Usual disclaimers apply. If you're under legal age, whatever it may be wherever you may be, or if you find the subject matter offensive, please stop reading now. Otherwise, read on and hopefully enjoy. If you do, please send me some feedback on what you think.
-Gabriel
gabrielredquest@hotmail.com
Copyright 2003 Gabriel Redquest. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter One
After three hours of bad music, worse preaching, and far too little drinking, Ryan definitely needed a smoke. The neglected, pealing back steps of the Centreville Baptist Church were as deserted as one would expect on the muggy Saturday evening. Three hours stuck in an evangelical church with hundreds of geriatrics and obnoxiously blissful newlyweds, Ryan couldn't remember ever needing a cigarette more.
Unlike most of the aging crowd inside, Ryan had given up on the church years earlier. His wonderfully enlightened parents had valued their son's beliefs more than those of the church, and had let him quit at the ripe old age of twelve.
Smiling slightly at this memory, Ryan thought for a moment of the blushing bride inside. Her parents had always intended for him to be walking down the isle with her, but these plans had gone wildly awry six years ago. Coming out of the closet at seventeen had been fine by his parents, a fair bit less so by her's. Now after so many strained conversations and declined invitations, he had been as surprised as everyone else to find himself on the guest list.
Hearing the rusted hinges of the back door open behind him, Ryan hastily hid his cigarette, fearing the wrath of one of the God fearing. Much to his surprise, he was greeted instead with a rueful laugh and the sound of a striking match.
"It's a disgusting habit, isn't it?" Asked a deep male voice. In the darkness behind the church, Ryan could only make out the glint off a row of straight white teeth.
Ryan nodded, before remembering his new companion probably couldn't see that much of him either. "Yeah I keep meaning to quit, but something keeps coming up."
"You mean like this fun-fest?" The voice asked with a chuckle. "Actually I was referring to the old folks doing the Funky-Chicken at every wedding reception they stumble across." Barely glimpsing a hand reaching out, Ryan shook it. "I'm Simon. You're Ryan Leeds right?"
Starting to nod again, Ryan mentally kicked himself. "Yeah, how'd you know?"
Simon chuckled again. It was a distinctly pleasant sound, Ryan thought. "Are you kidding? Half the people in there have been staring at you all night. They keep muttering something about the poor lost boy that you are." Ryan laughed, and Simon went on. "I saw you sneak out the back, and figured if any of the stories about you are remotely true you'd have to be more interesting company than anyone in there."
Ryan grimaced, trying not to imagine the latest stories that had been concocted about him. He had overheard enough of them all evening. While some were outright hateful, most were merely offensive. Some, given his own particular view of things, could almost be taken as flattering. Personally he didn't think he had been alive long enough to get around that much.
"Let me guess, you've only heard good things about me right?"
"Depends on what you consider good I guess." Ryan heard the smile in his voice, and wondered just what exactly that meant. He wondered more if it meant what he found himself hoping it did.
They stood in not-uncomfortable silence for a while, enjoying the warm night after the swealtering church hall. After a bit, Ryan threw his cigarette out onto the lawn and turned to his company.
"You do realize that you're taking a bit of a risk by following me out here don't you?" Ryan asked him. After all that was surely being said of him inside, it was only fair that he give the poor guy fair warning.
"Why's that now? Are you going to jump me like I've been warned you might?" Simon laughed. "If you mean my reputation, I think I can handle myself with that bunch."
Ryan smirked into the dark. He was already beginning to like the guy. For one thing he was the first person under eighty with a sense of humour he had met all night.
"And what about with me? They did warn you after all."
"Now there's an interesting thought." Ryan watched as the lit cigarette flicked out into the yard. Not being able to see in the dark, he was even more surprised when he felt Simons lips brush against his own than the venue alone warranted. Although he was already liking what he was feeling, he twitched back out of reflex.
Feeling him tense up, Simon pulled away quickly. He had only begun to mutter an apology when Ryan reached out in the dark and pulled his lips back within reach. Regardless of the fact that he couldn't see what Simon looked like in the dark, he was a good enough kisser that Ryan wasn't about to let him go that easily.
They kissed gently for a few moments, and then not so gently. Feeling Simon's tongue brush his lips, Ryan parted them slightly to let him in. Warm, strong hands rubbed up his back, and Ryan reached out to touch him back. No matter what Simon might have looked like, he certainly felt good. He felt tough, but not muscle-bound hard, with a nice soft give to his flesh. Like someone who had a good shape overall, but obviously wasn't afraid to eat pizza and skip the gym when he felt like it. Angling his head up to meet Simon's lips, Ryan wasn't surprised that he was at least four inches taller than him. At 5' 7" tall, most men were, especially the ones that he usually found himself attracted to.
Several minutes and an increased heartbeat later, they pulled apart and sighed heavily. Ryan was pleased to see that the glint from Simon's wide smile in the dark.
"I hope that the stories about me weren't too exaggerated." He said.
"Mmmm... not in the least. In fact, I may have to update a few of them in there." Simon laughed, and pulled him close again. "I suppose we should go back in soon, before they start making up new ones in our absence."
"Worried about your reputation after all?" Ryan asked, and sighed. "I suppose you're right though, they'll probably start missing you soon."
"What about you?" Simon whispered in his ear.
Ryan shook his head. "I severely doubt that anyone in there is missing me."
"That's not what I meant. I meant, will you start missing me soon?"
"Is that your round-about way of asking if I'd like to see you again?" Ryan smirked in the dark. "Or for the first time, as the case may be?"
"And if it is?"
Ryan nodded, knowing this time that Simon was close enough to catch his answer. "I think I could live with that."
Simon's teeth glinted again. "Good. Can you meet me for lunch tomorrow at one? Do you know the Universal Café on Spring Garden?"
"Yes, on both counts. Now let's get back inside before they all think I've abducted you and had my evil way with you."
Simon pulled him in for a quick kiss. "Are you sure? That sounds like it could be fun actually."
Ryan laughed and pulled open the door to the church. His laughter stopped abruptly when the light from the hall inside reached Simon's face. He was better looking than he had hoped, his dark skin contrasting with his green eyes and dirty-blond hair. He wasn't classically handsome, but had a warm, friendly look to his face that made it seem even more appealing.
He also had the face of the newly-wed groom.
Simon's face looked apprehensive now. "Not what you expected?" He sounded a little hurt.
Ryan shook his head quickly. "No it's not that. Definitely not that. It's just for a minute I thought..."
Comprehension dawned on Simon's face, and he burst out laughing.
"Sure it's funny now." Ryan pouted. "For a minute there I almost burst a vein."
Simon's laughing continued. "Burst a vein huh? Yeah I bet I can guess which one too." Ryan pouted harder, which made Simon laugh twice as hard. "You really thought I was Graham there for a second didn't you?"
"Well you are identical aren't you?"
Simon nodded. "Pretty much. I'm the better kisser though, if that will help you tell us apart."
Ryan laughed. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Liz would kill me if I put the moves on her husband after only an hour of married life. And just how do you know he's the better kisser?"
"Let's just say we had an interesting childhood." He chuckled. "I'm kidding, don't look so terrified."
"Who's terrified? Actually the thought of two of you together just about burst that other vein." He smirked at the look that got. "Don't look so terrified."
Simon laughed and nudged him in the door, trailing his hands lightly around Ryan's waist as he did. "Be good. It's time to rejoin the moral masses."
Ryan shuddered. "Now I am terrified."
Shortly before midnight, Ryan made his way into his apartment, quietly so as not to wake his roommate. Ainsley was pleasant enough during the day, but God forbid anyone interrupt her beauty sleep. As it turned out, he needn't have worried. The sound of something being put in the oven told him she was awake, and that she would be up for awhile.
From the look of the kitchen, the two kilogram bag of flour had been in a fight with the ceiling fan. Apparently, the flour had lost. The only object in the kitchen that appeared untouched by the mess was the glass of red wine clutched tightly in Ainsley's fist.
"Compulsive baking and wine?" Ryan raised an eyebrow at her. "Something tells me this was a very bad day."
Glass clutched firmly in her tiny fist, Ainsley met his eyes calmly. She never cried or yelled when she was upset. She just baked, and on the really bad days she sipped from one doctor-recommended glass of red wine. Never any more of course. Her self control would never allow it.
"Andrew Leeds is a stupid prick."
Ryan sighed and sat down. "I could have told you that twenty years ago, but please go on." He loved his brother, but mainly because he had to. Three years his senior, his big brother had never done anything to endear himself to Ryan, or many others.
"Your brother," The word contained more contempt than the kitchen did flour, "Stood me up today so he could go golfing with Tanya." Tanya was Andrew's unfortunately attractive assistant. Ryan could tell this was going to be an "Is she prettier than me?" night, and moved to head it off as quickly as possible.
"Yeah, he blew off Liz's wedding today. And he's known her since she was one."
"I forgot that was today. At least that explains the suit." Mercifully, she had fallen for his blatant conversational tactic. "How was it anyway?"
Ryan laughed. "About as fun as you would expect a fire and brimstone wedding to be. Can you believe she actually promised to `serve and obey' him?"
Ainsley snorted, which looked oddly dragon-like given the flour she expelled from her nose. "I am never agreeing to anything like that when I get married." She scowled. "If I ever get married. God I hate your brother. And Tanya."
His first tactic defeated, Ryan opted for his roommate's greatest weakness.
Gossip.
"The wedding wasn't a total loss at least. I managed to have a little bit of fun at least."
Ainsley frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Let's just say the bride isn't the only one who got a kiss in the church today."
Mission accomplished. Ainsley's eyes lit up, totally distracted now. And he got to spill about meeting a hot guy. Double win.
"His name's Simon."
"And?"
Ryan shrugged. "And what?"
Ainsley giggled and flicked flour at him. "And details you ass! What's he like? What's he look like? You kissed him in a church?"
"On the back step, if that counts. And he seems very nice, fun actually." He paused, smirking. "And he looks exactly like Liz's new husband actually."
That earned a perplexed look. "You kissed the groom? That's surprising, even for you."
Ryan stuck his tongue out at her. "Thanks, I love you too. And no, I kissed the groom's brother. Good thing you have such a high opinion of me though."
Ainsley shrugged. "It's not my fault I know what you're like."
"If you're going to be like that, then you get no more details at all." He stood and made his way out of the room.
"Wait! I'll be good, come tell me more. Are you going to see him again?"
"Goodnight Ainsley."
"God I hate you right now."
Ryan laughed, turned the light out on her, and went to bed.
To be continued.