Chapter One - A Very Bad Day!
Attention Gentle Readers.....a Note from your Author: Thank you for tuning in to my latest ramblings featuring Jake and Heath. This time we find them as busy college students, toiling away at the University of North Carolina in Asheville. At least, one of them is toiling - poor Jakey, he's always under the gun one way or another. At any rate, as before (in Boys In Love) most of this story will be told from Jake's point of view. However, Heath will occasionally get to have a say - his perspective will be noted by italics! Although I am not giving the game away in the title, as I did last time, please remember, your author does love a happy ending! Enjoy - S!
Jake's Weekly Schedule - Fall Semester - UNC
Mon, Weds, Fri: Classes from 8 a.m. until noon. Work at Men's Health and Fitness from 1p.m. until 6 p.m.
Tues and Thurs: Work at Men's Health and Fitness Club from 7 a.m. until noon. Classes from 1 p.m. until 4:30. Theatrical Studies Class - 6:30 - 8:00.
Saturday: Work at MH&F from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. Work at the BC Club from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Sunday: Work Sunday Brunch at BC's - 9 a.m. until 2-3 p.m.
Jake took the endless curves slowly, shifting constantly as he eased through the switchback turns. It was barely dawn and the mountains were blanketed in thick blue fog - smoke to the locals - he could make up some time once he got to the interstate, but there was no room for error here.
The good news was that he was pointed away from Seven Devils -had checked that box for a couple of months at least - and headed away from the misery that was his parents poor, squalid life. There was a time, years ago, when Jake had hoped that his mother might get some nerve, leave that son of a bitch who'd made him, but he'd long since given up on that. His father needed a punching bag, and apparently, his mother needed a fist. Maybe they were the pefect couple - maybe he was the one with the fucked up attitude.
Powerless to make a difference, he stayed out of their hell as much as he could - when guilt got the best of him he went for a visit, felt like he owed it to his mother to show his face every now and then, just in case she'd changed her mind. He loved her - would always love her - but he couldn't stand seeing her hurt, couldn't break her away from him, and didn't want to spend the rest of his life in jail for murdering that lowlife. She wouldn't thank him for it anyway. So he kept his visits rare and brief - the happiest moments of his life were spent driving away from that horrible place.
This time he'd driven up on Sunday afternoon, after his shift ended at the restaurant. He'd had Labor Day off from school and work, and spent the day doing chores around their ramshackle homestead - repaired some fence - got a nasty snag from the barbed-wire for his trouble - had to clean it with alcohol - that had hurt like a sonofabitch! He patched a leaky spot on the roof, killed a chicken snake that was getting his mother's hens, ate an awkward dinner at his father's table, went to bed early.
That morning, Tuesday, he'd gotten up before the sun, dressed quickly, skipped the shower - he could do that once he got to work, had to change anyway - stuck a couple of hundred dollar bills in his mother's wallet and left his parents still sleeping. Now, heading back to Asheville, he was almost weak-kneed with relief to be getting back to his own life - his bare bones, hard as nails, lonely, over-worked life. Anything was better than what he was leaving behind.
Jake got to the gym with just enough time to shower and change before his first client arrived. He was a licensed therapist, did massage therapy as well as personal training at the Men's Wellness and Fitness Club. It was a private club and catered almost exclusively to men. Jake loved it there, felt completely at home. Since he'd first gotten involved with sports in high school, he'd always been the go-to man when any of his team members got hurt. His strong skillful fingers could knead away the most persistent aches. Sports therapy was his natural calling. He'd soon given up playing on the team, taken over looking after them instead. His coach had given him the title of manager.
His dad had looked down on that, of course - just another thing to gig him about. "Is that what gets you off, sissy boy? Rubbing on a bunch a hot, sweaty boys ain't wearing nuthin' but their jock straps?" There were lots of variations on that theme, usually all followed by a sharp slap to his head or a punch in his gut - his dad fought mean and dirty.
Finally, in a desperate attempt at survival, he started working out in the weight room along with the team - realized he had to be able to defend himself. He studied everything he could find on the school computer about physical fitness and muscle building - soon developed an intensive workout for himself, helped some of the guys with their routines as well. Under cover of long sleeves and blue jeans, he went from slim and sleek to strongly muscled in just a few short months.
One frosty December night, his junior year, his dad met him at the door when he came in late from a basketball game. He started in right away with his insults, his accusations, and then his fists. Jake absorbed a couple of punches, hoping he'd be satisfied and leave him alone, but the bastard was on a mission that night, bent on hurting him. Finally, when he saw his own blood start to fly, Jake let go the last of his reserve and started punching him back, screaming his hate and rage with each powerful blow. By the time his mom got to the small, stark living room, his dad was laid out cold on the linoleum floor. Jake stepped over him without a word and went to bed. His father never touched him again. That was the only time Jake had ever had to use his fists.
Jake's Tuesday, coming off the holiday, was balls-to-the-wall busy, with every hour booked. His official quitting time at the gym was noon - that was supposed to allow him time to shower and gobble down some food before his first afternoon class at one. In a perfect world, that plan would probably work, but not in Jake's - as usual, it was closer to 12:30 when he got done - he was still damp and dressing as he ran out the door and peeled out of the parking lot. He slid into his seat just as the instructor took the podium, tried hard to concentrate on the history of modern literature and ignore the growling in his stomach. A candy bar and a coke between classes was small comfort.
At 4:30, he was finally free for a couple of hours - his last class, Theatrical Studies, didn't start until 6:30. He fought with rush hour traffic, waited impatiently in a drive-through for an over-cooked burger and greasy french fries, took side streets the rest of the way home - at least he could eat in peace and veg for a few minutes before he had to go back to school. In a perfect world, that is.......
Jake rented a garage apartment from a sweet little old lady named Helen Rogers. She lived in a old but well-kept neighborhood of small, quaint bungalows not far from campus. She gave him a good deal on the rent in exchange for a few chores and favors. He mowed her yard, took the garbage to the curb, occasionally bought her groceries or did errands for her. She was very old, and her health was failing, but she was still one of the most upbeat and cheerful people he'd ever known, a definite bright spot in his life.
As he was leaving for work Sunday morning, she'd come out to wish him a safe journey, told him excitedly that her son Aaron had called. When she'd told him that Jake was going out of town for a couple of days, he'd volunteered to come visit, keep her company. Jake had met Aaron once before, thought he was the consummate asshole, but he was her son, she loved him, whatever. Missing his visit made the prospect of seeing his parents seem a little less bleak.
As Jake pulled up to the garage where he had lived, he realized why his departure had sparked Aaron's sudden interest in visiting his mother - Aaron had been trying for the last year to get her out of her house and into his - he said it was for her own good - Jake had him figured for a control freak. She'd hung on to her independence proudly, telling him that Jake was there to look out for her if she needed any help. With Jake off premises, he'd somehow swayed her to his plan, and now she was gone, the house was padlocked and all his possessions were in a few boxes and garbage bags on the little garage porch.
There was a note, fluttering in the breeze, stuck to the door with tan packing tape. In Aaron's perfect penmanship, it explained politely that Mrs. Helen had finally agreed to move to Greensboro to be with her family - they were putting the house on the market immediately - so sorry for such short notice.
"Fuck! Try 'No Notice,' you fucking asshole, Jesus - what a son-of-a-bitch!!!" Jake spent about five minutes fuming - God, he was so fucking pissed!! - but being mad had never solved a problem for him yet, and it probably wasn't going to start now. He forced himself to calm down, got his cold, greasy food from his Jeep and ate it, sitting on the porch, trying to figure out what to do next.
He called a buddy from the gym to see if he could crash on his couch for a couple of days, but he didn't answer, and Jake didn't leave a message. He hated asking for favors, would rather starve on his own than take a hand-out from anybody. Maybe he could get a room at the YMCA for a few days - a hotel room would run through a lot of money pretty quick.
He had a pretty decent savings account, had really been able to add to it since he'd taken the weekend job at BC's, but he was still nervous about spending too much. He had a scholarship to cover school expenses, but he was on his own after that. And he always had to be prepared to help his mother - that was the unknown in his budget that kept his nose pushed so hard to the grindstone.
Regardless of what he decided to do, the one thing he wouldn't be doing was staying there, so he got started loading his stuff into his Jeep, boxes first, was barely able to cram the bags of clothes into the empty spots. Done at last, he backed slowly out of the drive, still pissed about getting done so dirty, sad that he hadn't even gotten to say good-bye to Mrs. Helen. He knew she was completely out of the loop on this maneuver - Asshole Aaron would've made up some lie to satisfy her about his situation.
Jake stopped in at the Y, but they were full. They suggested a nearby hostel - it was full too. Shit! Jake checked his watch. He just had ten minutes to get to class. He turned towards campus and gunned it. As monumental a crisis as this was, he still had to go to class. When he'd picked Theatrical Studies as an elective, he'd thought it would be a gimme class - read a couple of plays, talk about emoting - an easy A - an extension of the cake walk Intro to Theater had been last semester.
That theory had quickly proved not to be the case. This professor was a total nutcase when it came to theater - was actually active in every aspect of the local arts scene - and if you found yourself in one of his classes, you'd better be prepared to participate.
Each semester he gave each of his classes a major project. Last semester, in his Play Writing II class, each student had been given the assignment to pick a movie that hadn't been performed on stage, and convert the movie script to a workable stage play. The project for his class was to actually stage the adaptation that the professor had chosen from the former class's submissions.
Tonight, they would be finding out which movie/play they were going to produce, and they would be getting their assignments for the project. Jake was pretty good with his hands - he was hoping for set design, had mentioned that in the questionaire Professor Lawrence had handed out their first day. This project was a huge part of his grade, and this grade was essential to keeping his scholarship, so he was pretty much committed, regardless. He finally found a parking spot, and with no time to spare, started running for the building.
Where the hell is he? He's never late, and this sure isn't a good night to miss. Lawrence will be pissed if he's not here............ I'm glad Lawrence gave me a head's up that he chose my play, so I could ask him to take my name off it. I don't really want anybody knowing this is my project - it's just too personal. I don't care if they know I'm gay - it's not about that - it's not like it's a big, shameful secret that I'm hiding - I just don't really see how it's anybody's goddamned business who I fuck, or who fucks me. Some people probably know, some suspect - most people don't even care - why the hell should they? I know I don't care what they do! I don't think Jake knows - sometimes I don't think he even knows there's such a thing as sex at all - he never talks about girls, or guys, or anybody but that lady he rents from - he sometimes mentions her........Where the hell is he anyway? I hope he didn't get fucked up over the holiday weekend, get his ass thrown in jail or something. If he doesn't show up, I'll make some calls, try to find out. I wish I had his cell phone number - I don't even know for sure where he lives........wait a minute - I think I hear footsteps... Mmm hmm, running.....oh yeah, here he comes - God he's gorgeous - man, I sure wish he was gay........hmm, he looks pretty freaked, wonder what's happened? Shit, here comes Lawrence.......maybe I can find out later..........
Jake flopped into the desk next to Heath just as Professor Lawrence took the podium. He glanced over, caught Heath's questioning look, but the instructor was talking and he couldn't answer.
"Welcome everyone - Jake," Professor Lawrence greeted the class. He always made a special point of noting tardiness. Jake sunk a little lower in his chair - there were a few titters around the room. "Students, tonight is an exciting night for me, and I hope for all of you as well. In just a few minutes I'll be announcing to you the title of our stage production. As you all know, I've chosen a student's movie-to-play adaptation from last semester's Play Writing II class for our group semester project."
He paused, took a sip from his water bottle, then continued. "This particular story is going to require a lot of hard work from each and every one of you. The subject matter is controversial - the setting will not convert easily to a stage production. The actors are going to have to stretch themselves, possibly to unfamiliar and uncomfortable territories. You are all counting on each other to make this happen - if anyone doesn't give one hundred percent, the project will not work. I hope everyone will take their assignments seriously. I've taken into consideration everyone's preferences as best I could, but I've also made decisions based on my own knowlegde and experience of you and the work we are going to produce. I hope everyone will be able to accept these assignments and work hard for the success of the project as a whole."
He paused again, took another sip, scanned the room. The students were rustling in their seats, excitement was in the air. Jake knew that a few of the students had been in the class that did the adaptations. They were all hoping their's had been selected. Personally, Jake didn't care which show they did - he could do set design for anything. The noise settled, and Professor Lawrence resumed his announcement.
"The adaptation I've selected is excellent work, one of the best I've ever seen - I've removed the name of the student who did this work - that is no longer important, it's now your work, your project, your grade." Jake felt motion next to him, glanced over again at Heath. He was still slung low in his chair, but his eyes were narrowed, he was watching Lawrence intently. Jake could sense his interest. He was a little surprised actually - Heath struck him as one of those few people who actually was too cool for school. He didn't know anything about him other that what he'd picked up in their short conversations before and after class, but Heath reeked of money and sophistication. He was here because he wanted to be, not because he needed it.
"Who all among you has seen the movie Brokeback Mountain?" Professor Lawrence asked. The noise level in the room went up immediately. Heath was definitely on alert, and Jake felt the bottom fall right out of his stomach. Several hands went up - Jake and Heath exchanged glances - Jake could feel Heath's excitement, it was almost palpable - why was he so into this?
"Anyone else see the movie? Please raise your hands." Heath raised his, Jake tentatively put his hand up, felt a little quesy and embarrassed - remembered how he'd felt watching the actors on the big screen - falling in love, having rough, harsh sex in primitive conditions. He'd been hard for a long time after their last on-screen kiss, couldn't understand why, figured maybe it was because it had been so long since he'd had sex with anybody, under any conditions. Fuck, he still hadn't had sex - what the hell was wrong with him? He needed to get laid, but it was just so much damn trouble. Shit! Lawrence was talking again, he tried to tune back in, forget about his dick, which normally he had no problem doing.
"If you haven't seen the movie yet, I suggest you get yourself a copy and view it before Thursday. We'll be discussing some of the film's more popular issues during our next class. For those of you who have seen it, by all means, see it again! As you can all imagine, we are going to have some interesting hurdles to clear - no sheep and no horses, but I believe with some creative props and sets, we'll be fine. We'll plan to get started in earnest next Tuesday. I have everyone's assignments. Please remember, class, this project constitutes 75% of your grade, so let's all take it seriously. The plan is to stage the show the last two weekends before Thanksgiving. I know we'll have to put in a little extra time on the weekends - I hope that won't be too much of a hardship on anyone."
There was general chatter around the room for a few minutes, people asking questions. Heath leaned over towards Jake's chair - Jake could smell just a hint of his cologne. "You're looking a little green, dude. Didn't you like the movie?"
"Hmm, well, it was definitely different from anything I've ever seen before....did you like it?" Jake hedged.
"Yeah, the ending sucked though - I'm a happy-ever-after kinda guy, myself...." Heath admitted with a grin.
"Hmm, yeah, it was sad - I don't know though - that was kinda freaky for me, watching those guys......you know," Jake floundered, felt himself getting red, palms starting to sweat.
"Which was weirder for you - the butt-fucking or the kissing?" Heath asked, his voice low but casual, like a waitress might ask 'white or wheat?'
"Shit! I don't know!" Jake whispered back, knew his face was red - all the blood in his body had seemed to go in two opposite directions at once - his face and his dick. Why the fuck was he getting a boner now? Nerves - it must be nerves - they could sometimes give a guy a hard-on - that had to be it.
Heath watched him for a minute, laughed softly. "Sorry dude, didn't mean to embarrass you. So anyway, which job were you hoping for?"
"I was hoping for set crew."
Heath looked him over and shook his head, an evil smile playing around his lips. "I think you can kiss that dream good-bye, my blue-eyed beauty!"
Jake laughed harshly. "Fuck! Yep, I bet you're right about that!" Jake knew he was a dead ringer for the guy who'd played the role of Jack Twist in the movie. Sometimes people even stopped him on the street, asked for his autograph.
Just then Professor Lawrence called out Jake's name. "Get mine too, while you're there, ok?" Jake nodded, walked slowly up to the front of the room, felt the other students eyes watching him, knew what they were seeing, what they were thinking - he held out his hand for the white business envelope, stomach churning, fingers trembling ever so slightly. "Do you have Heath's too?"
"Sure thing - here you go!" Professor Lawrence gave him a small smile as he handed him the second envelope. Jake took it, headed back to his seat, sat down heavily and passed the envelope to Heath. He laid his down on his desktop. Other people were already opening theirs, talking excitedly about their parts. "Aren't you going to open it?" Heath asked, dragging his finger slowly beneath the flap. "Don't you even want to know?"
"Not really - not knowing's kinda working for me right now. Let's see your's first." Jake looked at Heath, smooth handsome face, expressive brown eyes, wavy brownish blonde hair......sitting right next to him - didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how this was gonna play out. Shit!
Heath pulled out the paper, took one look at it, then turned back to him. "So, do you want to know, or do you want to wonder?"
Jake just sank lower in his seat, feeling freaked and helpless, shaking his head. Heath took a quick scan of the room, then leaned on his desk top, gave him his full attention. "Not to be too full of myself or anything, but look around Jake - do you see any guys in here you'd rather make out with than me?"
Jake scanned the room quickly, but knew straight away, without vanity, that he and Heath were the best looking guys in the class. Jake turned his eyes back to his newest devil. "That's really not the point, man! I wasn't planning on making out with any guys this semester!"
"Well, maybe you won't have to - you still haven't looked at your assignment yet. Maybe you'll have a date with a skillsaw, after all."
"Yeah, right!" Jake passed his envelope to Heath. "Here, you look."
Heath opened it slowly, dramatically, peaked inside like there might be a monster hiding in it's folds. When he looked up, his sparkling eyes and feral grin told Jake everything he didn't want to know. "I think it's going to be a very interesting semester for us, Lil' Darlin'."
Mon, Weds, Fri: Classes from 8 a.m. until noon. Work at Men's Health and Fitness from 1p.m. until 6 p.m.
Tues and Thurs: Work at Men's Health and Fitness Club from 7 a.m. until noon. Classes from 1 p.m. until 4:30. Theatrical Studies Class - 6:30 - 8:00.
Saturday: Work at MH&F from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. Work at the BC Club from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m.
Sunday: Work Sunday Brunch at BC's - 9 a.m. until 2-3 p.m.
Jake took the endless curves slowly, shifting constantly as he eased through the switchback turns. It was barely dawn and the mountains were blanketed in thick blue fog - smoke to the locals - he could make up some time once he got to the interstate, but there was no room for error here.
The good news was that he was pointed away from Seven Devils -had checked that box for a couple of months at least - and headed away from the misery that was his parents poor, squalid life. There was a time, years ago, when Jake had hoped that his mother might get some nerve, leave that son of a bitch who'd made him, but he'd long since given up on that. His father needed a punching bag, and apparently, his mother needed a fist. Maybe they were the pefect couple - maybe he was the one with the fucked up attitude.
Powerless to make a difference, he stayed out of their hell as much as he could - when guilt got the best of him he went for a visit, felt like he owed it to his mother to show his face every now and then, just in case she'd changed her mind. He loved her - would always love her - but he couldn't stand seeing her hurt, couldn't break her away from him, and didn't want to spend the rest of his life in jail for murdering that lowlife. She wouldn't thank him for it anyway. So he kept his visits rare and brief - the happiest moments of his life were spent driving away from that horrible place.
This time he'd driven up on Sunday afternoon, after his shift ended at the restaurant. He'd had Labor Day off from school and work, and spent the day doing chores around their ramshackle homestead - repaired some fence - got a nasty snag from the barbed-wire for his trouble - had to clean it with alcohol - that had hurt like a sonofabitch! He patched a leaky spot on the roof, killed a chicken snake that was getting his mother's hens, ate an awkward dinner at his father's table, went to bed early.
That morning, Tuesday, he'd gotten up before the sun, dressed quickly, skipped the shower - he could do that once he got to work, had to change anyway - stuck a couple of hundred dollar bills in his mother's wallet and left his parents still sleeping. Now, heading back to Asheville, he was almost weak-kneed with relief to be getting back to his own life - his bare bones, hard as nails, lonely, over-worked life. Anything was better than what he was leaving behind.
Jake got to the gym with just enough time to shower and change before his first client arrived. He was a licensed therapist, did massage therapy as well as personal training at the Men's Wellness and Fitness Club. It was a private club and catered almost exclusively to men. Jake loved it there, felt completely at home. Since he'd first gotten involved with sports in high school, he'd always been the go-to man when any of his team members got hurt. His strong skillful fingers could knead away the most persistent aches. Sports therapy was his natural calling. He'd soon given up playing on the team, taken over looking after them instead. His coach had given him the title of manager.
His dad had looked down on that, of course - just another thing to gig him about. "Is that what gets you off, sissy boy? Rubbing on a bunch a hot, sweaty boys ain't wearing nuthin' but their jock straps?" There were lots of variations on that theme, usually all followed by a sharp slap to his head or a punch in his gut - his dad fought mean and dirty.
Finally, in a desperate attempt at survival, he started working out in the weight room along with the team - realized he had to be able to defend himself. He studied everything he could find on the school computer about physical fitness and muscle building - soon developed an intensive workout for himself, helped some of the guys with their routines as well. Under cover of long sleeves and blue jeans, he went from slim and sleek to strongly muscled in just a few short months.
One frosty December night, his junior year, his dad met him at the door when he came in late from a basketball game. He started in right away with his insults, his accusations, and then his fists. Jake absorbed a couple of punches, hoping he'd be satisfied and leave him alone, but the bastard was on a mission that night, bent on hurting him. Finally, when he saw his own blood start to fly, Jake let go the last of his reserve and started punching him back, screaming his hate and rage with each powerful blow. By the time his mom got to the small, stark living room, his dad was laid out cold on the linoleum floor. Jake stepped over him without a word and went to bed. His father never touched him again. That was the only time Jake had ever had to use his fists.
Jake's Tuesday, coming off the holiday, was balls-to-the-wall busy, with every hour booked. His official quitting time at the gym was noon - that was supposed to allow him time to shower and gobble down some food before his first afternoon class at one. In a perfect world, that plan would probably work, but not in Jake's - as usual, it was closer to 12:30 when he got done - he was still damp and dressing as he ran out the door and peeled out of the parking lot. He slid into his seat just as the instructor took the podium, tried hard to concentrate on the history of modern literature and ignore the growling in his stomach. A candy bar and a coke between classes was small comfort.
At 4:30, he was finally free for a couple of hours - his last class, Theatrical Studies, didn't start until 6:30. He fought with rush hour traffic, waited impatiently in a drive-through for an over-cooked burger and greasy french fries, took side streets the rest of the way home - at least he could eat in peace and veg for a few minutes before he had to go back to school. In a perfect world, that is.......
Jake rented a garage apartment from a sweet little old lady named Helen Rogers. She lived in a old but well-kept neighborhood of small, quaint bungalows not far from campus. She gave him a good deal on the rent in exchange for a few chores and favors. He mowed her yard, took the garbage to the curb, occasionally bought her groceries or did errands for her. She was very old, and her health was failing, but she was still one of the most upbeat and cheerful people he'd ever known, a definite bright spot in his life.
As he was leaving for work Sunday morning, she'd come out to wish him a safe journey, told him excitedly that her son Aaron had called. When she'd told him that Jake was going out of town for a couple of days, he'd volunteered to come visit, keep her company. Jake had met Aaron once before, thought he was the consummate asshole, but he was her son, she loved him, whatever. Missing his visit made the prospect of seeing his parents seem a little less bleak.
As Jake pulled up to the garage where he had lived, he realized why his departure had sparked Aaron's sudden interest in visiting his mother - Aaron had been trying for the last year to get her out of her house and into his - he said it was for her own good - Jake had him figured for a control freak. She'd hung on to her independence proudly, telling him that Jake was there to look out for her if she needed any help. With Jake off premises, he'd somehow swayed her to his plan, and now she was gone, the house was padlocked and all his possessions were in a few boxes and garbage bags on the little garage porch.
There was a note, fluttering in the breeze, stuck to the door with tan packing tape. In Aaron's perfect penmanship, it explained politely that Mrs. Helen had finally agreed to move to Greensboro to be with her family - they were putting the house on the market immediately - so sorry for such short notice.
"Fuck! Try 'No Notice,' you fucking asshole, Jesus - what a son-of-a-bitch!!!" Jake spent about five minutes fuming - God, he was so fucking pissed!! - but being mad had never solved a problem for him yet, and it probably wasn't going to start now. He forced himself to calm down, got his cold, greasy food from his Jeep and ate it, sitting on the porch, trying to figure out what to do next.
He called a buddy from the gym to see if he could crash on his couch for a couple of days, but he didn't answer, and Jake didn't leave a message. He hated asking for favors, would rather starve on his own than take a hand-out from anybody. Maybe he could get a room at the YMCA for a few days - a hotel room would run through a lot of money pretty quick.
He had a pretty decent savings account, had really been able to add to it since he'd taken the weekend job at BC's, but he was still nervous about spending too much. He had a scholarship to cover school expenses, but he was on his own after that. And he always had to be prepared to help his mother - that was the unknown in his budget that kept his nose pushed so hard to the grindstone.
Regardless of what he decided to do, the one thing he wouldn't be doing was staying there, so he got started loading his stuff into his Jeep, boxes first, was barely able to cram the bags of clothes into the empty spots. Done at last, he backed slowly out of the drive, still pissed about getting done so dirty, sad that he hadn't even gotten to say good-bye to Mrs. Helen. He knew she was completely out of the loop on this maneuver - Asshole Aaron would've made up some lie to satisfy her about his situation.
Jake stopped in at the Y, but they were full. They suggested a nearby hostel - it was full too. Shit! Jake checked his watch. He just had ten minutes to get to class. He turned towards campus and gunned it. As monumental a crisis as this was, he still had to go to class. When he'd picked Theatrical Studies as an elective, he'd thought it would be a gimme class - read a couple of plays, talk about emoting - an easy A - an extension of the cake walk Intro to Theater had been last semester.
That theory had quickly proved not to be the case. This professor was a total nutcase when it came to theater - was actually active in every aspect of the local arts scene - and if you found yourself in one of his classes, you'd better be prepared to participate.
Each semester he gave each of his classes a major project. Last semester, in his Play Writing II class, each student had been given the assignment to pick a movie that hadn't been performed on stage, and convert the movie script to a workable stage play. The project for his class was to actually stage the adaptation that the professor had chosen from the former class's submissions.
Tonight, they would be finding out which movie/play they were going to produce, and they would be getting their assignments for the project. Jake was pretty good with his hands - he was hoping for set design, had mentioned that in the questionaire Professor Lawrence had handed out their first day. This project was a huge part of his grade, and this grade was essential to keeping his scholarship, so he was pretty much committed, regardless. He finally found a parking spot, and with no time to spare, started running for the building.
Where the hell is he? He's never late, and this sure isn't a good night to miss. Lawrence will be pissed if he's not here............ I'm glad Lawrence gave me a head's up that he chose my play, so I could ask him to take my name off it. I don't really want anybody knowing this is my project - it's just too personal. I don't care if they know I'm gay - it's not about that - it's not like it's a big, shameful secret that I'm hiding - I just don't really see how it's anybody's goddamned business who I fuck, or who fucks me. Some people probably know, some suspect - most people don't even care - why the hell should they? I know I don't care what they do! I don't think Jake knows - sometimes I don't think he even knows there's such a thing as sex at all - he never talks about girls, or guys, or anybody but that lady he rents from - he sometimes mentions her........Where the hell is he anyway? I hope he didn't get fucked up over the holiday weekend, get his ass thrown in jail or something. If he doesn't show up, I'll make some calls, try to find out. I wish I had his cell phone number - I don't even know for sure where he lives........wait a minute - I think I hear footsteps... Mmm hmm, running.....oh yeah, here he comes - God he's gorgeous - man, I sure wish he was gay........hmm, he looks pretty freaked, wonder what's happened? Shit, here comes Lawrence.......maybe I can find out later..........
Jake flopped into the desk next to Heath just as Professor Lawrence took the podium. He glanced over, caught Heath's questioning look, but the instructor was talking and he couldn't answer.
"Welcome everyone - Jake," Professor Lawrence greeted the class. He always made a special point of noting tardiness. Jake sunk a little lower in his chair - there were a few titters around the room. "Students, tonight is an exciting night for me, and I hope for all of you as well. In just a few minutes I'll be announcing to you the title of our stage production. As you all know, I've chosen a student's movie-to-play adaptation from last semester's Play Writing II class for our group semester project."
He paused, took a sip from his water bottle, then continued. "This particular story is going to require a lot of hard work from each and every one of you. The subject matter is controversial - the setting will not convert easily to a stage production. The actors are going to have to stretch themselves, possibly to unfamiliar and uncomfortable territories. You are all counting on each other to make this happen - if anyone doesn't give one hundred percent, the project will not work. I hope everyone will take their assignments seriously. I've taken into consideration everyone's preferences as best I could, but I've also made decisions based on my own knowlegde and experience of you and the work we are going to produce. I hope everyone will be able to accept these assignments and work hard for the success of the project as a whole."
He paused again, took another sip, scanned the room. The students were rustling in their seats, excitement was in the air. Jake knew that a few of the students had been in the class that did the adaptations. They were all hoping their's had been selected. Personally, Jake didn't care which show they did - he could do set design for anything. The noise settled, and Professor Lawrence resumed his announcement.
"The adaptation I've selected is excellent work, one of the best I've ever seen - I've removed the name of the student who did this work - that is no longer important, it's now your work, your project, your grade." Jake felt motion next to him, glanced over again at Heath. He was still slung low in his chair, but his eyes were narrowed, he was watching Lawrence intently. Jake could sense his interest. He was a little surprised actually - Heath struck him as one of those few people who actually was too cool for school. He didn't know anything about him other that what he'd picked up in their short conversations before and after class, but Heath reeked of money and sophistication. He was here because he wanted to be, not because he needed it.
"Who all among you has seen the movie Brokeback Mountain?" Professor Lawrence asked. The noise level in the room went up immediately. Heath was definitely on alert, and Jake felt the bottom fall right out of his stomach. Several hands went up - Jake and Heath exchanged glances - Jake could feel Heath's excitement, it was almost palpable - why was he so into this?
"Anyone else see the movie? Please raise your hands." Heath raised his, Jake tentatively put his hand up, felt a little quesy and embarrassed - remembered how he'd felt watching the actors on the big screen - falling in love, having rough, harsh sex in primitive conditions. He'd been hard for a long time after their last on-screen kiss, couldn't understand why, figured maybe it was because it had been so long since he'd had sex with anybody, under any conditions. Fuck, he still hadn't had sex - what the hell was wrong with him? He needed to get laid, but it was just so much damn trouble. Shit! Lawrence was talking again, he tried to tune back in, forget about his dick, which normally he had no problem doing.
"If you haven't seen the movie yet, I suggest you get yourself a copy and view it before Thursday. We'll be discussing some of the film's more popular issues during our next class. For those of you who have seen it, by all means, see it again! As you can all imagine, we are going to have some interesting hurdles to clear - no sheep and no horses, but I believe with some creative props and sets, we'll be fine. We'll plan to get started in earnest next Tuesday. I have everyone's assignments. Please remember, class, this project constitutes 75% of your grade, so let's all take it seriously. The plan is to stage the show the last two weekends before Thanksgiving. I know we'll have to put in a little extra time on the weekends - I hope that won't be too much of a hardship on anyone."
There was general chatter around the room for a few minutes, people asking questions. Heath leaned over towards Jake's chair - Jake could smell just a hint of his cologne. "You're looking a little green, dude. Didn't you like the movie?"
"Hmm, well, it was definitely different from anything I've ever seen before....did you like it?" Jake hedged.
"Yeah, the ending sucked though - I'm a happy-ever-after kinda guy, myself...." Heath admitted with a grin.
"Hmm, yeah, it was sad - I don't know though - that was kinda freaky for me, watching those guys......you know," Jake floundered, felt himself getting red, palms starting to sweat.
"Which was weirder for you - the butt-fucking or the kissing?" Heath asked, his voice low but casual, like a waitress might ask 'white or wheat?'
"Shit! I don't know!" Jake whispered back, knew his face was red - all the blood in his body had seemed to go in two opposite directions at once - his face and his dick. Why the fuck was he getting a boner now? Nerves - it must be nerves - they could sometimes give a guy a hard-on - that had to be it.
Heath watched him for a minute, laughed softly. "Sorry dude, didn't mean to embarrass you. So anyway, which job were you hoping for?"
"I was hoping for set crew."
Heath looked him over and shook his head, an evil smile playing around his lips. "I think you can kiss that dream good-bye, my blue-eyed beauty!"
Jake laughed harshly. "Fuck! Yep, I bet you're right about that!" Jake knew he was a dead ringer for the guy who'd played the role of Jack Twist in the movie. Sometimes people even stopped him on the street, asked for his autograph.
Just then Professor Lawrence called out Jake's name. "Get mine too, while you're there, ok?" Jake nodded, walked slowly up to the front of the room, felt the other students eyes watching him, knew what they were seeing, what they were thinking - he held out his hand for the white business envelope, stomach churning, fingers trembling ever so slightly. "Do you have Heath's too?"
"Sure thing - here you go!" Professor Lawrence gave him a small smile as he handed him the second envelope. Jake took it, headed back to his seat, sat down heavily and passed the envelope to Heath. He laid his down on his desktop. Other people were already opening theirs, talking excitedly about their parts. "Aren't you going to open it?" Heath asked, dragging his finger slowly beneath the flap. "Don't you even want to know?"
"Not really - not knowing's kinda working for me right now. Let's see your's first." Jake looked at Heath, smooth handsome face, expressive brown eyes, wavy brownish blonde hair......sitting right next to him - didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how this was gonna play out. Shit!
Heath pulled out the paper, took one look at it, then turned back to him. "So, do you want to know, or do you want to wonder?"
Jake just sank lower in his seat, feeling freaked and helpless, shaking his head. Heath took a quick scan of the room, then leaned on his desk top, gave him his full attention. "Not to be too full of myself or anything, but look around Jake - do you see any guys in here you'd rather make out with than me?"
Jake scanned the room quickly, but knew straight away, without vanity, that he and Heath were the best looking guys in the class. Jake turned his eyes back to his newest devil. "That's really not the point, man! I wasn't planning on making out with any guys this semester!"
"Well, maybe you won't have to - you still haven't looked at your assignment yet. Maybe you'll have a date with a skillsaw, after all."
"Yeah, right!" Jake passed his envelope to Heath. "Here, you look."
Heath opened it slowly, dramatically, peaked inside like there might be a monster hiding in it's folds. When he looked up, his sparkling eyes and feral grin told Jake everything he didn't want to know. "I think it's going to be a very interesting semester for us, Lil' Darlin'."
- Location:Asheville, NC
- Mood:
uncomfortable
Page Summary
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dclittledarlin : (no subject) [+1] - gamma_ray00 : (no subject) [+2]
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Comments
He was a licensed therapist, did massage therapy as well as personal training at the Men's Wellness and Fitness Club.
Perfect!!
"I think it's going to be a very interesting semester for us, Lil' Darlin'."
Very interesting indeed. Heath maybe has room for Jake to crash at his place yes? I can see a handsome confident hero in Heath and a beautiful unsure, shy man in Jake. Just the way I like it!! YOU ROCK!!! I am soooo glad you're back with such a fresh look at the boys. I love the setting, the Blue Ridge mountains are stunning!!. When's the next update? Just asking....hehehehe
love ya!!
K
Love ya gurl! S!
I love your idea of doing shorter chapters and posting more often. Of course that is just selfish on my part..:-) You need to do what is comfortable for you and your writing style.
Also your timeline and scene transitions are going really smoothly!
I'm all giddy and can't wait to see what happens next.
(Do you know if there is any way for me to enlarge the font when I read?)
Heath still seems to be one bold fellow!
Anxiously awaiting more,
=)
Kelly aka notBastet
I'm not sure what is up with the fonts = that is a new glitch. I'm gonna try to fix it now. Thanks for reading. I'm hoping Chapter 2 will be ready in a couple of days. S!
and Heath fancies Jake already - which is only logical! LOL... I love your characterisation of them here.
four words: you got me hooked.
OK. Jake is wonderful. Initially weird to have him coming from a Jack-like background, kept thinking of Stephen and Naomi when you were telling about his parents, LOL! (BTW, do these two have surnames?) But love the setup for all the difficulties he's facing. And the setup of having the class do BBM as a stage play is totally brilliant - my gosh, you have a good imagination!
And Heath! Well, your new Heath is uber-cool! Love that intensity, that focus and that passion beneath the studied exterior. Jake doesn't stand a chance, does he? Wow.
Wow, wow, wow. In the words of another - 'you have me hooked too!' I'll be avidly following this fic!! :-)
I love the last line too!!
Looking forward to another great ride!!
Holly
More soon please!!
PS - where is chapter 8?
You've done a good job with characterization, and as an NC native I'm curious to see what you incorporate into this story.
Fine job thus far - I look forward to the next chapter.
I think I like your new story even more than the previous one.
Did I get this right? The grade of the elective course constitutes 75% of the over-all grade for the semester? Or is it just the project which constitutes 75% of the grade for Theatrical Studies? But then, why is this grade essential to keeping the scholarship? It's just elective and only one and a half hour per week.
I'm not familiar with the US school system hence I haven't got a clue about this. Btw, what are Jake's and Heath's major courses?
This professor seems to me to be a little dictator. J wanted to do set design and ends as actor of a leading role. Duh.
Ok, we need this probably for the plot. ;-)
-k
Even tho it's an elective for Jake, it's still important to his GPA (grade point average), and it's 1.5 hrs. 2 times per week. This is supposed to be an EASY course for him -he's taking lots of other harder courses, and as you saw by his schedule, he is running himself ragged. Therefore, he NEEDS to have a good grade here to compensate for the possibility of a low grade in a HARD class. He is majoring, as you will find out in the next chapter, in physical therapy with an emphasis on sports therapy. Heath is majoring in Finance.
Their participation in the project is 75% of their grade in this class for this semester. This is almost all they will do for the entire semester, so it carries alot of weight.
You will get more interaction with the professor in chapter 2 - you can make more determinations about his personality after that.
Ok, i hope that clears everything up a little. Chapter 2 comes out tonite, and that will give you lots more information. Thanks for reading.
S!
And for the rest I should be more patient, I guess.
Yay, only one more night till chapter two :-)
-k