Finally - Chapter 1 By EJ Clark (clark.ericjames@gmail.com)
Welcome. Thanks for checking out my story.
Please read: You are hereby on notice that the following story may depict acts of a sexual nature or other instances you might not approve of. If you are offended by typical stories on this service, and/or in this directory, please leave now. Otherwise, please enjoy what I hope will be the first of many chapters.
This story is the work of fiction. There are certain truths, some flat and some stretched, but this story depicts no real persons, situations, actions or conditions. Nothing represented here actually happened. All warranties and/or civil actions are expressly disclaimed.
If it is illegal in your jurisdiction to be reading this, please leave. However, if you are one of the many gay youths who need help and support, please reach out to your local, regional or national resources or the author. For more information, please contact your local gay and lesbian organization.
For now, enjoy the story.
===
Finally.
At the time, the decision seemed so easy... As his father kicked him out of the house, Jeremy Paul Wood (Jippy to his friends, but apparently not to his family), decided he could make it on his own. He drained his bank account, and when that ran dry, he did the only logical thing: He joined the Army.
It's not that he wanted to, you know, it's that he felt he had no choice. He didn't want to fight, didn't really know what we were fighting for. And he wasn't the typical Army recruit.
When JP left home, he was 5'10" and about 150 lbs... basically, a stick with clothes. After basic training and many, many nights in the gym, he was proud of his body; the makings of a defined six-pack had finally gotten him some praise from fellow officers and his legs were way more solid than they were from high-school track. He had a bright, if slightly crooked smile, and a fresh young face with a close-cropped haircut. At 22 years old and 170 lbs., he finally felt proud to be himself. Commissioned as a second lieutenant, Jippy was now a First Lieutenant with a specialty in Computer Engineering, and on his way to serve at Ft. McPherson, Georgia. Far from home. Far from problems.
Finally, he was going somewhere.
===
Eric was sick of being a bartender. He was sick of his regular customers, he was sick of his new customers, and mostly, he was just sick of life.
Eric James Clark, a native Atlantan, had graduated from the University of Georgia in December at 23 years old and was trying to earn some money before starting graduate school, whenever one decided to let him in. And he was sick of it.
EJ was a short guy, about 5'5". Though he had angled features, his smirk betrayed his good nature and he kept his hair a little longer, touching the tops of his ears. When school ended, he weighed about 135 lbs., not overly muscular but not rail-thin, and he was OK with that. Working at a bar in Atlanta, a lot of nice girls hit on him, and frankly, he was sick of that too.
After dealing with the conservatism at UGA, he felt like Atlanta would be a welcome change to explore being openly gay. But try as he might, nothing was appealing to him about the lines of effeminate guys at Blake's or the crazy guys on Craigslist.
Realizing that he was still at work, he went back to wiping down the bar between customers.
When? When were things going to change?
===
Jippy had a three-day pass to explore Atlanta. He grew up outside Rochester, N.Y., so seeing Atlanta was fun for him... he was looking forward to some real Southern hospitality.
He decided to splurge on a hotel, and found a good deal at the J.W. Marriott in Buckhead. He heard that the nightlife there was great, and he just wanted to have some real fun for the first time in years.
After checking in, Jippy walked around for a while and finally settled on having dinner at a place called Chops. He walked in, and immediately felt out of place with his extremely short haircut and very casual clothes. However, he was an officer, and he strode confidently to the bar.
"Hey man, what can I get you?" the bartender said.
"A menu, I guess, and maybe a glass of water for now, thanks," Jippy said. He was very aware that the bartender was checking him out, something he felt uncomfortable with but slightly happy for after being surrounded by straight males for so long.
EJ was shocked. This guy was not from around here, and he had something about him... something confident. Not cocky, and definitely not arrogant, but he was obviously out of place and handling it pretty well. "What's his deal?" thought EJ. Being bored and overly curious, he struck up a conversation with this stranger.
"So where are you from?" EJ said.
"What makes you think I'm not from down the street?" Jippy responded, retaining his swagger for the moment. He missed male attention.
"I can tell. I've lived here all my life. And you're from... the Midwest, I think."
"Hah! Nice try. I'm from New York, and I'm only here for a few days."
"Oh, nice. Well, welcome. Atlanta is a fun place... I should know. I got into trouble here when I was younger," EJ said.
Jippy smiled. His smile was crooked, but he smiled through his eyes. And EJ noticed.
===
"We make the best mixed drinks in Atlanta," EJ said.
Jippy quickly responded, "I bet every bar here says that, but yes, I think you do... what the hell am I drinking anyway?"
"A raspberry mojito, my personal favorite... I have a few more favorites, if you want to try them."
"I better not, I want to wake up early and see the sites. This is my first, and probably last, vacation in quite a while."
EJ was curious. "Why? You should travel! It makes home less boring."
This was the first time all night Jippy hesitated. "Well... I don't really have a home," he said bitterly.
"Oh, man. I thought you were from up north... No home? What does that mean exactly?"
Dodging the question, Jippy responded, "I'm hoping that I can create a new home down here. I'm actually being stationed at Ft. McPherson starting Monday... I'm really excited about meeting my new team."
EJ didn't know what to say, so he just continued wiping glasses and the bar down.
After a few minutes of uneasy silence, EJ decided he didn't want to lose this opportunity. "OK, so that was awkward. Let's jump right over that. I'm off tomorrow, and I know this sounds crazy coming from a complete stranger, but let me show you around. You should see Atlanta's hidden treasures too."
Jippy softened a bit. "Thanks... I'd really appreciate that. And you're not a complete stranger... as of right now, you're my only friend in Georgia. By the way, what's your name?"
"I'm Eric Clark. EJ for short." He stuck out his hand.
"I'm Jeremy, Jeremy Paul Wood. My friends call me Jippy." As he grabbed EJ's hand, Jippy was taken by surprise. EJ had a strong grip, and they held their hands together for about three seconds, and the entire time they locked eyes. Neither of them really knew what was going on; every relationship each had had in the past had been an utter disaster. Neither was looking for a new one really, but in that moment they both knew this friendship was going to last more than tomorrow.
===
As Jippy walked home, he reflected on his night. All his relationships with women were utter failures. And deep down, he had known he was gay for a long time. He told himself he was just curious when he looked at other guys after practice, he said he was just curious when he looked at gay porn after trying for an hour to get off with straight porn. When he was having sex with his girlfriends in high school and college, he told himself it wasn't abnormal that he had to think of men to finish off. And when he got home before his last year of college, and his father, a local pastor, caught him looking at gay porn... well, that was it. His dad kicked him out because he "didn't need the scandal," and told Jippy to "come back when he had something to be proud of."
Well, Jippy was proud now. He had moved up an officer rank and was going into a new commission highly recommended. And he was sure of it now, he was gay. He wanted to explore it, slowly. And he was hoping that EJ would help him do it.
As he got back to his hotel, he thought about utilizing his freedom and jacking off before bed. As he got into his usual alone-wear (his white boxers and nothing else), he put his hand down his shorts just to say hello. But instead of feeling horny, he felt extraordinarily tired... he laid down on the bed and turned on CNN, and before he knew it, he was asleep.
===
In the car on his way back to his Virginia Highlands apartment, EJ was surprised. He broke a few golden rules of his: he hit on a customer, he invited him out, and he was developing feelings for someone with whom there was no future.
Jippy was in the Army! What the hell was EJ thinking... the guy probably knew at least 10 ways to kill him. And on top of that, there was some baggage there, and who wants a piece of that?
Still, EJ hadn't felt like that for a while. He had known he was gay since he was 11 years old. He had told all his friends, but still not his parents... and that was part of the problem. He knew that he had to be honest with them at some point, but now was not the time.
As he pulled into his parking space and walked up to the gate, EJ stopped to think. "I am not falling for another straight guy," he told himself. That had happened too many times before. He let himself in, checked his mail and went upstairs to his apartment.
And yet, he couldn't shake the look he got from Jippy as they shook hands. It was something that he hadn't felt in a long time, and he had to, he just HAD to, see if there was anything behind it.
=====
This is my very first attempt, which means that I'm going to need some feedback. Flames will be unceremoniously ignored, but any meaningful comments are greatly appreciated. Please e-mail the author at clark.ericjames@gmail.com.
Copyright 2009. This story is protected under federal copyright laws. Any non-excepted use without prior permission from the author is forbidden.
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