All Work and No Play Chpt.2 by gowiththeflo1234@aol.com
^ Thank you so much to those who have responded with such great comments and suggestions, this one is for you guys!! ^ Sorry for the wait.
Chpt2, Part I
"I don't know what to do..." Luke whined to his best friend, Kristy, on the phone. "If you love him so much, prove it to him." "Easier said than done Kris," Luke said, with a sigh. "I mean, what am I gonna do? Marry him?" Silence on the other line. "Oh no Kris...you don't mean--" "Marriage?" she finished. "That is just what might end this whole traumatic gay mumble jumble." "I don't know Kris..." "Do you love him?" she asked. "Of course I do." "Would you put your life on the line for him Lukie?" she asked. "Anything for him," Luke replied. "Well, it sounds as though you made up your mind," Kristy said. Luke thanked her for her advice and hung up the phone. He had to make a run to the jewelry store at the mall to pick out the engagement ring. Twenty minutes later, Luke arrived at the mall. He went straight into the jewelry store and found himself a wide selection of engagement rings. "May I help you?" a salesclerk asked. "I'm just looking at the engagement rings," Luke answered. "Must be a lucky lady," the salesclerk said, smiling. "Actually, lucky man," Luke corrected her. "Oh...I see sir," the salesclerk replied. "Well, congratulations just the same." "Thanks..." Luke said, uncertainly. "I strongly suggest this beautiful white gold engagement ring set. It's perfectly suited for people of your sort." "Of my sort?" Luke asked,a little offended. "What I meant, sir, was for two men." "Ok," Luke says, taking a longer look at the ring. "Alright, I'll take it." "Wise choice," the salesclerk said, a bit cooly. She took the rings out of the showcase and rung it up at the register. Luke paid for it and left. I feel like a smoothie, Luke thought to himself. I haven't been to the mall in ages. Luke makes his way towards the food court downstairs, and he finds Seth standing at the bottom of the stairwell, hugging another guy. Seth must have felt his presence and looks up. Their eyes met, Luke turned away to avoid any more eye contact. "Luke!" he cried. "Wait up!" Seth bolts up the stairs in a few easy leaps and finds Luke walking towards the exit. "Luke," Seth says,a little out of breath. "What are you doing here at the mall?" "Ya know," Luke replys casually. "Just a few knicknacks for the house, that's all." "In a jewelry store?" Seth questioned, gesturing at the bag label. Luke decided to change the subject, "What are you doing at the mall, aren't you leaving for Paris in two days?" "I came to check out luggages at that travel store downstairs," Seth said. "I think I'll come back to get it tonight." "That's great..." Luke said. "So who's the guy?" "Just a friend," Seth said. "Well, it doesn't matter really...it's not like we're together..." Luke said, clutching the ring box. "Yeah..." Seth agreed. "Are you heading home?" "Actually I think I'll take a walk," Luke said. "I'll be home later on though." "Alright, well, I'll see you later then," Seth said, as he walked towards his car in the garage.
"Hey stranger," someone said. Luke looked up and saw Kristy. "I called your home and Seth said you went for a walk, I figured you would be here at the park. Why the long face?" "I don't know if Seth is ready for a commitment like this." "I think what you really mean is that YOU'RE not ready for a commitment like this." "I'm just scared. I don't want to get hurt, and I'm always too chicken to make a commitment Kris." "Luke, that's what you said before you go together with Seth and look, you were together for quite a while." "We do make a great team, don't we?" Luke said, smiling. "Yeah you guys do," Kristy agreed. She gave Luke a kiss on the forehead and gave a gentle pat over his heart. "Follow your heart," she said. With that, she got up and left. "I'll call you later," Luke called after her. She just waved and nodded. Luke took a last look at the rings he held in his hand, an image of Seth hugging that guy came into mind. What if he never settles down? Luke wondered. I mean, a long term relationship is one thing, but marriage? Luke sighed and decided to head home before it got too dark. Luke arrived home a little before six, Seth was packing up some stuff in the living room. The room looked empty without Seth's pictures. Seth looks up, "Oh hey, you're back." "Yeah," Luke said. "Did Kristy find you? She called just as I was walking into the door." "Yeah, she reached me." "Where were you anyways?" he asked, showing a flick of affection. "I went to the park," Luke replied. "You're weren't feeding the ducks, were you?" Seth asked, with a slight bit of humor. "I was just thinking things through," Luke said, a little more seriously. "Oh..." Seth said, and he turns back to his packing. "Seth," Luke began. "We have to talk." "Luke, there's really nothing to talk about," Seth said, trying to brush it away. "Actually, there are a lot of things we need to talk about." "Like what?" Seth countered. "Like the fact..." Luke stammers. "That I love you...and I don't think I can go on living without you and I want you to marry me." "Marry you?" Seth stutters. "Luke..." Luke takes out the ring box, "I want you to be with me forever." Seth looked at the rings, "They're beautiful." "Please say yes Seth," Luke said, pleadingly. Seth looked into Luke's eyes. They were so full of hope, and it sparkled with excitement. Seth thought about all the things Luke has done to drive him to move to Paris with this job promotion. Staying behind wouldn't be bad, but I'll be stuck at my dead-end job. Paris is a new awakening for me...it's an opportunity of a lifetime. Seth drew one last breath, and he could feel the tears streaming down his face as he says this, "I can't Luke." Luke took the ring back, tears rolling down his face. "I'm sorry Luke," Seth said, leaning in to give Luke a hug. Luke pushed him away, he got up and walked calmly into the bedroom. Seth wiped away his tears and got up to go comfort Luke. Seth knocked on the bedroom door, "Luke." No reply. "Luke, c'mon, don't do this," Seth said. "Come out and talk to me." "I'm done talking," Luke said, aggressively. "Just go back to packing." Seth pleaded for Luke to unlock the door, and Seth finally gave up. He went back to his packing, but he could hardly concentrate on his packing. Seth looked back at the door, he could hear muffled crying. Why did he have to do this to us, Seth thought. But there is no US.
Part II
"You got everything?" Mike asked, as Seth surveyed the room for any left articles. "I think so," Seth said. "Is Laura holding a cab?" "Yeah,she's down there with one right now," Mike said. "So you better hurry." "Take these two suitcases down," Seth said. "I'll be right down." Mike got the hint, and he grabbed the bags and stepped outside into the hall. Seth waited for the door to shut behind Mike, before he walked over to the bedroom door. It was slightly ajar, and Seth peeked in. Luke was laying on his side, he was sound asleep. "Oh LUke," Seth said in a whisper. "I'm going to miss you." He walks over to the bed and gives Luke a kiss on the forehead. He looked so peaceful, Seth ruffled through Luke's soft hair once more, and he gets up to leave. Seth closed the bedroom door behind him and proceeded to leave. He closed the apartment door and waited for the elevator to arrive. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Luke stirs, shifting onto his sides. LUke suddenly remembered today was Seth's departure for Paris. Luke got up and ran into the living room, it was dreary and dull. SEth had left without saying a proper goodbye. He could hear a soft honk outside the window, Luke rushed to the bedroom window...he watches as Seth steps in the cab and the cab drives off in the New York traffic.
"You alright Seth?" Laura said, slighly concerned. "He just left the man who proposed to him, how do you think he feels?" Mike added, sarcastically. "Crappy," Seth said. "Letting him go may be my biggest mistake." "You should go back," Laura said. "WHAT?!?" screamed Mike. "Marry him," Laura said. "You two belong to each other." "Easier said than done Laura," Mike said. "Not really," Laura said. "Technically, Seth still has the choice of whether or not he marries Luke." "I told him no," Seth said. "Why?" Laura asks. Silence. "Why not?" Mike said. "This is crazy, we have a big future in Paris awaiting us." THe cab arrived at the airport, the cab driver unloaded the luggage onto the sidewalk. Mike paid and tipped the driver, and they entered the crowded airport. "What's a future of success if you don't have anyone to share that success with?" Laura said, as they waited in line to check in. "We're going to Paris, there'll be plenty of guys there for Seth to chase around," Mike said, cooly. "Why are you such an ass about this?" Laura said. "Would a little support or sympathy kill you Mike?" Mike stared at her, "You wouldn't understand." "Yeah?" Laura said. "Try me." "Ticket sir?" asked the attendent behind the check in desk. "That'd be me," Mike said, and walked toward the counter. "I'm so sorry Seth," Laura said. "I wish Mike would just be a littl emore understanding." "It's ok Laura," Seth said. "Thanks for being so--so--supportive." Seth started to cry, Laura leaned forward to comfort him with a hug.
The phone rang, as Luke watched the cab pull away from the apartment. "Hello," Luke said. "Lukie, what did he say?" It was Kristy. "He said no Kris, he's not ready," Luke said, tears coming out. "I told YOU he wasn't ready." "DOn't lose hope," Kristy said. "Go after him." "What?" "Go to the airport, ask him again, PROPOSE the idea of a proposal," Kristy said. "This is a reason why I don't date girls, you guys are hopeless romantics," Luke said. "So GO!" Luke hung up the phone and got dressed and groomed. "Taxi!" Luke yelled. A taxi swerves to the side of the curb, Luke gets in. "To Newark Airport," Luke said. "Make it fast." The cab speeds away towards the New Jersey turnpike. I just hope it doesn't turn into a diaster, Luke thought.
"Seth," Laura said. "Hang on, I'm getting a page." "I'll be alright," Seth assured her. "I'll be right back ok?" Seth nodded and wiped away his tears. "Here, I got our tickets for us," Mike said, returning with luggage labels and tickets. "Thanks," Seth said. "Seth, cheer up bud,"Mike said, as sympathetically as he can. "Paris awaits us, we'll have everything we want out there." "Yeah, everything," Seth said, trying to smile. Everything but the one you love, Seth thought. Laura returns crying. "What's wrong with you now?" Mike asked, a bit roughly. "My sister just entered the hospital, she was a victim of a drive by shooting." "Oh my god," Mike and Seth said. "I'm so sorry." "So I'm going to stay in New York for a couple more days with my family, I'll meet you guys out in Paris." "Got the tickets arranged?" Seth asked. "I'm going to go right now and work something out," Laura said. Giving Seth and Mike a big hug, she said, "I'll be fine guys, go on." "Boarding PS143" "That's you guys," Laura said. "I'll catch another one, and the three muskateers will be reunited at the end of the week!" "Hey, you watch out ok?" Mike said. "That's the nicest thing you've said to me in years,"Laura said, smiling. "Cherish it," he said, wiping away a tear from her cheek. "Final boarding for PS143" "Go!"Laura said, ushering them towards their gate. Laura waved goodbye as Seth and Mike disappear behind the gates. Laura looked up towards the ceiling and said, "Oh forgive me father, for I have sinned."
feel free to e-mail me at gowiththeflo1234@aol.com with any comments, questions, etc. suggestions even! i love hearing them. -j