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!
There will be many flashback sequences in this story so as not to confuse anyone, when a flashback takes place, there will be an asterisk (*) before the start of that flashback.
I tried to do the diplomatic thing and consider what he must have been going through during this morning after period but all I ended up doing was coming across as awkward. I had awakened when he had sat up in bed that morning and had hurriedly pulled on his boxers and a t-shirt. I watched him through the slits in my eyes hoping against all odds that he would lay back down beside me and embrace me like he had the night before and once again I was greeted with disappointment. He instead took one look back at me and then made his way to the adjoining door, opening it and without looking back, gently closing it.
Later that morning after I had finally pulled myself out of bed and had taken a shower he knocked on my front door (something that I found strange).
"Hi." He greeted me timidly not quite looking me straight in the eye.
"Hey." I replied
"I was going down for breakfast and was gonna ask you if you wanted me to bring you back something."
"Oh." Usually we went down together.
"No thanks, I'll just go down with you." He seemed a bit hesitant when I said that.
"Ok. Well I'm gonna make a few phone calls to check our flight reservations for tomorrow so I'll meet you downstairs." And even though I was ready to go I let it slide and agreed to meet him in a few minutes. As soon as I closed the door I ran to the phone and called Michael.
He answered on the third ring.
"Hello." His voice sounded groggy as if he had just awoken.
"Michael I got to talk to you."
"Now!"
"Yes, I know you're still asleep but this is an emergency."
He sighed,
"Ok, hold up, let me just pick up the phone outside." I waited as he moved from wherever he was, into his kitchen where the second extension was located.
"So what's so fucking important you have to call me at nine on the one free Saturday I have off."
I again apologized and launched into the details of my encounter with Bobby.
"Holy shit, you're not kidding are you!"
"Fuck no Michael, this is serious man."
"Ok, ok, calm down Richie, you got to stay calm. You got to realize that straight men don't handle things as well as us ok, they just don't have the capacity to do that."
"Doesn't fucking a gay man make him not so straight?"
"Who knows, it might have been a novelty fuck."
"Thanks." I answered dejected. The thought alone had me ready to heave.
"I didn't mean it like that Richie. It's just that you have to prepare for the worst you know. Bobby's probably all messed up right now. He just fucked his best friend, it's a dramatic step."
"I know but how the hell does he think I feel?"
"I don't know Richie which is why I think you guys need to sit and talk about it as soon as possible. A matter of a fact, talk to him now and call me around nine."
"Nine p.m.? What the hell will you be doing till then?"
"Got company."
"Who?"
"None of your business. I got to get some sleep Richie so call me back around nineish ok."
"Fine." I was about to hang up when,
"Good luck ok."
"Thanks."
We sat across from one another eating ackee, breadfruit and salt fish but not saying anything. I noticed that his eyes were getting a heavy-duty workout avoiding mine, instead choosing to seek out strangers. And I had to take a deep breath to keep my head cleared.
"So what time do we leave?" I had to start somewhere.
"Huh."
"Time, the flight?"
"Oh, uh...I don't know."
"You did call didn't you?"
"Yeah but, uh, I was thinking I would catch a flight back tonight. Things aren't going so well with production on the album."
I didn't hear any of that except for the part where he told me he was thinking of going back tonight and at that moment, diplomacy went out the window.
"Is this about last night?" If he could have blushed he would have but instead his hand started to shake and the glass in it slipped from his fingers and spilled unto the plastic table. He grabbed his napkin and dabbed at it again avoiding looking at me.
"Boss yu alright?" came the voice of a waiter from seemingly out of nowhere.
"Yeah man, just spilled my drink."
"Can I get yu anything else?"
"No thanks." He continued dabbing even though the spill had been absorbed into the napkin.
"Shit!" He suddenly called out at the same time hissing his teeth and throwing the napkin on the table and getting up.
After that I didn't see him for the entire day and had resorted to spending the rest of the day locked up in my room.
At around six that evening I knock awoke me from feigned sleep. I got out of bed and walked to the front door swinging it open without even looking through the peephole. He stood in front of me dressed in a crisp button down polo shirt and starched khaki pants.
"What's going on?"
"Got us booked on a nine thirty flight tonight."
I looked at my watch and saw that it was the better half of six thirty.
"What happened to the reservations for tomorrow?"
"Still got em and if you want to go back by yourself tomorrow, it's yours but I got to get back to the states tonight." And I came to realize that I didn't want to spend another minute on this island for in all of three days it managed to fuck up the relationship between my best friend and me.
"No, I'll be ready in half an hour, I just got to shower and call my ride." My ride who undoubtedly would be pissed that I called before nineish.
He didn't even inquire as to who it would be, instead he told me that he would go and check out in the mean time and I was barley able to get an ok in before he began walking off.
As I watched the sights along the roadside as the juta bus driver sped through traffic trying to get us to the airport on time, I thought about last night. It had been something totally new to me and on a different level, a totally different experience from the one Ernie and I had shared. For one, it wasn't a one sided fuck as it had been with Ernie. I had actually given a damn about how he was feeling and whether or not I was hurting him. Secondly, we had cuddled afterwards, something I had never done with anyone, ever. It was all so new to me and yet I had felt the most comfortable that I had ever been in all of my life. And then I woke up. The mystique that the dark Jamaican sky and lights had set had all but disappeared and the morning after had begun. I had felt awkward, unsure and scared. I didn't know what was expected of me and I had fled from the situation hoping to let it fall behind me as so many had but then Richie had brought it up. And I had taken an anger that I had no business having, out on him. I had spoiled what had started out as a dream vacation but later turned into the vacation from hell and without his consent, I had booked two return tickets a day earlier, something that had forced me to spend unnecessary money but had offered me an easy way out.
And keeping with the spirit of the selfish mentality that I had been showing, I refused to acknowledge that maybe he might have been feeling the same way as I had, confused and uncertain. A matter of a fact, at the very back of my mind I was sure that he was hurting too but as long as I kept that tit bit way back there, I wouldn't have to confront it, not for now at least.
"Michael!" I called as I spotted him in the terminal searching the countless faces for mine.
"Richie!" He spotted me, ran up and then embraced me, "You ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine." The look on my face must have given me away for he grabbed me back into a bear hug and held me tightly to his chest.
"No you're not, I can see it in your eyes."
I didn't offer an answer nor did I think he expected one.
"Don't worry. I'm gonna take you home with me and then we're going to order in from Ginos and then we'll talk." I just nodded my head and followed along beside him with my luggage in tow.
Out on the street I saw that he stopped to talk to another man that I thought I recognized. He turned back to me and smiled before taking off. I looked at his friend quizzically to which he responded by coming up to me and stretching out his hand.
"He Richie, I'm Adam."
"Hi, I know you don't I?" I asked shaking his hand.
"Yeah you do, maybe I should have introduced my self as Dr Adam Baruch."
"Michaels' physician." I stated as clarity set in and I couldn't help but think that despite all my troubles, I still had time to find this man attractive. And then I thought, 'poor Michael'.
"Yeah. I remember you from the hospital and from all the pictures of you around Michaels' apartment." And then as an afterthought he said, "he is so fond of you."
"So he says."
"Well I can testify to that. Everything we talk about is Richie this and Richie that and I have to admit that sometimes I'm jealous." Him jealous of me! That got me for a loop. This man was drop dead gorgeous and I was a plain Jane of sorts. What the hell did he have to be jealous about.
"Don't be Adam, it's not like that, trust me." He just laughed nervously and smiled at me.
"I never got to thank you for what you did for Michael, you really helped him."
"I just did my job. If it wasn't me, it would have been another doctor. I'm just glad I was the one that got his case." On the verge of replying, we heard a horn blow and turned around the see Michael pulling to the curb. He put the car in park and got out to help me put my suitcase and a half into the trunk.
"Ready to go?" He asked looking from me to Adam and then back to me again.
"Definitely." I answered.
"Sure." Replied Adam
"Ok, let's hit the road.
"I have to make a detour." Michael leaned over and whispered in my ear.
"Where?" He offered a glance in the direction of Adam and offered me a smile.
"Oh." Was my only response.
He turned off unto 3rd ave between Broadway and Lafayette and pulled the car over to the curb, putting it into park and then exiting via the drivers' side door.
I watched through the rearview mirror as Michael embraced Adam and then kissed him on the lips. It wasn't as passionate as I knew Michael could get and I suspected that I was the reason why. I watched as Adam whispered something into his ear and then kissed him again. This time I swore I saw tongue and I turned away not wanting to see them enjoy themselves.
Looking up again I saw that Adam had started to walk up to his brownstone while Richie walked back towards the drivers' side. I waited for him to get in and drive at least two blocks before I started hassling him about Adam.
"Adam's a nice guy."
"Yes he is."
"Good looking."
"Uh- Huh."
"Great body."
"Yup"
"A great fuck."
"You got it."
"You like him?"
"As you said, he's a nice guy."
"Is that it?"
"What do you expect me to say?"
I didn't know.
"He likes you."
"I know."
"A lot."
"I know."
"So what are you gonna do about it?" He turned to look at me.
"Not a damn thing. It will blow over, trust me."
And I couldn't believe that Michael was being so nonchalant about the whole thing.
"Don't you even have an inkling about how it might feel to let yourself go with someone?"
"Not at all. Just looking at you makes me stay clear." And even though he smiled, I found nothing funny about the situation. He noticed it too and was quick to apologize.
"I'm sorry I said that Richie, I don't mean it, I really didn't."
"I know." I answered, all humor that was present before leaving my voice.
He sighed, "I know that you're probably feeling a little down right now about the situation with you and Bobby but I'm sure things will work themselves out, they always do."
"I don't think so Michael. Any other time, maybe but not this time. Our friendship has really gone out the fucking window, never to return again."
"Don't think like that. Just because you guys slept together doesn't mean that you can't be friends. I mean look at us."
"It's not the same the thing. You most definitely was not confused about your sexuality." He cut me off.
"In any event Richie, just try to keep in mind how you felt when you were coming out for the first time with that first guy."
I couldn't think that far back nor did I want to. My coming out wasn't an experience I wanted to relive, ever.
"It doesn't matter anyway because I'm not going to pursue this."
"What?"
"I'm not going to pursue this. It's just too much to deal with."
And I couldn't tell if Michael was pissed off or just annoyed. Either way he didn't return with a comeback and we drove home in silence.
I was still deep in sleep when the phone rang and I instinctively went to pick it up forgetting where I was.
"Hello." I recognized that the voice was not mine and realized that I was at Michaels' condo and on his telephone. And honest to God I would have hung up if it weren't for the fact that they would have heard the click if I did.
"Hey, am I calling to early?" I recognized Adams voice.
"No, I'm up. Been to church already?"
"Yeah, just got back in. It was a pretty short sermon today."
"Good."
"Well I uh, I, I called just to let you know that my mom is in town for the rest of the week."
"That's nice." Now even I knowing absolutely nothing about Adam knew where this conversation was leading and again I thought, 'poor Michael'.
"Yeah, well I um, I thought that maybe we could um cancel our date Saturday night."
"No problem. You should spend that time with your mom. Didn't you say she only comes to New York once every other year?"
"Yeah she does and well I was kinda um, I was thinking that maybe I should take her sightseeing on Saturday morning and then to a play later on in the evening..."
"Good plan." Michael interrupted.
"And I was um, I was hoping that, I wanted to ask you if you know, if you'd like to come along." The line went quiet for a while.
"You there Michael?" asked Adam
"Yeah, just zoned out for a while, what did you say?"
"I asked you if you wanted to come with me on Saturday and hang out with me and my mom."
"I don't know Adam."
"I know it's not the Ideal date and that we had plans but I want you to meet her, she knows all about you."
Uh oh! If Adams' goal was to scare Michael away, he was doing a damn good job of it. Meeting mommy dearest was definitely a no-no.
"I can't Adam."
"Why not?"
"Because."
"Because what?"
"Because ..." he was scrambling for an excuse, I was sure of it.
"Because Richie needs me!" Oh no he didn't. We would have to talk about this later.
"Oh, ok, well maybe some other time then." He sounded so dejected and I instantly had the urge to speak up and proclaim the truth but I didn't. Michael was my friend.
"Yeah, some other time. I gotta go Adam, it's getting late and it's almost one, shouldn't you be on call?"
"Yeah, I didn't realize it was so late. I'll talk to you later."
Yeah, bye." And before Adam could reply, he hung up.
I still had the phone in my hand when Michael came bounding into my room.
"The least you could do is keep your God damn breathing down. I could hear you from start to finish." He announced taking the phone from me and not so gently putting it back into its cradle.
"Michael."
"I don't want to hear it Richie. I know what you're going to say and I'm not interested at all." He knew me too well.
"Why didn't you say yes?"
"Because we're going to be too busy."
"WE?"
"Yeah we. I got plans for us Richie, big plans."
"And when did you think up these bug plans."
"Just a while ago but you'll enjoy it. I figured that we need to start spending more time together."
"Michael!"
"What!"
"You're a jerk, you know that." I couldn't hold my laughter in when I said it.
"I know." And before long we were both doubled over on the bed crying our eyes out. But when all was done, we were just left with the facts.
"I think Adam loves you."
"I know."
"He wants you to meet his mother."
"I know."
"He actually got nervous over the phone."
"I know."
"Then if you know all of this why are you being such a jerk to him?"
"Because."
"Because what."
"Because I am a jerk and the sooner Adam realizes that, the better."
"Why does it have to be like that Michael?"
"Because it just it. Adam wants more from me than I'm willing to give, it's as simple as that."
"I thought you liked him."
"I like you too but that doesn't mean I'm about to reconfigure my whole life around you."
"It's not the same thing!" I cried.
"No it's not but."
"But what?"
"But nothing! I'm a grown man and if I don't want to meet his fucking mother I don't have to and you're not going to guilt trip me into doing it." With that he turned around and walked out again. I hated to see Adam on the other side of the triangle, wanting someone who doesn't want him. I understood how he must have been feeling and for that moment I hated Michael as much as I hated Bobby for doing this to someone as nice and as sweet and as caring as him. And I had to wonder, why did men have to be such jerks.
She stood beside the bed pulling on her bra and then he t-shirt not looking at me. If I were her I wouldn't look at me either.
"I'm sorry." I said feeling the need to apologize.
"For what?"
"For, you know, not being able to do this." She leaned in and kissed me on the forehead.
"It's ok Bobby, I don't think I'm much your type anyway."
I was scared for a moment that she knew the thoughts I had been thinking.
"Meaning?"
"I see the leggy, long haired girls you be with. And as you can see, I'm not that."
"You're beautiful Victoria, I never said you weren't."
"I know you didn't and I wasn't implying that. I just think that everyone has a specific type and I'm just not it for you."
"Oh" it did make some sense.
"Thanks for dinner though, it was the shits."
"Any time." And once again she leaned in but this time kissed me on the lips.
"See ya." She said as she walked to the door and opened it.
"Bye." And just as fast as she had appeared, she was gone.
With me she left a lot of doubt on my part about where my personal life was going. I mean if I couldn't get it up for a beautiful woman like her, who could I get it up for.
'Richie'. The thought just popped into my head. I had to admit that during this whole ordeal I had tried to convince myself that what we did had no bearing on my life but after this latest incident, I wasn't so sure.
The telephone beside me rang.
"Hello."
"Bobby?" I recognized the voice off the bat and wasn't in the least bit happy to hear from him.
"How the hell did you get this number?"
"I made a few phone calls." Shit, what the hell was happening to privacy.
"What the hell do you want Ernie?"
"I want to see you."
"Why? We have no dealings together."
"Is that how you treat your old friends?"
"What can I do for you Ernie?"
"Just meet me for a drink in the lobby for twenty minutes. I want to see you." And the way he said it brought back blurry images of the night we had sex.
"Why?"
"Come on Bobby, for old times sake, please." And against my better judgment I agreed.
"What time?"
"This evening around seven thirty."
"Ok. Be there and don't be late."
"Ok, I won't and Bobby."
"What."
"I miss you man." And with that he quickly hung up. Ernie was as slimy as they came and even though I knew this, I found myself still drawn to him, it was as if I were in dept to him. But nothing could be further from the truth. The only thing I owed to Ernie was the fucked up predicament my life was in.
CHAPTER 13 IS HERE FOR YOU ENJOYMENT. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE CONTINUED TO SEND ME EMAILS, GIVING ME ADVICE AND CRITIQING MY WORK, I REALLY REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE IT ALOT. I DO CONTINUE AS ALWAYS TO ENCOURAGE EMAILS AS I ENJOY READING AND ANSWERING THEM. EVEN IF IT IS JUST TO LET ME KNOW YOU LIKED THE STORY. ENJOY !!!