Sunday Morning

Sunday July 18th @ 5:30 AM - Campsite.

     The sun had risen high enough so that light was barely filtering
weakly through the sides of the tent. TK had only brief moments of sleep
during the night and only when he had managed to dose off. He'd spent
the night, holding on to Bill, silently keeping watch over him. He held
him against him, just wanting to make him feel better. He had never
known anybody this close to him that had that much shit thrown at him.
TK's arms were sore and his muscles were getting rigid from
non-movement.

     As the night became morning, he went over the last few weeks, and
what it would be like when he went back home. He thought about that
movie. Of being, liked for who you weren't. He thought of the masks he
wore. ... Some of the times that he spent with his arms around Bill,
were more than to comfort his hurting friend. Some of the times, were
because he needed the contact, he needed to hold on  to someone. ...
Nights can be so lonely. ... But TK knew that for the last 6 or 7 hours,
Bill had erased those feelings from him. And all Bill did was nothing
but sleep. He softly pulled Bill's sleeping body ever closer, afraid
he'd wake him.

     He realized he was sore, tired, sweating, and cramped. But he
didn't want Bill to awaken. The feeling of contentment he was
experiencing was enough for him. During the hours that had passed, he
came to the realization, that maybe, Bart was right yesterday when he
said, "But you guys are missing the whole point ..., Steve got tired of
all the bullshit and just said fuck it." Well anyway, TK made a
decision. Maybe living behind a mask was alright, when you didn't care
about the people, but it becomes unbearable when it's with someone you
love.

     Now all he had to figure out was how to tell his mom and grams. But
he knew if he wanted something to get going with Bill, and he really
wanted to, he didn't want to always be hiding it from his family. The
rest of the world could get fucked. But Bill was different, he just knew
he wanted to spend time with him. With a hundred fifty miles between
them, he needed all the help he could use.

@ 7:30 AM - The Mark Owens Apartment.

      The phone is ringing, Mark reaches over Steve to answer it. "Yeah.
Watcha want?" He hears the voice of a woman, "Is this Mark Owens?" Mark
tries composing himself a little, "Yes it is, what can I do for you?"
"You can put Steve on please." Suddenly worried, "Who is this?" "Oh, I'm
sorry, but this is Virginia King. I saw the two of you yesterday, and
when there was no answer at Steve's place this morning, I thought he
might have ... slept on your coach or something. ... Is he there?"

     Mark, holding  phone to his chest, he looks and he asks Steve.
"What does Mrs. King want? ... How comes she knows you're?" "I don't
know, just give me the phone."

      "Mrs. King, Steve here. Can I do something for you?" Mrs. King
responds, "Well, it's something we might be able to do for each other.
... You didn't find an apartment yet, did you?" "No ma'am." "Good. Could
you and your roommate stop by later? I have a proposition to discuss
with the two of you." Steve turns to Mark, covering the mouthpiece of
the phone, "She wants US to stop over. What do you think?" Mark doesn't
know what to make of the situation, "You sure she's OK?" Steve nods.
Mark, continues, "Well, I suppose so."
      Steve says into the phone, "Sorry about the delay, but I had to
ask Mark, Yes we'll come over. What time?" Mrs. King responds, "Anytime
after 11 will be fine. ... We'll see you then. By the way, sorry if I
woke you." "Bye." Steve hangs up the phone. "That was different. I
wonder what she wants." Mark re-iterates, "You sure she's OK?" Steve
replies, "Yeah. ... I guess we'll find out later. ... Hey there sexy, I
was thinking now that we're up maybe ... " He starts with giving Mark a
long kiss . "Yeah. ..."

@ 8:45 AM - Gary & Ted's

     Gary was nestled in Ted's arms, laying there spoon fashion. They
have just woken up, and Ted had started licking the side of Gary's neck.
"Ted, do you still remember that first kiss," "How could I forget it.
... I was so scared." "Scared?, of what?"

       "Well, for one thing, that I was a lousy kisser. ... You gotta
remember. ... It was the first time, I had kissed anyone, you know ...
that way. " "Seemed perfect to me. ... You seemed so in control, so
sexy. At first I couldn't figure out why you would want to. ... Then ...
I ... it's like ... well... I just knew. ... I knew I never wanted you
to stop. ... I think it was then I ... knew that ... I was in love. It
sure beat the hell out of all the stories about it." He said as he
wiggled his back side against Ted. Ted - "Gary, for me, it was that
night we went to see Maurice. ... when you told me you were gay." "What
do ya mean."

     "From the first time I saw you in the dorm, I thought to myself you
were one hot guy. It was lust at first sight. But I figured I didn't
have a chance with you. That you hadda be straight, and I didn't want to
be hurt. ... But I could see us together after you told me. It became a
real possibility, I wanted you so bad. ... But it ... it scared me worse
than before. When you were a fucking fantasy, I was able to push all
that other shit out the way. Then all of sudden, I thought that just
cause you were gay didn't mean you felt anything for me. ... I was
terrified that you didn't feel the same way as I did. ... It struck me
then, I was afraid you didn't LOVE me the way I LOVED you."

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on to Sunday Afternoon

back to "stray e-mail, part one"