THE STORY OF US BY: Julien
This story is 100% fictional and is by no means depictive of the life of any person, place or thing. It contains sexual activities between males and should only be read if it is legal to do so in your area. Read at your own risk and enjoy. Comments are welcomed and would be very much appreciated. ENJOY!
I would like to thank my editor Frank for doing such a great job on editing - thanks a lot man...
BOBBY
How could I describe this feeling? It was kinda like a euphoric high without the drugs and believe me when I say I was tripping on that shit. I had never been this happy and content with my life and I wanted to take those feeling and run as far with it as I could. Of course life has a way of getting in the way but unlike all those times before, I wasn't letting it take over my relationship, after all, only one of could run this boat and that was without a doubt me. Sometimes of course I had come close to reverting to my old ways but all I had to do was just look over at Richie and see what I had and I just knew I had to come and stay correct. It wasn't a case of choosing my music or him anymore. It wasn't even an option I was willing to consider. It was either him or nothing and I was definitely choosing him. Of course all was said and done while I was outta the studio and on a vacation so the full realities of what we were gonna deal with when we got back to the 'real world' hadn't hit us yet. And there was still the obvious problem of Ernie. I was behind almost a month and a half on his money and he was blowing up my pager like crazy. And it was getting harder for me to hide what I was doing from Richie. Just last night he had asked me about it and we had come this close to an all out shouting match.
"Bobby?"
"Yeah."
"Your pager is going off again." And indeed when I unhooked it from my pants I saw the red light flashing and the number seven flash across the screen. I knew that Ernie's call number was seven.
"Yeah, thanks." I leaned over and kissed him on the lips before walking over to the settee and sitting down in front of the television.
"Aren't you gonna answer it?"
"Nah."
"Bobby." I could tell by the tone of his voice what was coming and I tried to change the subject.
"You want to go out tonight, maybe down to the Jersey Shore?"
"No." He paused, then continued, "I want to know who's been paging you every hour on the hour." I could hear the jealousy in his voice and tried to offer up an explanation.
"It's nobody Richie, probably a wrong number. You would think the sucker on the other line would know by now that I ain't the one he been looking for." I turned to him and cracked a smile.
"I'm not amused Bobby and I'm not stupid either." With that he turned on his heel and walked out of the room towards the patio that would lead outside.
"Richie." I called after him following close behind.
When we were neck and neck I tried to kiss him but he pushed me away.
"If you don't want me to know who's paging you, then tell me you don't want me to know but don't stand in front of my face and lie about it."
I could hear the anger in his voice and all of a sudden, I started to feel panic. I didn't want to involve him in a mess of my own making but I didn't want to hide it from him either. I decided to come clean - at least half way.
"Fine, fine, I'm sorry ok. It's just that I don't want to get you involved in this mess that I'm going through."
He reached out and took my hand in his, "I'm already involved Bobby. We're in a relationship right?"
"Yeah." I answered meekly.
"And we're serious about giving this our best shot right?"
"Of course."
"Then that means that we need to be honest with each other when there is a problem that affects one of us."
I sighed and then said, "You're right."
"Good."
"But this is something I need to handle by myself baby. I know you want to help but all you'll end up doing is getting in the way. I don't want to have to worry about me and you."
He looked at me with something that resembled anger but soon turned into fear, "Are you in some sort of trouble Bobby."
"No Richie. I just, I've just been dealing with some people that I need to deal with and when it's done, it's done."
"And that's who's paging you?"
"Yeah."
For a moment, by the look on his face, I thought that my lie had become apparent but then he shook his head and took me into his arms. And damn I gotta tell you, it felt good.
"Don't lie to me ever again Bobby. I swear...." His voice slipped off into oblivion leaving me breathing a sigh of relief.
And thinking about how close I came to almost getting caught reminded me that I still had to find a way to deal with this shit and I had to find a way to deal with it right now. I walked to my bedroom door and quietly shut the door after checking to see that Richie was still asleep. I made my way over to the patio and closed the door behind me. Picking up my cell phone, I dialed his number hoping that he wouldn't pick up but knowing damn well that he would.
"What the fuck took you so long?" The anger in his voice came through loud and clear and it pissed me the fuck off. Who the fuck did he think he was.
"I told you I'd deal with the money when I get back."
"I don't give a fuck what you told me! It's been almost two months man and I ain't seen one red cent from your ass yet! What the fuck are you trying to do!?!"
"You know I don't got that kinda cash lying around Ernie. And what the fuck you trying to do calling my pager every hour on the hour."
"Listen mutha fucker, I can page you as many times as I want and the next time you pull a fucking stunt like that, you'll regret it. I'll have every major paper with your picture and then everyone can see what a fucking fruit Bobby Knight really is."
"Fuck you. Fuck you!" And with that I slammed the phone shut. A second pass and then two before it started to ring again. I picked it up knowing damn well he was on the other line.
"Glad to see I got your attention. Now listen up. Enough with all this bullshit. I know you got the cash and I know you can get it whenever and don't you fucking try and deny it cause I know the drill. I want what I'm owed plus an extra grand for making me run after your ass and I want it tomorrow, same time, same place. You got it????"
And what I wouldn't have done to be able to reach through the phone and strangle his ass till he ceased to be.
"You got it????"
"Yeah I got it." I growled, barley managing to hold my anger in check.
"Good, now don't be late or you're gonna regret it. Sleep tight sweet pea." And with that, he hung up leaving me with the urge to drive all the way over to his place and burn the joint down. And I actually had to shake myself out of that thought cause I knew if I were to dwell on it too long, too hard, I might have gone ahead and done it. I woulda done anything to get this piece of shit out of my life. Anything. But I had to think about someone other than me 'cause anything that I did would not only affect me but it would affect Richie. If my ass got thrown in prison because of a hasty decision on my part, he woulda been the one left out there to suffer and that, I couldn't allow. I made my back inside and took my time in opening my bedroom door, getting into bed with my man and gently pulling the covers over the both of us.
MICHAEL
It had been two weeks since my move to Connecticut and all I could think about was the fact that I missed New York. Not to say that Danbury wasn't a neat little city, it was. They had a good number of hangouts, gay, straight and neutral, good eats and a lot of good-looking men to keep me well occupied but it wasn't New York. There wasn't that visible aura that surrounded the city that never sleeps and because of that, I was fucking miserable. And as I got ready to hang out with a few of my co-workers that were transferred with me, I couldn't help but think that this was the first time in a long time that I wish I could have just kept my ass at home.
My phone rang breaking me out of thought.
"Hello," I answered keeping the edge out of my voice.
"Hey Michael, it's Tricia."
"Hey Trish, what's up, you guys leaving already?"
"Yeah but there has been a change of plans."
"O-K, what's on the agenda?"
"Well Dave's best friend is in from New York and he decided we should take him out with us tonight."
"No problem."
"Well...we decided that instead of going to the club, we could probably go out to eat instead and maybe do a movie, his cousin isn't into the club thing and frankly, I'm not up to it either."
And to say that I was relieved would have been an understatement. I was fucking ecstatic.
"That's great Trish."
"Yeah and guess what?"
"What?"
"His friend is gay and single."
Uh huh, here it comes. For the past few weeks, Trish and my other co-workers have been trying to set me up with the perfect guy and I had graciously accepted most if not all their offers but tonight, I wasn't into it.
"Not interested. Haven't you learned anything from the last three or four men you tried to fix me up with?"
"Actually, I have. You're just picky. But trust me Michael, this one is a keeper. He's rich, good looking, big di..." I didn't need to hear anymore and I told her so.
"Ok, ok, but promise me you'll give it a decent try, not like with Lance."
Lance, boy oh boy, the things I did for my co-workers.
"Yeah, ok, but this is it. I can find my own man to fuck."
"I'm sure you can." And with that, she hung up. Knowing Tricia, she was probably rushing to call Dave.
What is with attached people that have them rushing to find their single friends a partner. It's a small group of us consisting of 6 including me. There's Dave who I met through work almost seven years ago. We get along and he's a cool guy but not my type. He got married about two years ago to a girl he met while on vacation in Hawaii. Richard and Doug have both been working with me since '91 and have been working over each other since late '99. Tricia and her husband Mark have been together since '84 and both have been good friends of mine since the late nineties. It's a wonder how we all mesh so well considering how different we really were. It was that simple fact that kept me going back for more of whoever they were dishing out. I mean, isn't that what friends are there for. Of course not all of my set ups have been negative. A few have made pretty good fucks but something about each and every one of them kept me at bay, I don't know what it was but it was there. And after the thing with Lance, I wasn't expecting much from this 'fine catch' either. And as I got ready to go take a shower, I decided that the best I could do was to go with the flow and see where I would end up.
I had barely walked into The Village (no relation to the New York Hot Spot) when I was nearly mobbed by a group of eager beavers waiting to be seated. The one to my right was a loud mouthed red head that kept on pawing her better half as if she were a cat and he a tree.
"Excuse me." I stated as she bounced against me for what seemed like the fifth time.
"What!?!" She replied releasing her grip on her comrade and turning to face me, her facial features turning ever so slowly into a scowl.
"I said Excuse me. You bounced into me."
"So."
'Fuck it!' I thought turning unto my heel and about to walk out when a man walking through the door bounced me again.
"Where the fuck is your manners man." I balked looking up just as he passed me.
He stopped and turned to face me, the words "I'm sorry," barely leaving his lips when a look of recognition graced his face. I could imagine my own face adorning a similar expression.
"Adam!" I cried out, my voice betraying my shock. It had been a while since I had seen him.
"Michael! Hi, how are you?" He walked up to me and as if it were a natural thing to do, he hugged me. I was surprised that I melted so easily into his embrace. It wasn't as if we had parted on the best of terms.
He pulled apart from me and ran a hand through his hair.
"Wow. I didn't expect to see you here. What are you doing here anyway?" And even though his face remained neutral, his voice betrayed his nervousness.
"Same as you I suppose. Some good food, drinks, music. I'm actually meeting a group of my co-workers." I looked down at my watch and then continued with, "actually, they're running a bit late. You?"
"A friend." He paused and as if he wanted to ask a question he raised his finger to his chin. "Uh...so. Are you living in Connecticut now?"
"Yeah. Been here a few months now. Pretty neat place but it's no New York, I'll give you that."
He laughed and I had to block out all memories associated with that.
"Yeah, no New York." He was about to say something else when the front door opened and I spotted some of my party making their way through it.
"Michael!" I looked over the heads of other diners and finally spotted Trish and Mark.
"Guys, over here!" I shouted and waved. Finally having caught their attention I turned to face Adam.
"Well, my friends are here."
"Yeah."
"And I should go."
"I know."
"So if you want to join us until your friend shows up...you're welcome."
He seemed excited at the prospect but then, "Nah, I don't want to intrude..."
"No, come on. It'll be fun. Besides, we've got a lot of catching up to do, it's been a while."
"Yeah...too long Michael." His voice filled me with a sense of something that I feared was remorse or dare I say regret?
"I'm sorry Adam, I really am."
"Forget it...I'm over it...I really am."
"Then come join me...please." I put on what I thought was my pleading look and was surprised to see his resilience wavering.
Finally he relented and shook his head. By this time Trish and Mark had made it to my side and were exchanging introductions with Adam.
Trish must have sensed the electricity between us for she went in for the kill - LITERALLY.
"So Adam, you and Michael know each other?"
"Yeah we do, from New York. We used to da...uh, we used to hang out."
"Hang out huh. I'm sure you all did hang out." And I noticed that her heavy New York accent was beginning to kick in.
"You guys used to 'hang out' a lot?" She asked placing heavy emphasis on the words hang out.
"Uh...yeah, we did." He answered his voice somber and his eyes piercing into mine. I had to quickly avert my gaze to keep the guilt at bay.
"Come on now Trish. Don't grill the man." I interjected before things got too complicated to handle. Adam seemed grateful for the save and smiled with a sense of relief.
"Ok, ok, no need to get all sensitive Michael. Come on guys, our seats are ready." With that she took Mark's hand and led the way to our table.
So here we were, two couples so to speak sitting across from each other waiting for the other to speak first when all of a sudden I heard, "well I'll be damned, look what the cat dragged in. Fuck Adam, get up and give your boy a hug." I looked over my shoulder and saw Dave approach Adam from his side of the table and grab him up into a bear hug.
"Fuck, you got big man."
"Yeah...well look at you." They looked at each other periodically hugging at some point or the other. Finally they acknowledged the rest of us.
"Michael, Michael, Michael. Why am I not surprised." Dave stated.
"What!" I proclaimed innocently knowing damn well what he was implying. I could tell by the 'boy, you work so damn fast' glances he was sending my way.
"I see you've met your date for tonight, Adam this is my friend and co-worker Michael and Michael, this is my boy Adam."
By this point, I was way past surprise and just had to smile inwardly to keep from laughing out loud. How ironic.
"We know each other from back home." I stated clearing up the confused look on Dave's face.
"Yeah." Adam concurred.
"So much for a set up." Dave quickly interjected shaking his head and pulling out a seat for his wife Connie.
Adam turned to look at me at the exact same moment when I turned to look at him and quickly averted his gaze when our eyes met. I could tell by the way he constantly shifted in his seat that he was uncomfortable. And If I were willing to admit it, so was I.
"Shit!" Called Dave breaking me out of thought and turning all attention on him.
"What?" Replied Trish.
"What day is today?" He continued.
"The 22nd, why?"
"Shit, shit, shit."
"Dave what's the matter?" Connie interjected, her right hand reaching for her husbands' left.
"The game." He stated, slapping his hand to his forehead.
"Shit, you're right." Doug added.
I sensed a plot here and my suspicions were quickly confirmed when Mark started putting on his coat followed by Trish, Doug, Richard, Connie and eventually Dave.
"You got the tickets Mark?" Dave asked avoiding my steady gaze.
"Yeah buddy, right here. I can't believe we forgot." Mark answered, his attempt to hide his ever growing smile failing.
"Sure you did. You are one fucked up friend, you know that Dave." I stated, my hands crossed over my chest. "I bet you there happen to be six tickets there."
Mark pulled out his wallet and counted off the tickets for all to see.
"Yup, six tickets, ready, waiting and accounted for." And with that, he burst out laughing.
"You're one sick fuck, you know that." I growled to no one in particular. It wasn't that I was angry for being had, I wasn't all that angry. It was just that this was Adam and...I wasn't prepared.
"Yeah? Well you can give all the honors to the ladies, they planned it all." Dave said leaning in to kiss Connie while Mark did the same with Trish.
I shook my head and was about to speak again when Adam piped in.
"Well good one guys really."
"Well at least my best friend has a sense of humor." Dave chided in.
I turned to look at Adam and the look on his face told we that he had something planned and that I should just play along. Well, I was all for it.
"Fine, good one, I'll give you that." I dryly stated.
We both got up from the table and proceeded to say our good byes. While I shook all the hands of the men, Adam got up close and personal and hugged all four of them. I have to admit that I felt a hint of jealousy but I quickly shook it away.
And as they all walked out, smiles adorning their faces as if they had accomplished something, Adam turned to me and held out his hand.
"You son of a bitch." I stated shaking my head. In the palm of his hands lay four wallets.
"You should trust me more Michael."
"I guess I should. Where did you learn to do that?"
"I wasn't always a doctor you know."
I shook my head again and removed Mark's wallet from the stack. Opening it I saw that there I stack of cash and sure enough, six tickets to the game - boy were they going to be pissed!
After a while, the moment began to wear off and once again things were as awkward as they were in the beginning.
"So..." I started but Adam cut me off.
"We don't have to do this Michael. I'm sure Dave will understand and..."
"And what. I don't mind, honestly. Why not have dinner on them." I smirked holding up a wad of cash taken from all four wallets. Adam returned the smile and replied with an "ok."
And as we quietly went over our respective menus, I couldn't help but shake my head and think once again 'How Ironic'.
WELL THAT'S IT FOR THIS CHAPTER. I HOPE YOU GUYS HAD A GREAT MEMORIAL WEEKEND AND ENJOY THIS CHAPTER. COMMENTS ARE WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED WHETHER YOU LIKE OR HATE IT. JUST LET ME KNOW!!!!