Disclaimer: Anything mentioned in this story is complete fiction. The sexuality of anyone in the story is not necessarily true, but just written to entertain. If you are underage or if it is illegal to read pornographic material where you live, please leave now. Also, if you are uncomfortable with gay relationships, you should not read any farther. For everyone else, enjoy the show....
Justin blinked his big blue eyes a few times clearing the sleep from them. He moved a little in bed but something didn't feel right. He looked over at the empty pillow next to him and sat up, the sheet falling down his bare torso to his lap.
"Craig?" he said looking around the small dark bedroom.
He got up from the mattress on the floor pulling on his boxers at he walked to the closed bedroom door. He pulled it open and followed the dim light that left streaks of white and yellow along the hallway walls. He padded softly into the living room where he found Craig sitting on the floor on top of the paint splattered white sheets.
Craig's back was turned to Justin but he could make out the silhouette of the man from the small amount of light filtering in the glass doors that led out onto the balcony. Justin walked closer to him but stopped just to his side.
"Hey," he said sitting down next to him. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Craig said looking down at his lap. "I just couldn't sleep."
Justin placed his hand on the man's chin and turned his face towards him.
"Are you sure?"
Craig nodded still not meeting Justin's eyes.
Justin leaned back looking at the man intently. He just didn't seem like the same guy he had just been in bed with, what he guessed just a few hours ago.
"I'm okay Justin," Craig said felling his eyes boring into his slightly clammy skin.
"Okay. Do you want to go back to bed?"
"Yeah I'll be there in a second," he said giving Justin the weakest smile he had ever seen.
"Okay," Justin said. Before standing he placed a small kiss on Craig's cheek.
When Craig heard the familiar creek in the middle of the hallway floor he pulled a piece of paper from underneath his leg. He looked at it and read it again, almost as if for the first time. He sighed and wondered why things always had to be so complicated in his life all the time. As soon as something was going right someone, usually himself, would mess things up. This time it didn't seem to be his fault though. He hadn't left the letter pouring out his soul to himself, Chad had.
JC opened his eyes but immediately clamped them shut again when the sunlight attacked his fragile cornea. He rubbed his eyes and moaned a bit. His head had never pounded so hard before in his life. He finally fought through the pain and sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. As he stumbled to the bathroom his temples pounded in some unknown harmony to his footsteps. When the warm water of the shower hit his face he thought he had died and gone to heaven. By the end of the shower and after popping a few pills of what he assumed was aspirin or maybe it was valium, he wasn't quite sure, he almost felt human again. As he dried his hair and looked at himself in the mirror he tried to recall the night before. All he could really remember was a lot of laughing and a whole lot of drinking. He threw the towel to the floor and slipped into a pair of white boxers and a white long sleeved shirt. He bounded down the stairs like he had always done from a kid but came to a complete skidding halt when he reached the kitchen.
Wade was standing over the stove swaying his hips to his own music and humming along with the unknown tune. As JC watched him the night before came back in a flood of memories. Nothing seemed to be in order; just bits and pieces of the encounter flew through his brain. Suddenly he felt sick.
"Hey," Wade said looking over his shoulder. "I was going to wake you up with breakfast in bed."
He turned off the stove and scraped the contents of the pan onto a plate.
"What's wrong?" Wade asked. "Don't like eggs?"
JC needed to sit down before he fainted or worse just killed over. He stumbled to a bar stool at the counter and fell into it. As his head was spinning he could feel the acid in his stomach churning and bubbling. His mouth suddenly went dry and he closed his eyes to center himself.
"You don't look so good," Wade said walking over to him. He placed a hand on his back.
Suddenly all of the strength came back to JC's muscles and he pulled away jumping up out of the chair. The stool tipped over and clattered to the polished tile floor.
Wade stepped back and looked at him questioningly tilting his head to one side like a confused puppy.
"Umm," JC said trying to find the words he wanted to say.
"Are you hungry?" Wade asked.
It was as though the scene in front of him hadn't even happened. He bent down and picked the stool up placing it where it had been and walked towards the plate of food, which he carried to the kitchen table.
"No I'm not," JC said. He walked to the refrigerator more because he couldn't think of anything better to do then actually getting something out of it. He decided on apple juice after standing there for quite some time. He could feel Wade looking at him curiously again. He turned around not even glancing at the man and walked out of the wood and green tiled kitchen that suddenly seemed quite small.
Wade followed him. "You sure you're okay? You drank a lot last night."
"I'm fine," JC said a little louder then he had intended to.
"Jesus I was just asking a question. You look like shit."
JC turned around, "I'm really not in the mood right now okay?"
"In the mood for what? Me to be concerned about you? Sorry to inconvenience you."
JC shook his head and started up the stairs.
"So I'm guessing you don't want breakfast," Wade called after him.
His only answer was a door slamming shut upstairs.
As they ate breakfast at the small sidewalk café Justin couldn't help but stare at Craig intently.
"What?" Craig asked looking up from his full plate. They had been sitting there with their food for a good 20 minutes and neither one of them had eaten much.
"Nothing," Justin said shaking his head, letting his eyes fall to his own plate.
Craig sighed and pushed his plate away from himself.
"You know in a week we're going to start recording again," Justin said eyes still downcast.
"I know you already told me," he said watching a little boy walk by with what he thought was the cutest puppy he had ever seen in his life.
"Okay. Well I was thinking you know since we're going to all be staying together in the house while we're recording that maybe...I don't know..." he said pushing his fruit around on his plate.
Craig turned his attention from the street back to Justin.
"Maybe what?" he asked giving Justin's hand a squeeze but then releasing it quickly.
"Well maybe we could take some kind of trip."
"Like to where?"
He shrugged, "An island somewhere where we can just be together without work or friends or anything. Somewhere we can just be ourselves," he said finally meeting Craig's eyes. Justin smiled brightly when he did because Craig's eyes had that familiar sparkle followed by the 1000-watt smile he seemed to be so good at.
"I'd love to Justin."
"Really? You don't have to work or anything?"
"I only had two shoots this week and I can get someone to cover for me."
"Really?" he said almost not believing him.
"Yes really," Craig said hitting his shoulder.
"Okay, come on," Justin said standing up.
"What?"
"We have to go make arrangements," he said throwing a wad of bills onto the table.
"Right now?"
"Yeah I want to leave tomorrow morning."
"Alright," Craig said, "How much money did you leave anyway? Did you even count this?"
"It's enough," Justin said waving his hand dismissively.
As Craig drove them back to Justin's house he couldn't help but smile. He glanced over at Justin repeatedly as he talked animatedly on the phone to his travel agent. Apparently his agent was out of town but he seemed to be getting along well with her assistant. Craig put the Lamborghini into park when they rolled to a smooth stop in front of Justin's house. He turned and looked at him as he finished the conversation.
"Our flight leaves tomorrow morning at nine," Justin said flipping his phone closed.
"Okay," Craig said smiling, "And where are we going?"
"It's a surprise."
"But I already know we're going somewhere."
"Yes, but not where."
"I don't like surprises Justin."
"Yes you do," he said kissing his lips.
"Okay I do. But still I need to know what to pack."
"Pack warm, really warm," he said leaning closer. "Maybe nothing at all."
Craig laughed, "So we're going to hell?"
"No, better service then hell," Justin said smiling.
"Fine I guess I'll have to trust you."
"Good," Justin said kissing his lips again. "I'm glad we're going away for a while."
"Me too."
"Recording's going to be really busy but we'll still have time together okay?"
Craig nodded.
Justin kissed him again placing his hand on the back of Craig's neck, holding their mouths together in a hot wet embrace that seemed to last for just a few short minutes.
"I love you," Craig whispered.
"I love you too," Justin said stroking the man's cheek with his finger.
They kissed again a little more urgent this time. Justin let his hand slip down from Craig's face, to the man's chest, and on to the bulge in his pants.
Craig jumped a little and broke the kiss when Justin touched him.
"What's wrong?" Justin asked, face slightly flushed.
"I just have some things to do today and if we get going, I don't know if I'll ever get out of here."
"What do you have to do that's more important then me?" Justin asked kissing Craig's neck.
"Well I have to go return the car."
"Do you want me to follow you?" Justin asked taking the sensitive skin softly between his teeth.
Craig let out a little moan and pulled farther away from him.
"No I'm good baby."
"How are you getting back?"
"I'll have someone drop me off."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I have some other stuff to do anyway."
"Okay," Justin said pouting.
"Hey don't give me that look," Craig said kissing his lips softly.
Justin nodded and smiled, "So go run your errands, pack, and then come right back here?"
"Yep, that's the plan."
"I like that plan."
"Me too," Craig said kissing him again. "Now get out. I have to take this thing back before they want you as reparations."
"Yes sir," he said kissing him. "I love you. Drive safe."
"I love you too," he said letting the man kiss him again.
"So how long are you going to be gone?" Jeremy asked pushing himself up to a more comfortable sitting position in his hospital bed.
Craig almost winced at the look of the older man's slim arms pushing up his frail body. They looked almost like they would snap underneath the pressure.
"Umm," Craig said turning his attention back to the white roses he was arranging. "I'm not sure. Definitely before next week though."
Jeremy nodded, "Why do you have to fly to L.A. anyway?"
"For a job. I already told you that."
"Why L.A.?"
Craig sighed and turned to face the man. He leaned back on the dresser squeezing the edge with his hands until his tan knuckles turned white.
"I know you don't like me traveling and everything but it's a really good opportunity alright?"
"Sure. No one said you couldn't go, you're a grown man."
"Thank you for finally noticing," he said.
Craig let his eyes fall from the frail man in front of him to the white tiled floor.
"I'm sorry," he said so softly that when Jeremy didn't respond right away he thought the beeps of the heart monitor had drowned out his words.
"Don't be," Jeremy said matching Craig's tone. "Come here."
Craig walked to the bed and stood their eyes still downcast.
Jeremy took his hand gently and pulled him down to the bed where Craig rested his head on the man's delicate chest.
"I know that I'm overprotective of you sometimes," Jeremy said running his thin fingers through Craig's dark curls, "but it's only because I love you so much Craig. I always will no matter what."
"Don't say that," Craig said his voice wavering a little.
"We've never really talked about it but we both know it's going to happen soon. I just want you to know that I have never been happier then when I was with you okay?"
Craig held onto the man tighter, tears falling from his eyes and making dark blue spots on Jeremy's pale pajamas.
"Never Craig. You're like my angel. Without you I would have," Jeremy paused kissing Craig's forehead and blinking back the tears that stung his eyes, "I would have died a long time ago."
"Stop!" Craig said looking up at the man, his eyes pleading with him. "I don't want to talk about this anymore. You're not going to die."
As the words poured out of his mouth Craig knew how childish he sounded, how stupid it was for him to say that let alone want to believe it so badly.
Jeremy looked down at their hands clasped together tightly. His were so pale and Craig's so tan and strong.
"I love you," Jeremy said softly. "Just know that I love you."
Craig nodded and kissed the man lightly on the lips, linger for a second to feel the warmth that radiated off of them.
"I love you too," he said resting his head on the man's chest again.
Justin opened the door and walked inside.
"Jayce?" he called throwing his keys on the entryway table.
There was no answer but the feeling of not being alone in the huge house washed over Justin as he walked down the hallway. He reached the stairs before he heard voices. They were mumbled but he recognized one to be JC's. He started climbing the stairs slowly, yawning a bit. His mind wondered to thoughts of Craig and himself curled up on the couch, a nice fire blazing in the fireplace.
His mind snapped back to reality when he heard a loud crash and then the shattering of glass. He took the last few stairs two at a time. As he turned the corner something knocked into his chest throwing him on the wood floor. His breath caught in his throat as his lungs burned contracting rapidly to try and absorb oxygen. Tears flooded his eyes and his vision blurred.
"Are you okay?" Wade asked picking himself up off of the floor.
Justin just nodded, still not able to speak but breathing a bit easier.
Wade reached out a hand and Justin took it gratefully.
"I uh, didn't see you there," Wade said wiping his cheeks.
Justin blinked a few times, finally realizing that the tears running down Wade's cheeks weren't a funhouse mirror affect from his blurry eyes.
"What's wrong?" Justin asked quickly. "Is JC okay?" His eyes slid from Wade to the open door he had just stormed out of.
"I don't know. I have to go," Wade said pushing past Justin and bounding down the stairs.
"Jayce?" Justin asked walking into the room. He gasped when he saw the display in front of him.
JC looked up at him but there was no recognition in his eyes. He wasn't looking at Justin he was looking through him.
"Joshua what's wrong? What happened?" Justin asked walking towards him.
"Stop!" JC screamed holding his hands up.
Justin did so, in mid step.
JC let his hands fall to his side, one of which was covered in blood.
Justin took a deep breath trying to think rationally. He walked into the bathroom and got some clean towels and a wet washcloth.
When he walked back into the room JC's head was hanging down and he was staring at the floor, or his lap, it was kind of hard to tell.
After taking a few steps towards him to test the waters Justin boldly took the man's hand and started to clean off the blood. The wound must have hurt like hell but JC's expression never changed.
"You're going to need stitches," Justin said quietly.
JC said nothing and didn't move an inch.
"Please tell me what happened Jayce," Justin said sitting down next to him and applying pressure to his hand.
JC shook his head.
"Okay how did you hurt your hand?"
JC looked up finally but not to meet Justin's eyes. He looked past the man to the mirror over the dresser. There were thick pieces of glass all over. The part of the mirror that hadn't shattered had a web of long cracks along it. Looking into the mirror, Justin shuddered at how the cracks split JC's face in half. It was unnatural, just like his friend was acting right now.
"Okay so you broke the mirror with your hand?"
JC nodded his head.
"Yo Jayce, I'm all one for 20 questions but this really isn't the time okay?"
"I hit him," JC said quietly, his voice cracking as if he hadn't used it for a long time or maybe like he had been straining it a lot lately.
"Wade?"
JC nodded.
"Why?"
"He was saying things. Things that weren't true."
"Like what?"
"I don't want to talk about it," he said standing. He faced Justin with the white towel that was now almost completely covered in blood around his hand.
"We need to get you to the hospital," Justin said. "You can explain in the car."
Justin sat in the waiting room to the ER almost in a daze. A few minutes earlier JC had been ushered into a private exam room to have stitches and anything else they deemed necessary done to him. Justin slumped farther into his chair as if that would help him sort out the vague story JC had finally spilt on the ride over.
Since sitting down wasn't helping he stood and started to pace. No one in the crowded room seemed to notice his impatient behavior. They actually didn't seem to know who he was or even care for that matter.
"Excuse me?" Justin said to the nurse behind the ER desk.
"Yes?"
"My friend is getting some stitches done in exam room five I think. Can you have someone page me when he's done, I'm going to go take a walk."
"No problem sir," she said jotting something down on a tablet. "And your name?"
"Oh, Tim-" he said pausing for a second. "-othy."
Justin walked slowly through the hospital thinking. From what JC said he and Wade had gotten into some kind of argument where Wade called him something or said something and JC hit him. JC apparently was so mad that he hit him he hit the mirror and it shattered cutting his hand. Justin sighed and shook his head. This scenario JC had painted was way to third grade for him or Wade. Both of them were the "lover not a fighter" type of guy. Something was being left out something extremely important.
Justin took a deep breath as he walked outside. The fresh air felt good to his weary brain. He was the kind of person that thought about things endlessly until the problem was solved or he had at least thought that he had done his best. He figured working with Wade next week would be quite interesting, as would living under the same roof as him.
He took another breath but this one wasn't as clean. He hated people who smoked, to him it was such a dirty habit. He turned to go back inside when the smoker at hand caught his eye.
"Craig?" Justin asked, eyebrows furrowed. "What are you doing here?
To be continued...
Sorry about the lag on the updates, school just started and I've been swamped. Hopefully the next few Chapters will go off without a hitch. Any comments or criticisms you have are extremely appreciated and much needed. Email me at my new address Swimfan_777@yahoo.com