors and are around a bit, so it'd be more like sharing a flat."
"Okay. When do they want to see it? Names?"
"Tomorrow. Shawn and Aaron Ashmore."
"Anything I may have seen them in?"
"Not together. They have separate careers. You've seen 'X-Men', right?"
"Yea."
"Shawn played Iceman."
"I can't picture him, but it doesn't matter. Nice guy -- or guys, I guess?"
"I wouldn't have told them about the place if I thought they were cunts," Charlie smirked.
"How'd you meet them. They have a place in LA?"
"Aaron does. Shawn is usually in Toronto. I met Shawn first while surfing, or rather, he was surfing. I was trying to drown myself," Charlie laughed.
"Isn't it genetically impossible for a Brit to surf?" I teased.
"I didn't know that at the time. I've since come to my senses."
"Have you looked at your place yet?"
"Not yet. Is it done?"
"Except for the floor, trim, appliances, counters and plumbing fixtures, yea," I smirked.
"What's the hold up?" He shot back.
"Nothing, now that you're here. If Michael and Chad have the flooring there and unpacked then you can -- no, nevermind. You can help me hang cabinets. So what's up with the scraggly beard? Playing a homeless person?" I teased and pulled on his pathetic attempt at growing a beard -- it looked more like a fu man chu goatee gone wild.
"Piss off. It's the best I can manage. And yes, it was for the role."
"You look better clean shaven. Right now you look like a rabid albino."
"Yea, I know," Charlie groaned. "They bleached everything. I'm a bit used to it now, but I still look in the mirror sometimes and wonder who the hell it is."
"Shave it off. You're done now, aren't you?"
"Almost. I've got promo photos and shit to do back in LA sometime next month. I can't shave it until around Christmas."
"Kate's gonna hate it."
"Yea, I know," he sighed. "How many more flats until you have all the cupboards done?"
"This and then 3C. Probably start putting down the floors tomorrow."
"You're just flying through this shit. You see them taking weeks on 'This Old House' and shows like that."
"And you see them taking a day on other shows. It really doesn't take that long to install cabinets. They're already built. The trim takes a little longer, but no one got anything really elaborate. I also don't have to wait for counters or anything to continue on. Get them up and move on to the next," I said.
"Well, however you're doing it, it's working. I never thought you'd get them all done. It took five months before your flat was done."
"I had to do the plans, tear out the old floor and could only work on it part-time while still in school. I've worked my ass off to get this much done this quickly."
"It's still a bit alright," Charlie grinned and patted my ass.
"Here. Hold this," I said as I lifted another upper cabinet into place. "If you get horny you can go blow Scott again. I don't think he'd object."
"No, but Kate would. I got bitched out for that one," he sighed. "Not even with you anymore -- at least for a while."
"Ah. So it did cause a problem. Did she ask you right away or did you just tell her?"
"She asked. I told her. We argued. It was a bad week."
"Better now?"
He gave me a tired look. "It was just one more thing," he sighed. "Some days are better. Some worse."
"Is it just this, or other things?"
"It's everything. I really don't want to talk about it. Or think about it."
"Okay..."
Charlie was resolutely silent as we worked and left when Kyle and Joel showed up at four. We finished Randy's place and then 3A before quitting for the night. All the kitchen cabinets were now installed. Tomorrow I start the floors.
*** [ 11/21/02, Thurs ]
I was up by 7AM to meet the plumbers and get them started on installing all the final plumbing stuff. Once they were set I headed back upstairs for coffee. Only Scott was up, but was heading out the door as I walked back in. After a good caffeine fix and some breakfast I headed down to Chad's place to start installing the cork flooring. It went fairly quickly and I was almost to the hall when Michael wandered in looking for me.
"You've been busy. How long have you been up?" Michael asked and gave me a quick kiss.
"Since seven. I had to let the plumbers in. How does it look?" I asked about the cork floor.
"It looks good. Is it okay to walk on it?"
"Go ahead. Just be careful of the edges," I said and went out to cut another piece on the miter saw.
"It looks good in a big space. Maybe we should have done our bedroom in cork instead."
"Too late."
"We could change it," Michael said as I walked back in.
"Let's wait until everything else is done before we start remodeling our place, please."
"Yea, I know. It's just something to keep in mind. When are the appliances supposed to be here?"
"Who knows? They're supposed to call before they come. I'm sure we've got most if not all of the truck so it should be early."
"Okay. What can I help with?"
"Um... You could unpack boxes of flooring and set them around. If you're feeling ambitious you could lay out the underlayment in Ian's place and unpack the flooring so I can go right too it when I'm done in here."
"Do I need to do anything special, or just roll it out, cut it to size and make sure it all fits tight?" Michael asked.
"That's it. Just hold it back from the walls a quarter-inch -- same as when we did our floors."
"Okay. I'll go do that. Charlie's place after that?"
"Yea, but I don't know if I'll get that far today. Go ahead and keep going, anyway."
"Wouldn't it go faster with two people working? One cutting and one laying?"
"Yea. Chris is supposed to be here at ten. If you already have the underlayment done and everything unpacked we should be able to fly through it."
"You're the man with the plan. Okay. I'm off," Michael said and left.
"Jonah. Shawn and Aaron are here," Charlie called out as he walked into his apartment where I was just starting to lay the Kempas plank flooring. Chris had left after we finished Ian's place and would be back for a couple hours tomorrow.
I turned around to see two guys standing with Charlie. They were obviously identical twins, but one was bulkier than the other by a quite noticeable amount. The smaller one was very cute. I know they're identical twins, but the difference in size changed the look from a cute twink to a chunky frat boy type.
"Hey, guys," I said as I stood up and brushed my hands off before shaking their hands.
"The chubby one is Aaron," Charlie teased.
"You mean, the scrawny one is Shawn," Aaron corrected.
"Hey," Shawn smiled as we shook hands.
"Has Charlie shown you the apartment yet?" I asked.
"No. They just got here," Charlie answered.
"Okay. Let's go take the tour," I said and gestured for them to walk out. "So why are you interested in living here?" I asked as we headed down the stairs.
"To have a place in New York," Aaron answered.
"Why here, instead of someplace in Manhattan?"
"It's cheaper and nicer. It's in a theater and there's a park right across the street. How could I turn down that opportunity?" Shawn said.
"Not to mention the guys who live here," Aaron teased quietly. I don't think I was supposed to hear that. Shawn shot him a nasty look.
"Yea, the guys are pretty nice, too. Privacy is important as well," I said to ease Shawn's nerves.
"I already explained that to them," Charlie interjected.
"It was still good to hear it from the Super," Shawn said. Charlie laughed.
"Oh god, I'm a Super now," I groaned.
"I've always told you that," Charlie teased and goosed me again.
"If you keep touching my ass I'm gonna have to have a talk with Kate," I mock threatened Charlie.
"She'd never go for you," he countered. "Besides, I haven't seen her in two months. I'm getting desperate."
"A few more days to wait. You could have flown back to LA, but you came here so you can't be that desperate."
"Why fly all the way across the country to spend three days and then fly back? I'm not made of money."
"Ah. So you're cheap as well as desperate," I teased as I flipped on the lights in 3A. "I haven't gotten the floor done yet, but that'll happen tomorrow."
"What type of floor is going in here?" Shawn asked.
"Pecan plank," I said and pulled a plank out of the package so they could see the color and pattern.
"We could get carpeting, though, right?" Aaron asked.
"If you buy you can cover the floor with whatever you want."
"I like the wood floor," Shawn said.
"Yea, it's pretty and all, but it'll be cold in the winter," Aaron countered.
"Radiant heat floor. It won't be cold," I said.
"It's really nice," Charlie agreed.
"Oh. I still like carpet."
"You can put carpeting in your room," Shawn dismissed.
"Or just have some rugs," I offered.
"Check out this view," Charlie said and dragged them over to the front windows.
"It's just a park. Nicer than seeing another building, but I plan to be out on the town when I'm here, anyway," Aaron said.
Shawn gave his brother an annoyed look. "The view's cool. Can we see the theater? Charlie said you have a private booth just for residents."
"Yep. Follow me," I said and lead them down one floor to the observation booth. After that we took a quick tour of the theater before taking the elevator up to my place.
"You guys want to join us for dinner?" I asked as we rode the elevator up.
"They're staying the night," Charlie answered. "If that's okay?"
"No prob. You giving up your bed?"
"Not bloody likely. They can sleep in the other guest room," Charlie said.
"There's no bed in there."
"What happened to the futon that was there for the opening?"
"That was Ian's. He let us borrow it because he was planning on crashing here."
"Then why did he head home afterwards?"
"Because we had more people staying than we'd planned on. It doesn't matter. You guys can share the sofa bed. Does Michael know they're staying for dinner?"
"I told him."
Scott walked down from the living room loft and froze when he turned the corner and saw Shawn and Aaron -- though I think Shawn was who he was looking at.
"This is Scott, our roommate. This is Shawn and Aaron. They're looking at 3A," I introduced.
Scott visibly gulped, and then stepped forward and reached out to shake Shawn's hand.
"Hey," Scott said a bit dreamily.
"Hey," Shawn said back, blushing slightly. Their handshake lasted a little longer than necessary.
Aaron looked at me and Charlie and rolled his eyes.
"Do you know where Michael and Chad went?" I asked Scott, startling him out of his trance.
"Um...uh, they went to the grocery. They should be back in an hour or so. He said they'd pick up some pizza on the way back for dinner."
"Okay. Well, make yourselves at home. I'm going to go continue working until dinner gets here," I said and headed back downstairs. Michael came to get me for dinner about an hour later.
"I really should be getting a commission for finding all these buyers," Charlie joked over dinner.
"Who have you found besides Shawn and Aaron?" Michael asked.
"Your commission is having good neighbors you like," I shot back.
"Well?" Michael asked again.
"Ian and Chad," Charlie said.
"Ian, yes. You never talked to Chad directly and he had several different people tell him about it," I said.
"Okay, well you should also have someone contacting you sometime about 3C. I think he'll buy in."
"Can you be more vague?" I smiled.
"I'll have to work on it," Charlie shot back. "But I can probably do it."
"Doubtful. Details?" Michael asked.
"Davie Fairbanks. Brit. Actor-slash-writer-slash-musician-slash-whatever. Big tele bit was on 'Metrosexuality' -- which also ran on Channel 4. Don't know what his sexuality is, but he is cute and not a twat. I ran into him in London and we went out a couple times," Charlie explained.
"Went out? Does Kate know you're dating guys?" Aaron teased.
"Went out to some clubs, and played football a few times, fat one," Charlie shot back.
"Weren't you just shooting in Virginia?" Michael asked.
"This was a couple months ago when I was over there. I just talked to him last week and told him about the place when he said he was thinking about moving to the States."
"So when should we expect to hear from him?" I asked.
"He's gonna be in town around New Years'. I offered him a place to stay, if that's alright."
"I don't care. It's your apartment," I smirked.
"Oh, right. It'll be done by then."
"But you thought he was cute, huh? Playing for both teams?" Aaron continued.
"He's playing for anything with a pulse," Michael teased.
Charlie gave a stupid laugh and flipped everyone the bird.
"I'm not selfish about sharing my wonderfulness," he smirked.
"Though, strangely enough, you found someone you love more than you love yourself," I teased Charlie.
"And if she was here right now I'd be with her instead of with you twats."
"But she's not, so everyone lock your bedroom door tonight," I warned.
"Too bad for you two," Michael said to Aaron and Shawn, "you can't lock the living room."
"Yea, right! Like I'd shag either of them," Charlie laughed. "I do have standards."
"Not to mention someone might get jealous," Aaron joked and gave a quick look between Scott and Shawn. They didn't notice and were only paying attention to each other, but trying to seem otherwise.
*** [ 11/22/02, Friday ]
"So what do you think of Shawn, Scott?" I asked casually the next morning as we were finishing the floor in Charlie's place.
"He seems nice. You don't think so?" Scott tried to brush off, and then got a little unsure.
"Yea. He seems fine. I was referring more to the way you two practically zoned everyone else out."
"You're being paranoid."
"Whatever, Cleopatra," I smirked.
"I am not in denial."
"Then just admit you like him -- and more than just 'he seems nice.'"
"We just met. I'm not in love with him," Scott protested.
"I didn't say that you were. Lighten up a little, will ya? I don't understand why you're always so secretive about liking someone."
"Because I don't want everyone to know."
"Who cares? You obviously like him. He obviously likes you. Go for it."
"You think he likes me?"
"Obviously."
"And you think he's gay?"
"Or bi. Aaron was teasing him about wanting to live here for the hot guys."
"If he wants to live here because of that then he's gonna be disappointed. Everyone is only living here part-time."
"Ian will be living here full time. I think some of the others will be spending more time here than they do now just because they'll have a place here."
"Like that would matter. They all stay here as it is, anyway."
"True, but it's different when it's your own place with your own stuff. You may give Shawn a reason to visit more often, you know."
"Maybe. Do you really think I have a chance with him? I mean, he's a famous actor and I'm just a student."
"No. Of course not. A famous actor would never date anyone who isn't a famous actor," I said and rolled my eyes.
"Yea, I know, but you and Michael are different."
"Why? Do you think he's cute?"
"Duh. Of course he is. He's hot as hell. Why would he want to be with me?"
"If you think like that he won't. He's just guy you like. He seems to like you as well. The only thing keeping you from having a chance with him is you," I said.
"You do realize you're the master of 'easier said than done', don't you?"
"Of course. It's always easier to give advice -- especially when it's good advice."
"That remains to be seen. What about age? He's 23."
"And you'll be 20 soon. That's not freakish. It's not even remotely remarkable or interesting. Find another excuse."
"What about the fact that he's Canadian? Or that he lives in Toronto?"
"Since he'll have a place here, I don't think that's a concern. At least for now, Canadians won't be deported or arrested just for being Canadian."
"What about that he's an actor and always away working? I know you and Michael do it, but you hate it when he's gone for months. I don't know if I could start a relationship knowing that the other person was going to be gone most of the time," Scott continued.
"If you want it, it'll work out. Michael's not gone all the time and we still talk every day. Yes, I would prefer he was in our bed every night, but him being away just makes us appreciate the times we are together that much more."
"You sound like you really want me to date Shawn."
"Sure. You both seem to really like each other. I think you should throw caution to the wind -- for once -- and see what happens," I said.
"Yea, well, we'll see what happens. He's leaving today. Who knows when I'll see him again or if he'll buy."
"There were interested enough to want to meet all the other owners for an interview."
"Hey. There you guys are," Shawn said as he walked in.
I gave Scott a quick grin and continued working.
The next couple days were spent installing the floors and then the trim. I didn't see much of anyone unless they were helping -- and that rarely included the actors who were not to be trusted with power tools.
Everyone headed out for their respective Thanksgiving plans on the 27th. Charlie met up with Kate and went to her parent's house in Connecticut. Chad went to visit family in Buffalo. Scott went to Churubusco and Michael and I went to Chicago.
On the way there I talked with Michael about what he wanted in a studio when we finally got around to building it. I planned to try to have it done by Christmas for him -- as a surprise, of course. Thankfully he didn't want anything fancy: just a place to play loudly and maybe record, but nothing huge. I'd already mentally laid it out and would have to do the plans and order supplies as soon as possible.
*** [ 11/28/02 ]
Thanksgiving morning and I woke without the usual smells since dinner was at Uncle Jeff's house this year. I woke Michael and we showered and had a cup of coffee before going to get the grandmothers with Joey. Both were just the same, if not looking slightly more frail. We took them straight to Uncle Jeff's and helped get everything set up.
Strangely enough, Adam's family and Jonny's mother were joining us as well. I guess a tradition was started last year. Perhaps the dinner will be at the Walker's house next year.
Per tradition, I stuck to Campari and ginger ale for an aperitif. Michael joined Jonny and Adam in large glasses of Sambuca and Sprite.
"Hey Jonah. You know what we forgot to do over the summer?" Adam asked loudly. The wine was apparently working.
"What's that?" I asked and waived my hand to let him know to not talk so loudly.
"Oh. Sorry," he said softer. "Anyway, we forgot to go rappelling again. We only did it that one time."
"When did you go rappelling? You never mentioned it before," Adam's mother asked.
"It was only once. I forgot. We rappelled from the top of the theater. Four stories. It was scary but fun."
His mother gave me a nasty glare.
"They were totally safe," I said.
"Yes, of course. You get my son pierced and then throw him off a four storey ledge. Totally safe. I hate to think what an unsafe summer with you would be."
"Neither of them were harmed in any way," I said back and shrugged.
"From the grid?" Joey asked me.
"Of course."
"We'll have to do that sometime when I'm there. It was fun when we did it from the top of the Selwyn."
"When was this?" Aunt Mary asked.
"Um. Years ago. Nevermind," Joey said.
"Long time ago," I agreed. The truth of the matter is that I was 15 and Joey was 14. We were with Gpa delivering some period furniture to be used as props for the Goodman. The Selwyn theater was empty at the time and there were a couple techs there rappelling from the grid. We asked to do it and had gone down twice each before Gpa found us and made us swear not to tell any parent type person what we'd done.
Aunt Mary gave us both a look, but said nothing.
"It was really fun, Mom, and totally safe. Justin was at the bottom and if he pulled the rope it would stop me. Totally safe," Adam continued, not realizing he should just shut up about it.
"The same Justin who got you pierced?"
"Tell Adam to shut up," I whispered to Jonny.
"It's all in the past and they're fine," Adam's father said, trying to move on. I guess the nipple piercing had been a big deal.
"Anything else I should be aware of?" Mrs. Walker continued, glaring at me.
"Sure," I said. "They were also on scaffolding while painting and sanding. They went out to CBGB's one night. And we went white water rafting. I think that's everything that could be considered remotely dangerous."
"We already know about those," Mr. Walker said.
"I was in Paris the whole time," Michael shrugged when Mrs. Walker looked at him.
"Oh, they were with Justin when he got mobbed by fans. That could probably be considered dangerous," I added.
Jonny and Adam busted up laughing.
"It was only dangerous for Justin. They ripped off all his clothes!" Jonny laughed.
"That was so fun. We got to ride in limos and everything," Adam added.
"And CJ kept getting rejected by all the girls," Jonny said.
"Who's CJ?" Uncle Joe asked.
"Cousin Jonah," I said. "Kept things clear."
"Oh. Right."
The conversation shifted to other things from there, but it was clear to see that, once again, Mrs. Walker wasn't very happy with me. Oh well.
We headed home early Friday morning. It would have been nice to stay a day or two longer, but the final occupancy inspection would be on Monday and we still had a lot to do.
Saturday morning we started the finishing touches. I set Michael up putting cover plates on all the switches and outlets while I finished some trim work and then installed any final lighting fixtures. It was a long day, but we finished everything. Sunday was spent cleaning up all the apartments. By midnight they all looked showroom new and ready to move in to.
The final occupancy inspection started at 9AM on Monday. Every switch, outlet, faucet, drain, smoke alarm and door was tested. Although some minor things still needed to be done, after almost a full year of work we got our certificate of occupancy for the final part of the building at 2PM. We took the inspector out for a late lunch -- he'd worked right through it -- and then came back to our completed building.
Michael ran out to get groceries and I ordered supplies for the recording studio after scribbling out a quick plan. They'd be delivered tomorrow morning. I also called all the owners to let them know they could now move in.
*** [ 12/3/02 ]
Building out the studio for Michael without him knowing would be a challenge with him in town. I woke up early, grabbed some coffee and headed down to the dock, leaving Michael a note that said I'd be out all day.
The supplies soon arrived and I would pass them off as supplies for storage lockers in one of the basement rooms if he caught me there -- and hopefully he wouldn't notice that it wasn't regular drywall.
It was quick work getting up the walls, but all the sealant and padding took extra time. By nine that evening I had the walls up, the floating floors built, insulated and decked. I was exhausted when I went back upstairs. Michael wasn't there so I took a shower and went to bed, luckily avoiding any questions.
The next day was spent wiring and then insulating and soundproofing the studs before the drywall went up, as well as framing the ceiling. Another long day and another luck at avoiding Michael.
That luck ran out on the fifth. I was trying to sneak out of bed when I felt a tugging and discovered Michael had tied a rope around my leg connecting it to his. The yank it gave him was enough to wake him.
"Go back to sleep," I said as I untied my leg.
"Caught you. Where have you been disappearing to?" Michael mumbled, half-asleep.
"I've got some things to take care of."
"What?"
"You don't need to know yet. It's a surprise."
"You're not having an affair, are you?"
I leaned over and gave him a quick kiss. "No. I'm not having an affair. Like I said, it's a surprise. A good one."
"Okay," he yawned. "Charlie's been looking for you."
"Why? Oh, right. He moved in a couple days ago," I said as I pulled on some clothes.
"Yea. He and Kate aren't getting along at all now."
"Yea, I knew they were having troubles."
"Ian moves in today. Are you going to be around?"
"Nope. Not until late."
"Okay. Go be secretive," he mumbled and went back to sleep.
When I got downstairs Scott was making a pot of coffee.
"Hey, stranger," Scott said.
"Hey. What time are you done today?"
"Three. Why?"
"Uh, nevermind. That's too late. I'll try to grab Charlie," I said and went to the bathroom.
I grabbed two cups of coffee when it was done and a couple bagels before heading down to Charlie's place. It took a minute or two of ringing the doorbell before he pulled open the door in a huff.
"What?!" He yelled, still mostly asleep and naked.
"Get dressed. You're coming to help me today," I said and handed him a cup of coffee.
"You've got horrible timing. I've been looking for you for days. Where have you been," he mumbled and took the coffee, walking back inside towards the kitchen.
"You'll see. Get dressed and let's go."
"Jonah?" Kate asked from the bedroom door in a robe.
"Sorry for waking you. I'm just stealing your man for a couple hours."
She just gave me a blank stare, then a nod and went back to bed.
"She'd be good with you never bringing me back right now," Charlie muttered and went to the bathroom. A few minutes later he went into his bedroom and returned with clothes in hand, getting dressed in the living room.
I left any conversation until we were alone. As soon as he was dressed he grabbed his coffee again and we headed downstairs.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"Building a recording studio for Michael for Christmas. He doesn't know anything about it yet. I need help hanging the drywall," I answered.
"You woke me up for that? You know I'm pants at building shit."
"Yea, but you can lift and hold things. That's all I need. It'll also give us time to talk. Michael said you've been looking for me."
"Yea," he sighed. "I think it's over."
"Between you and Kate."
"Yea. We can't seem to do anything but get on each other's nerves. I still love her, but... She just pisses me off so much."
"What did she do?"
"You see, that's just it. It's not one thing that I can point to and say 'there, that's what she did'. It's lots of little things that have piled up over time. Like when she said she was okay with me sleeping with you if I felt the need to, but then got all pissy after I did. I finally start to get more work and am gone a lot and she gets pissy 'cause I'm away. When I'm home she doesn't want to be around me, anyway. She's always out with her friends and oh, god forbid if I want to join them -- oh no, that won't do. I've got my own friends. And Christmas!," he exclaimed as we walked into the studio, on a roll. "I told her my parents invited us to spend Christmas and Boxing Day with them. 'Oh no,' she says, 'we're spending Christmas in Vail.' With her friends, no less. Her friends who hate me."
"How can they hate you?" I asked.
"Because they think I'm some Eurotrash sod who's not good enough for her. I think she's finally started to believe it."
"At least it's now and not after you got married and had kids. Maybe you two just need a break from each other to get some perspective. I know you love each other."
Charlie sighed and dropped down onto the floor. "The wedding is a completely different matter. We already are married."
"What? When did this happen?"
"About a month after I proposed. It was just a civil cerimony so I didn't have to worry about being deported. No one knew about it. We were planning to have a real cerimony with everyone when we had the time."
"Get up and grab a sheet of drywall. We're doing the ceiling first," I said. "What does Kate think about everything?"
"She's flying back to LA at noon.
"Oh."
"Exactly. She's all for the 'time apart to figure out what you want' thing."
"What you want, or what you both want?" I asked.
"Both. I also found out she had an affair while I was away shooting 'Cold Mountain'. At least I think it was then. She kept getting text messages from some guy the whole time we were at her folks. He was saying how he couldn't wait to see her again and shit like that."
"I don't know what to say, man. That sucks."
"Yea, but I'm over it now. It's not worth it anymore. I don't know what the fuck is happening. I just want some peace."
"Okay. Do you not want to say good-bye to her before she leaves?"
"No. The bitch can call me if she has something to say."
"Okay."
We worked the whole day with me directing where to hold the drywall and Charlie bitching about anything and everything. Despite his protests, the impending breakup did bother him a lot. By the time we quit for the night all the drywall was up and taped.
I left Charlie at his place and continued upstairs. Through the window in the stairwell I noticed that we'd gotten snow. A lot of snow, and it was still coming down. I walked into our apartment to find Michael making a late dinner.
"Hey. You're eating late," I said and gave him a quick kiss.
"You've been building something," he said, noticing the dust on me. "I know. Don't ask any questions. You see the snow?"
"Yea. Looks like fun. I'm gonna take a shower," I said and went to the bathroom.
"You haven't seen Charlie today, have you?" Michael asked as he followed me.
"He was with me all day, venting. Kate went back to LA this morning."
"Is she coming back?"
"Doubtful. At least not anytime soon."
"So they've totally broken up?"
"Probably. Did you know they were already married?" I asked as I climbed into the shower and turned on the water.
"What? That fucker! What happened to you being the best man and inviting us," Michael complained and moved to the shower doorway so I could hear him.
"He said it was just a civil ceremony a month after he proposed so he wouldn't be deported. They didn't tell anyone and were still planning on having a wedding with everyone. Probably not going to happen now. Just a divorce."
"So should we invite him up for dinner or something? How was he?"
"Upset. He was planning on going to bed early. Did Ian get moved in?"
"Yea. Just in time, too," Michael said. "It's a blizzard out there. Everything is being cancelled for tomorrow. I've helped shovel in front a couple times already. I told Lisa she should close early and get home while she still could."
"If I'd been thinking about it at the time we could have had them put tubes under the front pavers to melt the snow. Maybe next year," I said.
"And in the back, too."
"That's way too big and we'd have to repave it all. We can just buy a snowthrower and clear it out when needed. It's not like there's a lot of traffic through there. Not like the front."
"We could just hire someone to plow it and not have to mess with it."
"True. Can you call around tomorrow to see if you can get anyone here to do it? Randy and Chad are moving in this weekend," I asked.
"I can try. It's kinda late for that. They probably won't even have the roads cleared until Saturday afternoon."
"We may end up doing a ton of shoveling, then."
"At least. It'll be weird to have people here all the time now and not staying with us," Michael said.
"Yea. We might never see any of them again," I teased.
"Probably not. Is Charlie going to move here full time now?"
"He didn't say anything about it and I'm sure he hasn't even thought about it yet. I know he's got promo photos in LA sometime this month."
"I can't see him leaving LA. Who knows?" Michael said and passed me a towel.
"Thanks. Oh, did they finish the rubber floors? We took the elevator up and I didn't think to check."
"All done. Now that it's all down it kinda looks like terrazzo. It also makes the halls a lot quieter. I still wish they could have covered the stairs with it. You'd think they could come up with a way to do that with the same stuff."
"The stairs look okay. It's not that big of a deal," I said.
"I know. It just disrupts the flow. I'll get over it. Shit. I'd better get back to our dinner," Michael said and ran out.
Comments welcomed and encouraged. jm_stories@yahoo.com. Please put the story title in the subject line or my spam filter will eat it. I usually reply when the next chapter comes out. Yes, I know I'm slow.