Title: The Archer and the Golden Boy
Usual disclaimers apply, don't read this if you're underage, if you live in an oppressed regime that forbids you to read this, or if you're morally/religiously opposed to male/male relationships (small minded).
Please note: This is only the first of many chapters, which will follow shortly. This chapter contains no sex, merely the buildup to a developing relationship, which will become sexual in later chapters.
I hope you all enjoy this. This is the first story I have ever posted anywhere on the Internet. Please feel free to email me with any comments, advice, story ideas, or criticisms. Hate mail will be laughed at. :)
Thanks all, Julian (tamas_julian@hotmail.com)
2001 Julian Tamas
Chapter One
Sitting in front of his computer, desperately reworking another draft of his final chapter, Josh Golden realized he was out of cigarettes.
Smiling and silently chiding himself for keeping up such a dirty habit, he got up and searched for his jacket and keys. His smoking had begun after months of constant exposure to second hand smoke while working as a waiter. He had quit his job six months ago, after his first novel published actually began to sell well. Despite the loss of his convenient excuse, he kept up his habit.
On the way out of his small apartment, Josh checked himself in the hallway mirror. His dark red hair, purposely messed and gelled into sharp spikes, was his only real vanity. Deciding it looked good enough for a trip to the corner store, Josh headed out and locked the door.
Once outside, Josh cursed himself for being too vain to wear a winter hat. The freezing arctic wind that had blasted Natal City all week blew like mad up Dublin Street and across the square. Pulling his jacket tight around himself, Josh ran down the street to the store, careful to jump over the frequent patches of ice.
Inside the store, Josh cursed and stamped his boots, muttering about the god forsaken weather outside. The cashier who smiled up at the counter was new, Josh noticed, and quite cute.
"I imagine you must be sick of listening to customers complain about the weather."
The cashier smiled at him. "It's not the most original thing I've heard all day, but that's alright."
Josh smiled back. This guy was most definitely cute. He had short, neat brown hair, and big brown eyes, which Josh loved. Many people complimented Josh on his own icy blue eyes, but he preferred puppy dog brown any day. The cashier was slightly taller than his own 5'8", and looked to be around Josh's own age of twenty.
"Are you new here?"
The cashier nodded. "Yep. I started yesterday. Are you in here often?"
Josh nodded back. "Yeah, quite often. I'm afraid you guys support my dirty habit." He nodded to the rows of cigarettes lined up behind the counter.
"That's terrible for your health you know." The cashier informed him with a grin.
Josh smiled. "I know. And yet here you are, selling them to me anyway. Honestly, you should be ashamed."
The cashier laughed. "I'll remember to feel bad about it later."
"Fair enough I guess."
"I'm Terry Archer, by the way." The guy told him, holding out his hand.
Josh shook it, and was pleased to note it was a firm handshake. Nothing turned him off more than a 'dead fish' handshake.
"I'm Josh." He answered, not stopping the handshake just yet. "Josh Golden."
"Nice to meet you Josh." Terry told him with a smile. He did not break the handshake either, and it soon past beyond the bounds of what was normally acceptable. Josh looked Terry in the eyes and pulled his hand away, being sure to brush his fingertips along Terry's palm. The cashier smiled shyly and blushed, which was exactly the reaction Josh was looking for.
"Can I ask you a question?" Josh asked him.
Terry nodded. "Yeah, of course."
"Would you rather go out for coffee or come over and watch a movie with me?"
Terry's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Uh... a movie would be great."
Josh smiled. "Great. What time do you get off work?"
"About eleven."
"Alright, I live at 1055 Dublin, the Red Lantern Building. Any movie in particular, or do you want me to surprise you?"
"Uh... surprise me."
"Alright. In the meantime, can I get a pack of Red Pack extra lights?"
Terry nodded and began ringing the cigarettes in. Halfway through, he stopped.
"Can I ask you a question now?" Josh nodded. "Are you always so blunt?"
Josh smiled at him. "Just about. Besides, I wouldn't want to miss out on an opportunity to spend time with a cute guy now would I?"
Terry laughed at him. "No, I guess you wouldn't."
Josh ran back to the apartment, and immediately began to clean. Despite his blunt attitude with Terry, he was really much more nervous then he let on. It had been almost four months since the last time he had been on a date with anyone. Once the apartment was at least relatively clean, Josh lit a smoke and headed out to the video store.
For the rest of his shift, Terry could not wait for eleven o'clock to come. He had been attracted to Josh the minute he walked in the door, but he had never dreamed he would ask him out. Men almost never hit on him, and when they did, it was usually an old, balding man who had been drinking way too much that evening.
By the time eleven o'clock came around and Julia showed up to relieve him, Terry was pacing the floor. He hated that he was so nervous, but it was just in his nature. Julia noticed his anxiety immediately, and set out to find the source.
"Alright kid," She started, no more than two minutes in the door, "What's on your head?"
Terry stopped pacing long enough to actually consider not telling Julia anything. That idea was laughable in itself. Julia had been his best friend since tenth grade, and he told her everything. She was also the one who got him the cashier job, so he definitely owed her a little gossip at the least.
"I met a guy." Terry told her, and was rewarded with a classic Julia smirk.
"So spill already. What's his name?"
"Josh Golden. Do you know him?"
Julia thought for a minute, and shook her head. "Nope, I don't know the name. What's he look like?"
"He's a little shorter than me," Terry began, "But he looks about my age. He's really handsome, and he's got red spiky hair and the most amazing blue eyes."
"Sounds like you might be a little smitten." Julia told him, still smirking. "And I think I do know him actually. He comes in here a lot, buys cigarettes and pretends to feel bad about it."
Terry smiled. "Yep, that's him."
"Well, you're right then," Julia said. "He is handsome. And pretty charming as I recall." She paused, remembering something, "I think he wished me a happy Hanukkah back in December, but if he's Jewish, I don't know where he gets that hair and those eyes."
Terry laughed at her. "Won't mom love it if I bring home a cute Jewish boy instead of that nice Catholic girl she's always going on about."
"I'm sure nervous breakdowns don't last too long." Julia told him with a laugh. "So what happened, are you going to see him sometime?"
"Actually, I'm heading over to his place right now to watch a movie."
Julia shook her head in mock disappointment. "You have a date, and you're standing around here talking to me? Go boy, go!"
Terry laughed, and grabbing his coat and hat, followed her advice.
To be continued...