Mile High Meeting-Chapter 3
The three of us agreed on a movie, American Beauty, and we decided to order a Chicago-style pizza to be delivered to the condo. The start time we chose meant that we had about a half-hour before the movie began, so we had some more time to talk.
"So, Cameron...I hear that you are a sports fan, and you are thinking of becoming a sports broadcaster. What kind of broadcasting would you like to do?" Brian asked, trying to make conversation.
"Well, I think my dream job would be to do play-by-play, either for an NFL team, a Major League Baseball team, or for a Division I university. Of course, I would love to work for the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Denver Broncos, or the Colorado Rockies, but I would take about anything to start so I could work my way up."
"I think that would be a blast," Brian commented. "I think I would do that in a heart beat!"
"Well, to be honest, I would love to have your job. When I was younger, I dreamed of being a big star, selling millions of records to all my adoring fans," I said, laughing.
"Are you serious?" Nick asked.
"Oh, yeah. I love to sing, although I doubt many people would pay much to hear it. I was an all-state musician, but I kind of gave it up after high school."
"I would love to hear you sing," Nick said, obviously expecting a performance from me.
"I don't know about that...I don't think I would feel terribly comfortable singing in front of two pop superstars."
"Oh, come on," Brian pleaded. "We don't get the chance to hear others sing very often. Everyone is always asking us to sing all the time, so we never get to hear anyone else."
"Maybe another time, guys. I wouldn't even know what to sing," I said, as I stood up, and walked toward the kitchen. "Would you guys like something to drink? I don't know what is in here right now, but I can surely find something."
Nick jumped up and followed me into the kitchen as Brian told me that anything would be fine. Nick began searching for glasses, as I looked in the refrigerator to see how well stocked it was. As it turns out, there was a gallon of milk, some assorted soft drinks, and a cold-water spigot on the front of the fridge. I poured three glasses of Pepsi, and Nick took one glass into Brian. He then returned to the kitchen, taking a drink from his glass. He then looked me in the eyes for a brief moment, before looking down at the floor.
"You know, I would love to hear you sing sometime. I am guessing that you have a wonderful voice, just like everything else about you."
I didn't know quite how to react to that statement, but I told him how much I appreciated that, and he just grinned, and looked down at the floor again. I could tell that he wanted to tell me something, but I didn't want to rush him, so I let him go at his own pace.
"Cam? Can we talk for a minute?" Nick asked.
"I thought that is what we were doing," I replied casually.
"Well, yeah, but I mean a serious talk. I have something I would like to talk with you about, but I don't really know how to start," he said, struggling to find the right words.
"Sure we can talk, Nick. Do you want to talk now, or wait until after the movie?"
"I'd kind of like to talk now, if we can. Is there somewhere a bit more private where we can go?"
"Yeah, there is. I have a deck off my bedroom where we can go outside if that's okay."
"I'd like that," Nick said quietly.
We both grabbed our drinks, and headed toward the living room, and Nick told Brian that we were going to talk privately for a bit. Brian seemed pleased, so I surmised that Nick and Brian had already talked about this, and it was my turn to be 'filled in' on what Nick had on his mind.
I then walked into my bedroom, with Nick following me. I opened the sliding glass door, and soon we were both outside. Once on the deck, Nick walked in front of me, and over to the railing, where he began staring out at the lake. I took the hint, and walked over so I was standing next to him.
"You know, I thought I had things worked out pretty well until I met you this morning. You brought out feelings in me that I haven't had in a long time, and I really don't know how to deal with them," Nick began.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"Well, I've known for a long time that I was, well, you know...gay." He looked over to me to get my reaction, but I didn't react. Somehow, I knew that he was gay. From the moment I saw him this morning, I knew, but I hadn't really figured it out until just now.
Nick continued, "I knew that I couldn't ever act on my feelings as long as I was a member of the Backstreet Boys, and I accepted that. Sure, I have met other attractive guys before, but I never let them get to me. I thought that I would have no problem controlling myself. Then I got on that gondola this morning, and before I even knew your name, I felt something for you. I don't know exactly what it is about you, but I feel like I have been looking for you my entire life," Nick said as a single tear fell from his right eye. "I know that we haven't known each other long enough for either of us to say that we are meant to be together, but I can't help thinking that we need to try."
That was certainly a lot to take in at one time, and I didn't know quite how to react. Of course, I felt attracted to him, but I didn't know how to proceed.
"Nick, I don't know what to say."
"I'm sorry, Cam. I shouldn't have done this to you. I think I should go," he said as he began to cry harder. He started for the door when I grabbed his arm, and pulled him into a hug.
Once I pulled him in, he began to cry harder, letting all of his emotions out. We just stood there for a few minutes, until he could regain his composure. I knew then that this conversation would not be over before the movie began, so I told Nick that I was going to tell Brian that we were going to be a while. Nick nodded, and I quickly walked inside, and into the living area.
"Is everything okay?" Brian asked as I walked through the doorway to see him.
"Well, I think it will be soon, Brian. We have a lot to talk about, so we probably won't be in for a while. Just go ahead and watch the movie, and we will be in later."
"Okay, Cam," Brian said as I started to walk back, then he stopped me. "Cam?"
"Yeah, Brian?"
"Nick really thinks a lot of you, and I care for him very deeply. You do seem like a great guy, but please be careful with him. He hasn't really been in a real relationship before, and I don't want to see him hurt."
I smiled slightly, and walked over to Brian, sitting down across from him, putting my hand on his arm. "Brian, I don't know if anything is even happening between us, but you can rest assured that I would never do anything to hurt Nick. I have only known him for a few hours, but I am a good judge of character. Therefore, I know what a wonderful person he really is, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything bad happened. I am just trying to get Nick through a tough time right now, and I am not looking any farther into the future than that. So, I know that you are concerned, but I am concerned too," I said as I stood back up. "End of lecture," I said, smiling as I patted him on the shoulder.
"Thanks Cam, for being there for him. Now, go help him out," Brian said, looking up at me.
I walked back out to Nick, who was sitting by the table outside, looking up at the ceiling of the deck.
"Feeling any better?" I asked.
"Yes, and no. I just have a lot of things I need to work out."
I sat down next to Nick, and put my arm around him. "I know what you mean. We've all been there. I just want you to know that I am here for you if you need anything at all. I had a lot of issues to deal with when I first discovered this side of me, and I didn't really have anyone there to support me. My friends were all cool with it, but I just didn't feel comfortable around them." I then looked directly into his eyes. "I am not going to let that happen to you, Nick. I know Brian is in your corner too, but I will be here to help you. I know that you don't know how to deal with all of these feelings, but we are going to help you in any way possible."
Nick started to tear up again as I finished speaking, and could hardly get any words out. "You don't know how much that means to me, Cameron. It's good to know that I am not going down this road alone, and I can't think of anyone better to lean on then you. After all, it is your fault," he said, laughing a bit.
"My fault?" I questioned, looking offended.
"Yeah. You're the one that is making me feel this way, so I am blaming you," he said, still grinning.
"Okay, okay...guilty as charged. I guess I owe it to you, then."
"Yep," he said.
Nick then moved his chair closer to me, and leaned his head over onto my shoulder. I put my arm behind him, and began to rub his back gently. We sat like that for a while, and soon I could tell that he was asleep. I knew that he was feeling more comfortable, and I was feeling a lot more comfortable too.
A short while later, I heard something, and looked back to the sliding glass door, and I saw Brian looking at us. I just smiled, and he gave me a thumbs-up, before smiling back at me, and walking away.
I ended up falling asleep as well, and I woke up as I felt Nick stirring a bit. We had been outside for a long time, as the sun was getting close to setting. I looked at Nick, and stood up, before offering him my left hand. He accepted, and we walked over to the railing. We both stood there, still holding hands, seeing the sun reflect on the lake as it disappeared between two mountain peaks.
As the last ray of sunshine disappeared, I moved even closer to Nick, turning him toward me. I got lost in his beautiful eyes for what seemed like an eternity. I leaned in and tilted my head slightly to the right as my lips searched for his, reaching, and stretching until we made finally made contact. It was the most gentle, yet powerful thing I had ever felt in my life. Our kiss became more intense, as my tongue searched for his. As I tasted him for the first time, I knew that I would never want to be with anyone else ever again.
That's it for Chapter 3--I am going out of town for a week-and-a-half (to Colorado, no less!), so I won't be posting again for a bit, but please let me know what you think (glenwoodbronco@hotmail.com) now that I have a few chapters, albeit short ones, in the books. I will be able to check my mail while I am gone, and I will respond to all e-mails.
Thanks for reading!