Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 1

 

 

 

 

"Look at that," Will said, pointing across the room.

"Yep," Jonny said, "It's always like that when we go anywhere with him."

Guy was sitting at a table in the corner of the pub.

There were girls sitting in all the other chairs at his table.

There were also girls draped across the table.

Guy kept scooting his chair further back into the corner.

The girls just kept getting closer to him.

"Shall we go rescue him?" Will asked.

"Why?" Jonny said.

Will looked at Guy and Guy caught his eyes.

Guy looked like a helpless deer about to be pounced on by several wild cougars.

"Look how pathetic he looks," Will told Jonny.

Jonny turned around on his barstool and also saw the terrified look on Guys' face.

"It's just not fair," Jonny said, "All those women always falling all over him and he could care less."

"He can't help how he looks," Will said, taking a drink of his beer.

"Where's Chris anyway?" Jonny asked, "He usually takes some of the heat away from Guy."

"He will be here later," Will said, "I think he had a meeting or a cooking lesson."

Jonny looked toward Guy's table again.

Now Guy was completely obscured by more girls that had arrived at his table.

"Okay," he told Will, "I guess it is rescue time now."

 

"Thanks," Guy said, when Jonny and Will arrived at the table.

"Hey, girls," Will said, moving through the crowd as if he was parting the Red Sea, "Give the man some air."

The crowd of girls giggled.

Jonny and Will sat down and the crowd slowly began to thin out.

One of the girls asked Jonny to dance and he happily walked off with her.

"I'm really glad you came over," Guy told Will.

"You looked pretty trapped," Will said.

Guy shook his head.

"I have to stop coming here," he said, quietly, "It's crazy."

Will laughed.

"It isn't just here," he said, "It's anywhere you go. You are a good-looking fellow."

Guy took a deep breath and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck.

"I am so sick of this bullshit," he said, "I didn't ask for all this crap."

"Lots of men would give their left ball to look like you," Will said.

Guy looked at him.

"They can have it," he said, standing up, "I am getting out of this hell hole."

 

 

 

Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 2

 

 

Guy was hurrying down the street with his head down.

He kept his head down most of the time now.

If he didn't some cute little brunette or blond or red-head would try to talk to him.

Somebody's sister or girlfriend or mother would smile and wink at him.

The woman at the video store would pinch his arm.

The young girl at the Farmer's Market would offer him a special price if he was part of the deal.

The hookers downtown offered to give him free services.

It was disgusting and he was tired of it all.

"Hey," someone called.

Guy stopped as he recognized Chris' voice.

"Where are you headed in such a hurry?" he asked.

"Home," Guy said.

"I thought we were meeting at the pub," Chris said.

"We were. Jonny and Will are still there."

Chris looked at the expression on Guy's face and saw the despair in his eyes.

"Girls, again?" he asked.

Guy nodded.

"They are all over the place....like freaking leeches," Guy said, "I can't get away from them."

"I can sympathize with you," Chris said, "Although I have never had it as bad as you have."

"What do they want from me?" Guy asked desperately.

Chris shook his head.

"Who knows?" he said.

"I just can't take it anymore," Guy said.

Chris put his arm around Guy's slight shoulders.

"Come on," he said, "I'll walk you home."

 

"Do you want to come in?" Guy asked.

"Sure," Chris said, "I'm kind of tired and not really feeling the pub scene anyway."

"Want a beer?" Guy asked, flipping on lights in his apartment.

"No," Chris said, "Maybe just some water."

While Guy was getting the drinks, Chris spotted the jukebox.

"Incredible," he said, bending over to examine it closer.

"It's a new one," Guy told him, "Haven't you seen it before?"

"No," Chris said, accepting the water from Guy, "I guess it's been awhile since I have been here."

Chris opened the bottle of water and took a long drink.

Guy watched his hands holding the bottle and his long graceful neck as he tilted his head back to drink.

"Why can't girls look like that?" he thought.

 

 

Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 3

 

 

 

 

"Let's try this thing out," Chris said.

"It only has a few songs, so far," Guy said.

He was trying to keep Chris from seeing what songs were on the jukebox.

But he was too late.

Chris was reading the titles.

"These are all our songs," he said.

"Yeah," Guy said, trying his futile best to cover his real intentions, "I haven't had time to put anything else on it yet."

In reality, the jukebox had been there for several weeks.

He had filled it with his favorite songs of the band just so he could listen to the way Chris' voice sounded.

Guy sat for hours in the dark and listened to the way Chris' voice rose and fell on each song.

He pictured him prowling around the stage and wooing the audience.

Guy hated the way that Chris always navigated toward Jonny during performances.

He knew they were best friends.

That didn't bother him.

He hated the way Chris always danced with Jonny and touched Jonny and winked at Jonny.

Guy knew it was all an act and the fans ate it up, but he still hated it.

"Let's play one," Chris said, looking up at Guy with his brilliant blue eyes.

Chris danced around the room and pretended to be singing.

Guy pretended to play his guitar.

"That's great," Chris said, laughing.

Guy watched him and for the first time that night, he smiled.

"Okay," Chris said, "Now pretend to be Will."

Guy pretend to play drums and affected a serious, schoolteacher face.

Chris laughed even more.

"Now be Jonny," he said.

Guy took up the fake guitar again and pretended to dance like Jonny.

Chris, still pretending to be himself, danced around Guy.

Suddenly, he kissed Guy on the cheek like he always did to Jonny.

Guy's hands started to shake.

Then the song ended.

"That was fun," Chris said, collapsing in a heap in the floor.

"You forgot to do the bows at the end," Guy told him.

"Oh yeah," Chris jumped up and walked to Guy, sliding his arm around his thin waist.

Together they did the fake bows.

Afterward, Chris didn't let go of Guy.

Guy didn't let go of Chris.

They just stood looking at one another.

 

 

Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 4

 

 

 

 

"What are you doing?" Guy asked.

"Why?" Chris said.

"You still have your arm around me," Guy told him.

Chris looked at him intently.

The blue of his eyes was so deep and crystalline that Guy could barely breathe.

"Do you have a problem with that?" Chris asked in a husky voice.

"Yes," Guy said, in a whisper.

"Why?" Chris asked, "I can feel you shaking."

"That's why it is a problem," Guy told him, "I need both of your arms around me."

Chris smiled a slow, sweet smile that made his eyes light up from within.

"You sly little thing," he said, as he slipped his other arm around Guy's waist.

"I don't like girls," Guy said, draping his arms around Chris' neck.

"No?" Chris asked.

"No, I only like you."

"I like you very much too," Chris told him.

"Do you think it means something that I don't like girls?" Guy asked.

Guy could practically see the wheels spinning as Chris pursed his lips in thought.

"Not necessarily," Chris answered, "Boys like girls, but men....men.. they like whoever is special to them."

Guy smiled and blushed.

"Good answer," he said.

"Do you know what I think?" Chris asked, running his thumb along Guy's lips.

"What?" Guy asked.

"I think you should invite me to dinner tomorrow night," Chris answered, as he ran a graceful finger along Guy's protruding collarbone.

"Okay," Guy said, "Will you please come to dinner tomorrow night?"

"I would love to," Chris said, "I'll even cook. I've been taking lessons, you know."

"So Will told us," Guy said.

And then he added, "I don't know if I have a fire extinguisher here at the apartment."

Chris laughed.

"You have quite the droll sense of humor," he told Guy, "When you bother to speak."

"Talking is overrated," Guy said.

"I wish I thought that," Chris told him, as he played with a tiny little curl at the back of Guy's neck.

"You smell incredible," Guy told him.

"I never noticed how clear your eyes are," Chris said, "They seem to go on and on forever."

"I could drown in your eyes," Guy told him.

"I think I have been waiting for this moment my whole life," Chris said.

 

 

 

 

Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 5

 

 

 

 

The next morning early, Guy's doorbell rang.

"Delivery for Guy Berryman," cute young woman said.

She handed Guy a clipboard for him to sign his name.

He signed it and handed it back to her.

She read the name.

"Hmm," She said, handing him a large, flat box.

"Here's your delivery and here's my number," she said, "Call me some time."

Guy never ceased to be amazed at how forward some women were.

He threw her number in the trash as he mumbled to himself, "Like that would ever happen."

He laid the box on the table and untied the ribbon it was closed with.

Inside the box were two dozen yellow tinted pink roses.

A card lay on top of the roses.

There was no message written on the card, just a large scrawled, "C."

Guy smiled to himself as he picked up the flowers.

He had never received flowers before and he was amazed at the thoughtfulness of the gesture.

Everyone, including himself, had always said how self-absorbed Chris was but this was not the actions of a selfish man.

Guy felt like a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl who was dating the captain of the football team.

"This is crazy," he said to himself, "I can't believe I feel this happy."

Guy had no proper vase to put the flowers in so he went out to shop for one.

After visiting several different shops and receiving offers for six dates, he finally found a crystal vase that he liked.

He was passing a bakery on the way back to his apartment when he saw some luscious chocolate-covered strawberries in the display window.

He went in and bought a dozen on the spur of the moment because he knew that Chris loved them.

They would be a perfect dessert for whatever meal Chris was cooking.

Guy arranged the flowers in the vase several times before he finally liked how they looked.

He looked at the digital clock on the microwave.

It was only three o'clock.

At first Guy was disappointed because he still had so long to wait until Chris would arrive.

But then panic set in.

"Oh no," he thought, "I have no idea what to wear."

Then it seemed like there was no way he would ever have enough time to get ready.

He took a shower and afterward examined himself in the mirror.

"I'm not bad-looking," he thought, "A little on the skinny side and I do need to stop smoking. But I must be okay if Chris likes me."

Guy looked at his face in the mirror.

"Chris likes me," he said aloud, "Chris actually likes me."

Then he did a happy little dance around the bathroom as he kept repeating those words.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 6

 

 

"Want to get something to eat tonight?" Jonny asked Chris.

"Can't," Chris said.

"Why not?" Jonny asked.

"Because I got a date," Chris said, smiling.

Then he realized what he said.

"Is it a date?" he wondered to himself.

"Yeah," he answered, "It is a date. Just because it is a guy, doesn't mean it isn't a date."

"Ooooohh," Jonny said, making little kissing noises, "Chris has a date."

"What is this----junior high?" Chris asked, laughing.

"Who is it?" Jonny asked.

"Why should I tell you?" Chris asked, throwing a pillow at him.

"Is it that girl from the gym?" Jonny asked.

"No," Chris said, standing in his closet and rifling through his shirts.

"Is it that girl from the cleaners?" Jonny asked.

"No," Chris said.

"Which one?" he asked Jonny, holding up two shirts.

Jonny made a face.

"I don't know about either one," he said, "Now if I knew which girl it was I might be able to tell you what I think she would like."

"Not going to work," Chris said.

"If I were you I would be worried about those socks," Jonny told him.

Chris frowned and looked down.

"What's wrong with them?" Chris asked.

"They don't match," Jonny said.

"Match what?" Chris asked, "I haven't decided on a shirt yet?"

"They don't match anything, ever," Jonny said, "That color is too wild."

"I like them," Chris said.

"Then wear the white," Jonny said, "At least the white won't clash with them."

"Brilliant!" Chris told him.

Jonny watched him as finished dressing.

"Why are you so nervous?" Jonny asked, "It's like you have never been on a date before."

"I'm not nervous," Chris said.

"Your hands are shaking so much you can't button your shirt," Jonny told him.

"What?" Chris looked at his hands.

Indeed, they were shaking.

"I don't know," he said, "I must have eaten too much sugar or something."

Jonny smiled and raised one eyebrow.

"Ah huh," he said.

 

 

Tired

Part 3

 

 

 

BEEEEEP! The sound of Jonny's alarm rang through his tiny bedroom.

 

Jonny abruptly slipped out of unconsciousness, and groggily opened his eyes. Four hours is not nearly enough sleep for a man with his lifestyle, but he had no choice but to rise out of bed.

 

It had been a week since he and Chris broke up. The last time they saw each other was that day in the Bakery, and Chris barely said two words to him. His body language spoke wonders, though. While he shied away from getting too close to Jonny, he always seemed to be facing him. It pained him greatly to see Chris in such a state. The blue eyes that were once so bright and full of life had appeared dull and sad. Even his voice had been lacking in the cheery tone it usually exerted.

 

As he made his way to the bathroom, Jonny spotted the chair that Chris had sat in the last time he'd been in the apartment. He missed seeing and talking to Chris everyday. They'd been best friends for years, and now it was as if they were only distant friends.

 

There was a tiny glimmer of hope, though. The previous day, Jonny entered his apartment to find a message on his answering machine. While it was just a message informing him of a band meeting the next day, hearing Chris' voice deliver the words lightened his heart a bit. Sure, it sounded purely professional, but Guy or Will could have easily called to tell him.

 

Needing to prepare himself for the day, he walked into the bathroom and immediately ran the water in the sink. He cupped his hands under the faucet and splashed his face a few times. He looked up at the mirror and noticed that he looked quite tired. He felt tired, too. He'd been up most of the night, agonizing over what would happen during the meeting. Ever since he received the call from Chris telling him about it, he kept asking himself the same question: Should he tell him how he felt? It might not even do any good, especially if he still wasn't ready to publicly display their relationship. On the other hand, if you never try, then you never know, right?

 

He ran a hand through his mess of hair, which he was probably going to shove under a cap later. As he did so, he continued to think things through. What would he even say? 'Oh, hey, Chris, I feel like shit right now, take me back! But you still can't be happy, because we still can't tell anyone.' That's just too selfish. Unfortunately, it was true.

 

Then again, he could always just suck it up and allow other people to know. It was an absolutely terrifying idea, but he thought he might be able to take that risk, just to be able to have Chris again. In fact, he'd give anything just to be able to have Chris again.

 

 

Okay, this is a short, silly one-shot related to Perfect Symmetry. I didn't want to do a full sequel fanfic so I decided to do this. Maybe there'll be more of Guy&Will love in the future but for now this is what I have to show you:)

 

Sexual Healing

 

 

 

 

“Will.” Guy whispered in his ear, in the middle of the night, as they lay together in their bed. “Will.”

 

“Mmhhmm, what?” He moaned as he felt Guy’s hands travel to his exposed chest from behind him, waking him up with their heat and smoothness.

 

“I’m horny.” Guy responded, simply.

 

“Oh, God. Don’t say that to me. You’re always horny. Four hours ago, you were horny and well, I don’t need to tell you the rest of the story.” Will replied, turning to face the bass player in the darkness of their bedroom. “And you know I always give in. You take advantage of my weakness.” Guy giggled, happily putting his hands on Will’s waist. “But we have that interview tomorrow, I mean later on this morning.”

 

“So what? Guy shrugged his shoulders, proceeding to kiss Will’s chest, earning a sigh of pleasure from him. “That’s why bed hair was invented. So that people could spend more time…in…bed.” He punctuated his words with open-mouthed kisses on Will’s neck, stopping at his bearded chin.

 

“You’re such a smooth talker, Mr. Berryman.”

 

“I love it when you call me that, Mr. Champion. It makes me feel so…hot.” He murmured in a low voice.

 

“Oh, is that so? I feel that way now myself thanks to you and your 3 a.m. wake up kisses.” Will admitted.

 

Guy stood there admiring his face, a satisfied smile gracing both of their faces.

“I can’t hold it much longer.” Guy said. “It’s getting stronger and stronger and when I get that feeling…”

 

Will stared at him then burst out laughing. “Are you seriously trying to seduce me with Marvin Gaye’s lyrics?”

 

“Is it working?” Guy asked, sheepishly.

 

Suddenly the phone rang, disrupting them.

 

“Who calls a person in the middle of the night?” Guy groaned in annoyance. Whoever it was, just ruined the mood and he was not happy about it.

 

“You’re one to talk.” Will murmured, yawning.

 

Guy picked up the phone and heard Chris’s voice on the other side of the line.

 

“Hey, Chris… Oh, okay… Oh my God, are you serious? ... I’m so sorry but I couldn’t help myself.” Guy said, while laughing. He said “See you in a few minutes” then hung up.

 

“What was the problem?” Will asked him.

 

“Chris and Jonny. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one up for a little fun tonight. They… somehow managed to handcuff themselves to the bed or something like that and now they can’t reach for the keys, obviously.” Guy chuckled, putting on his boxers. “A little more than I ever wanted to know but now we have to rescue them.”

 

“We? How come I have to go? I don’t wanna see that.” Will argued, clearly not wanting to see their friends in such predicament. One thing was knowing they were a couple. Another thing altogether was witnessing their sexual fantasies with his own eyes.

 

“Come on, I don’t want to go alone.” Guy said, trying to convince him. “You never know what they might to do to me once I free them…” He joked.

 

“Yeah, right. Nice try.” Will said, laying on his side, closing his eyes.

 

Guy didn’t give up though. If that was the way he wanted to play it, so be it. “Either you come with me right now or you’re not getting anything from me for a month.” His tone was low and firm.

 

He watched Will open his eyes immediately and quickly put on his clothes, ready to leave.

 

“Works like a charm. Every single time.” Guy mumbled to himself, a smirk visible on his face.

 

 

 

 

Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 7

 

 

 

 

"Can I come in yet?" Guy asked Chris.

"No, for the tenth time, no. The dinner isn't ready yet," he said.

Guy tossed the magazine he was trying to read on the floor.

"At least there is no smoke yet," he thought to himself.

"Oh, by the way," he said, loudly so Chris could hear him, "Thank you for the flowers. They are lovely."

Chris, stirring his food in the kitchen, smiled and made a fist, "yes!" he said, to himself.

But to Guy, he said, "I'm glad that you liked them.I was afraid it might be too much."

"Not to me," Guy said, "I thought it was very sweet. Very un-Chris-like."

"It's ready,"Chris said.

Guy walked around the corner of his kitchen to a very elaborate dinner

"Wow," he said, "Candles and everything."

"Sit," Chris said, "And eat."

 

"I bought dessert," Guy said, when they had finished eating and Chris cleared the table.

"I forgot about dessert," Chris said, slapping himself on the forehead.

Guy brought out the chocolate covered strawberries.

"How perfect," Chris said, when he saw them.

Guy took one from the little package and leaned over to Chris.

He gently touched his lips with the strawberry, smearing chocolate all across Chris' mouth.

Chris opened his mouth to bite the fruit, but Guy playfully jerked it away.

Chris sat licking his lips and staring seductively at Guy.

"What do you plan to do with that?" Chris asked.

"I'm going to eat it," Guy said, standing very close to Chris and taking a large bite of the strawberry.

Some pink juice trickled out of the corner of his mouth and down his chin.

"Damn," Guy said.

"It's okay," Chris said, leaning over and licking the juice from Guy's mouth.

"Don't get it on your shirt," Guy told him, "That stain will never come out and......God.....I don't know why I am rambling like this."

"How about I just take this shirt off?" Chris said, "Then we won't have to be worried about it."

"How about I help you?" Guy said.

Guy reached up to unbutton the top buttons while Chris did the ones from the middle down to the hem.

"That's better," he said, hanging the shirt across a kitchen chair.

Guy didn't say anything.

He was just staring at Chris.

"What?" Chris asked, "You have seen me without a shirt before."

Guy swallowed hard.

"Yes," he said, "But not here.....not alone.....not so freaking close that I could touch you."

"Well?" Chris asked, "What are you waiting for?"

 

 

 

 

Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 8

 

 

Guy backed away from Chris and left the kitchen.

Chris was totally confused.

"What in the hell did I do?" he asked, himself.

He grabbed his shirt from the chair and wriggled back into it.

"Guy?" he asked.

"Yeah?" Guy was standing, staring out a window.

"What just happened?" Chris asked.

"Nothing," Guy said, quietly.

"Well, why not?" Chris asked, "I thought we were on the same page. Did I miss something?"

Guy didn't turn around.

He just kept looking out the window.

"You should probably go," he told Chris.

Chris just stood perfectly still.

He didn't know what to do.

The last thing he wanted to do was leave, but he also wanted to please Guy.

He started toward the door.

He stopped when his hand was on the door handle.

"I'm sorry," he said, quietly to Guy, "I don't know what happened. I really wanted this night to be special."

"It was," Guy said, still not looking at him, "Thank you."

"Can I call you tomorrow?" Chris asked.

"Sure," Guy said.

"Just so you know," Chris told him, "I have always thought you were very special. I.....I...never thought you

would look at me.....a half-bald, neurotic...with no self-confidence...and when you did.....well...that was the

happiest day I ever had. So, thank you for that."

"Chris?" Guy said.

"Yeah?"

"Please, don't go."

"Okay," Chris said, "But tell me what's wrong."

Chris walked to the window and stood beside Guy.

He wanted to touch him....to hug him...to hold him...but he didn't dare.

Guy looked at him with large, dark, scared eyes.

"I don't know what to do," he said.

"About what?" Chris asked.

"About....you know....about stuff...."

"You mean about......oh.....I see... stuff...." Chris said.

Guy blushed.

"I tried looking it up at the library and I got lots of dirty looks from the old ladies there. I think they thought I was a pervert.

Then I tried looking it up on the internet....I got mostly advertisements and they kind of scared me," he said.

Chris laughed, in spite of himself.

"I did the same thing," he said, "I don't know anything either."

Guy laughed too.

"How about we just figure it out together?" Chris said.

"Okay," Guy said.

 

 

Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 9

 

 

 

Chris and Guy spent every free moment together.

Will and Jonny didn't seem to know that anything was going on.

The didn't hide their relationship, but they weren't demonstrative either.

They had not progressed beyond some very shy hand-holding and neither one seemed to mind.

They were just incredibly happy to be in each other's presence.

One weekend Guy told Chris that he wanted to take him to visit Scotland.

"I want to show you all the little out of the way spots that no one sees," he told Chris.

Chris was smiling as he listened to the passionate way that Guy described the place.

"It sounds wonderful," Chris told him, "I would love to go."

"Let's go tomorrow," Guy said, excitedly, "We can take the train."

 

The train ride was a long one and Chris fell asleep about half-way to their destination.

He was leaned against the shuttered window of the train.

Guy took out his camera and proceeded to snap several shots of a very peaceful looking Chris as he slept.

Chris woke up slightly and turned in his seat so that his head rested on Guy.

"Guy," he said, sleepily, "I am so very glad that we are together."

Then he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Guy reached into Chris' lap and took his hand, bringing it up and pressing it to his chest just over his heart.

He sat that way for the rest of the trip.

 

"Well, what do you think?" Guy asked, as they stood on the balcony of their hotel room.

It was a hotel located in an old Scottish castle that had been modernized just enough to have indoor plumbing.

Chris looked at the magnificent scene spread out before him.

"It's incredible," he said, "I've never seen anything like it. The sea is so beautiful and yet so full of rage. Just look how it throws itself against those rocks. And then..."

Chris turned around, "And then this.....this green, green meadow. It is intoxicating."

"I'm glad you like our room," Guy said smiling.

Chris looked at him.

"Our room?" he asked.

Guy looked out toward the sea.

"I just thought.....I mean....I didn't think you would mind..."

"Stop sweetheart..." Chris told him, "I wasn't complaining. I am very happy with it."

"There's more to see," Guy said, walking back into the room and going to the main door.

"I don't want to see any more, right now," Chris told him.

"No?" Guy said.

"No," Chris said, staring at Guy.

"I want to do this," he said, pulling Guy toward him.

He felt Guy's reluctance and nervousness.

"Relax," he said, softly, touching Guy's face, "It's just a little kiss."

Their lips met and their was nothing little about it.

They both pulled back as if hit by lightning.

"My God," Chris said.

"I can't breathe," Guy said.

Just as quickly, they reached for each other and crushed their mouths together.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 10

 

 

Chris slid his hands up the back of Guys' neck and into his hair.

"You are amazing," he said in a whisper.

Chris felt shaking.

He didn't know if it was him or Guy, or maybe both.

"Don't rush," he kept saying over and over in his head, "Don't scare him. Take your time. Savor the way he taste."

But Chris was fighting against instinct.

All his instincts told him to tear the clothes from both of their bodies and let nature take over.

They were kissing more gently now.

Guy was nipping softly at Chris' bottom lip.

"How did you know that I love that?" Chris asked, in surprise.

"I didn't," Guy said.

"Your mouth is magnificent," Chris told him.

"Sorry for the cigarette taste," Guy whispered.

"I kind of like it," Chris said, "It makes you who you are."

Chris moved his hands down to Guy's neck and traced the line of his cheek with one finger.

"I could just look at you for hours," he told Guy.

Guy slid his hands up Chris' chest.

"I have been unable to think of anything but you and this tight white t-shirt since we got here. It shows everything."

Chris smiled.

"I know," he said, slyly, "I was hoping you would notice."

Guy leaned down and ran his tongue across the thin material of the shirt as it barely covered Chris' chest.

Chris gasped sharply.

"I can't control my self much longer if you are going to be doing that," Chris told him.

"I'm not looking for control," Guy said, looking at Chris with nothing but pure lust in his eyes, "I'm done with that shit."

Chris grabbed him and thrust his tongue deeply into Guy's mouth.

Guy let out a deep moan and Chris felt his entire body relax.

"I want you," Guy said, "I'm still not sure how it is done, but I want to know. I want to touch you, taste you, feel you."

Chris took his hand.

"Join me," he said, pulling him toward the bedroom.

On the short walk to the bedroom, Chris shed his t-shirt and Guy did the same.

Chris closed the door of the room and looked at Guy.

"Now," he said, "It's just you and me and this room. No phones, no people. Nothing but us."

Chris began to unbutton his jeans.

Guy's eyes got wider and wider with every button.

Finally, Chris stood before him, naked.

"My God, you are beautiful," was the only thing Guy could say.

 

 

 

Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 11

 

 

 

Chris walked across the room to Guy.

He put his arms around Guy's waist.

"Are you nervous?" he asked.

Guy smiled and leaned in to kiss Chris on the neck.

"No," he said, "Not anymore."

Chris closed his eyes.

The feel of Guy's warm breath on his skin and the touch of his lips was wonderful.

He had never felt so at peace with himself and with the world in general.

He rested his head on Guy's bare shoulder.

Guy smelled of cinnamon and vanilla.

It reminded Chris of all those little shops at Christmas when everyone baked gingerbread.

Chris shivered a bit in the chill of the room.

"A bit drafty here," he said.

He moved away from Guy and climbed into the big, old bed.

"That's better," he said, wrapping himself in the feather comforter.

Guy looked at him for a long minute.

Slowly, he removed his jeans and tossed them on the floor.

Chris propped himself up on one elbow and watched.

"Wow," he said, enjoying the sight Guy's long lean form.

Chris pulled back the comforter and Guy eased his body into the bed beside him.

Guy snuggled up next to Chris.

"You are warm now," he said, running his hands along Chris' back.

Chris wrapped his arms around Guy and pulled him close.

Then he intertwined his long legs with Guy's.

Guy placed soft, gentle kisses from the bottom of Chris' neck down the middle of chest.

Chris moaned in spite of himself.

He thrust both hands into the soft dark hair of the bass player as Guy made his way across

Chris' flat, tanned stomach.

Chris threw his head back against the feather pillow and bit his lip.

He arched his back involuntarily as he felt Guy's warm breath on his most sensitive skin.

Guy stopped and looked up at him with a flushed face and burning eyes.

It was as if he was asking permission to go on.

"Please," Chris whispered, "Please don't stop now."

Guy smiled and dropped his head.

Chris' mind went blank and he thought of nothing but the feel of Guy's lips on his skin.

 

 

Last one today and a little NC-17 for those who worry about that sort of stuff.

 

 

Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 12

 

 

 

 

"My turn," Chris said, kissing Guy on his stomach.

Guy laughed.

"That tickles," he said.

Chris laughed too.

"Really?" he asked, moving up to bite Guy on his nipple.

"How about that?" Chris asked.

"God no," Guy said, closing his eyes, "I love that."

Chris ran his hand down Guys' back, across his slender hip and down his thigh.

"Shit," Guy said, in a collapsing breath.

Chris kissed him gently as he moved his body over Guy's.

He supported himself on his arms as he whispered into Guy's ear.

"Tell me what you want," he said.

"I want you," Guy answered, "All of you."

"How?" Chris asked, biting him on the shoulder.

"Every way possible," Guy said.

Chris pushed himself against Guy and Guy wrapped his legs around Chris' body.

"Like this?" Chris asked.

Guy couldn't speak.

He just nodded.

Chris gently moved inside Guy.

"Like this?" He asked.

Guy felt like his head was exploding.

"Yes, just like that," he said.

Chris' began to move in a gentle rhythm which Guy soon matched.

"Oh God.." Guy said.

His hands were clawing at Chris' back.

"You feel so good," Chris said.

"Don't stop," Guy pleaded, "Don't ever stop."

Chris increased his movement as he felt Guy's hand on his hips trying to pull him even closer.

"Chris......Chris....Chris..."

It started out as a quiet mantra of pleasure but ended as a scream of satisfaction from Guy.

"Are you okay?" Chris asked, as he collapsed on Guy's chest.

"I don't know," Guy said, "I'm not even sure I am conscious."

Chris just smiled at him.

 

 

Boys Like Girls

 

Chapter 13

 

 

 

 

"Chris?"

"Hmm?"

"How long have you been....you know...interested in me?"

Chris sat up and looked at Guy.

"I'm going to build a fire in that huge fireplace," he said, throwing back the comforter and getting out of bed.

"You didn't answer my question," Guy said, looking confused and worried.

There was already kindling and wood stacked in the fireplace.

Chris only had to light the starter log.

He struck the long match and the wood caught fire instantly.

Chris checked to make sure the flue was open and then he went back to Guy.

"I didn't answer you because I am pretty embarrassed," Chris said.

The room was dark except for the crackling fire and shadows were being cast on the wall.

"Why?" Guy asked.

Chris looked at Guy.

His eyes were reflecting the firelight and his skin was glowing.

"You are so breathtaking," Chris said.

But he could tell by the worry on Guy's face that he wanted an answer to his question.

"Okay," Chris said, "Do you remember that day along time ago....right around the time of X & Y when I was trying to sing Happy Birthday to you in Spanish and ended up singing Merry Christmas instead?"

Guy nodded, "Sure," he said.

"And then I kissed you on the cheek and we were both laughing?"

"Yeah," Guy said.

"It was right before that when I found myself totally enamored with you," Chris said.

"But that was years ago..." Guy said, staring at him.

"See why I am embarrassed," Chris said.

Guy shook his head in disbelief.

"Why....why didn't you say something?" Guy asked.

Chris shrugged.

"I just thought it would pass and then when it didn't....well...all those girls were always everywhere....I just figured you know...that you liked girls."

We are a couple of fools," Guy said, laughing.

"Why?" Chris asked.

"I was already in love with you by that time," Guy said.

The words were out of his mouth before he knew he said them.

Chris smiled slowly.

"Is that so?" he asked.

"I didn't mean to say that...." Guy stammered, "I.....I...oh hell."

Guy sank down into the covers and hid his face.

"Oh no," Chris said, yanking the comforter away and grabbing Guy, "You aren't getting off that easy."

"Forget I said it," Guy said, "Please."

Chris looked at him intently and shook his head.

"No, I'm not going to forget it. It was wonderful. You see, I happen to be in love with you too."

 

 

 

Chapter 14

 

 

"Say it again," Guy said.

"I'm in love with you," Chris said slowly and deliberately.

"You aren't just saying it because we....we..did this, are you?"

"God you are lovely and aggravating," Chris told him, tousling his hair.

"No," he told Guy, "I.... you...we.. did this because we are in love with each other."

Guy smiled shyly.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I don't mean to be such an ass."

"Come here," Chris said.

Guy moved closer to Chris and Chris put his arms around him.

"I'm tired," Chris said, "Let's get some sleep."

Guy closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of the after shave that Chris always used.

He was lying against Chris' chest and he could feel his heart beating and hear his breathing lightly.

But Guy couldn't sleep.

When Chris' breathing became regular and even, Guy knew that he was asleep.

He got out of bed and sat in a chair beside the fire.

He sat staring at Chris for a long time.

"He looks like an angel," Guy thought.

Quietly, he slipped his camera out of his travel bag and took some photographs.

He shot both black and white and color.

(Later when he developed the film the black and white ones would take his breath away.)

Then he slipped back into the bed and lay against Chris' warm body.

"Boys like girls," he thought to himself, "What a waste....who could possible like a girl when there were men like Chris in the world?"

 

 

The end

 

 

 

Tired

Part 4

 

 

 

"I've got to tell you something, Jonny." Guy and Jonny were patiently waiting for the other two members to arrive.

 

"What is it?"

 

"This isn't really going to be a band meeting."

 

"What do you mean?" Jonny asked.

 

"I told Chris we should all get together for a meeting, and told him to call you and I'd call Will... but I didn't call Will."

 

"Why not?"

 

"You'll see," Guy replied. At that precise moment, Chris entered the room, his eyes widened in a crazed-looking manner.

 

"What's wrong with you?" Guy asked.

 

"I haven't slept in four days."

 

"Are you serious?"

 

"I've tried, but I just can't sleep," Chris said, shaking his head. "I keep thinking about... things." Guy slammed his hand down on the table next to him, startling both Jonny and Chris.

 

"This has gone on long enough. Sit down. And you," Guy pointed at Jonny, "you sit down next to him."

 

They did as Guy said, taking a seat on the sofa that was pushed into the corner of the room. Chris sat down first, as he was originally closer to the sofa, and when Jonny sat his hand briefly brushed against Chris' leg. The innocent touch sent a burst of sorrow through Chris' heart. Guy soon followed the pair, though he remained standing, pacing the floor in front of them.

 

"The past week, you two have been acting... strange," he began. "Different. And not good, either. Jonny, you're dropping things left and right. Chris, you look like you've seen some old lady naked. And you're both ignoring each other. None of this is good for anyone, so please, PLEASE, talk it out." Neither Chris nor Jonny spoke, forcing Guy to once again take charge. "Now?"

 

"Real good it did, huh? You certainly look a thousand times better," Jonny snapped with bitter sarcasm.

 

"Everything's worse," Chris admitted. "I didn't know it could be worse, but it is."

 

"It was that bad before?"

 

"Have..." Chris began, then sighed deeply. "Having to hide it... makes me feel like this is something I should be ashamed of. But it's not something I should be ashamed of, right?"

 

"Of course not."

 

"Then... t-the fact that you w-want to hide it," Chris said, his voice beginning to shake, tears welling in his eyes. "It j-just seems like you actually are ashamed. I feel horrible because of that."

 

"I'm not, I swear. Why didn't you tell me you thought that?"

 

"Because it's not that easy. Everyone says I'm sensitive, but that doesn't mean I can tell anyone how I feel at any given time, you know?" Chris looked at Jonny, the tears now streaming as he added in a husky voice, "And I was afraid it was true."

 

Jonny grabbed Chris' hand with both of his and held it close to his chest. "No, it's not true at all. I just didn't want anyone to try to take you away from me."

 

"Jonny, no one could take me away from you." Jonny placed a kiss on Chris' hand, then moved his own and gently wiped away the tears that were falling down Chris' cheek.

 

"You guys!" Chris and Jonny looked over at Guy, who had pulled a chair up to the sofa and was covering his mouth with his hand, his eyes glassy and filled with a touched expression. "I had no idea..."

 

"Of course you had no idea, we were hiding it," Jonny said.

 

"Yeah, from your best friends! Harsh."

 

"Well, now you know."

 

"Will doesn't, though."

 

"Where is he, anyway?" Chris unknowingly asked.

 

"Oh. About that... he's not coming."

 

"Why?"

 

"Because I didn't ask him to."

 

"What?"

 

"Look, someone had to do something to get you guys talking to each other again. Balance needed to be restored to the universe!" Guy exclaimed. "And it looks like it has. You guys! I can't believe this. You're too cute!"

 

"You're too enthusiastic, I think."

 

"Oh, shut up," Guy laughed. "You didn't have to hide anything, you know. Will and I wouldn't care, silly."

 

"I know," Jonny said. "I'm sorry, Chris, for everything I put you through. I should have... I don't know, I should have known you'd feel that way."

 

"I'm sorry, too, Jonny. I don't expect you to know how I feel all the time, and I guess I should have told you earlier rather than take such... drastic measures."

 

"Promise we'll never let anything like this happen again?"

 

"Promise," Chris smiled, wrapping his arms around Jonny. "Nothing will ever come between us again."

 

"Aww!" Guy squeaked, practically looking like a fangirl with front row seats to a Jonny/Chris love-fest. In fact, he looked so ridiculous that the only thing any of them could do was laugh.

 

 

 

FanFiction

 

Chapter 1 &2

 

 

 

 

 

Will, Jonny and Chris were gathered around the piano looking over some new publicity photos when the door slammed hard.

They all looked around to see who was coming in.

Guy was walking fast and his face was red.

He was carrying a black zippered case.

"Hey man," Chris said.

"What's wrong?" Jonny asked.

"You have got to see this shit," Guy said, unzipping the case and taking out a computer.

"I told you....no computers here," Chris said.

"Yeh..that will be the least of your worries when you see this," Guy told him.

Chris frowned and all three of them walked to the table to see what Guy was so furious about.

"It's just one of our fan sites," Will said, "So what?"

"Yeah, it's coldplaying.com." Chris said, "What's wrong with that?"

Guy looked at Chris.

"Have you seen some of the things on here?" he asked.

Chris shook his head.

"You know I don't pay attention to gossip. That's why I don't let computers in to our private space."

"I'm not talking about gossip," Guy said, "There's all these threads with photos and things. That's about like usual but this one with the stories written by the fans...have you seen it?"

"Why?" Jonny asked.

"Well according to these fans you two," Guy pointed at Chris and Jonny," Are screwing all the time and Will and I are too stupid to know about it."

Chris burst out laughing.

"Yeah?" Jonny said, "Let's see."

They all stood and read over Guy's shoulder.

"Whew!" Jonny said, when he finished.

He looked at Chris.

"Do you think I am sexy?' he asked.

"Oh yes, Jonny Boy," Chris goofed, sticking his tongue out at Jonny.

"That's kind of disturbing," Will said, "But harmless."

"Really?" Guy said, clicking on another one, "Read this."

Chris burst out laughing again.

"You and Guy???" he fell over, holding his stomach and laughing.

"Let me see," Jonny said.

"I don't see why not," Will said, "Guy's alot cuter than you and he doesn't talk all the time."

"Don't even joke like that," Guy said.

 

 

 

Chapter 2

"Holy shit," Chris said, aloud.

"What's he doing?" Will asked.

"Still reading those damn fan stories," Guy told him.

"This stuff is great," Chris said, "Some of these people should be screenwriters. This shit is incredible. Such imaginations."

"Yeah, great for you," Guy said, "They all love you. I am either a womanizing drunk or a drug-addict or something else awful."

"I read them too," Will said,"If anyone should be pissed it is me. They never write anything about me. Why is that? I'm good-looking.

Don't you think I am good-looking?"

"Yeah," Jonny said, "Just gorgeous."

Will threw a drumstick at him.

"Careful," Jonny joked, "Or I'll get my lover, Chris, to beat you up."

"Well, I'll get my lover, Guy, to drug you up," Will retorted.

"Stop joking around," Guy said, "It isn't funny."

"Lighten up, Guy," Chris told him, "At least our fans are still interested in us."

"That kind of interest I could do without," Guy said.

"Jonny!! Come here," Chris said, "Here's one about the two of us as teen-agers."

Jonny hurried over.

"Oh my God, "Chris said, turning red, "My mum just caught us.....in the bathroom."

He handed the computer to Jonny, who read on with a huge smile on his face.

"This I gotta read," Will said, going to look over Jonny's shoulder.

Soon Will and Jonny were fighting over the laptop.

"Give it here," Will said.

"I had it first," Jonny told him.

"I'll take it," Guy said, grabbing it from both of them, "It does belong to me."

"But we weren't finished," Jonny said.

"Read porn on your own time," Guy told him.

"We were right in the middle of a good one," Jonny said.

"Fine," Guy practically threw it at Will.

"Chris, you don't have a really good-looking girl cousin do you?" Will asked.

"No," Chris said, "Why?"

"Just wondering," Will told him.

"You got the girl in that one," Jonny said, sounding disgusted.

"It's about time," Will said.

Oh...another one about Guy...."

Guy rolled his eyes.

There was complete silence as Jonny and Will read the story.

"Wow," Jonny said.

"That was sweet," Will agreed, "Too bad he hasn't found a woman like Claire in real life."

They both looked at Guy.

"What?" he asked, angrily.

"Nothing," Jonny said, softly.

 

 

 

FanFiction

 

Chapters 3 & 4

 

 

 

 

"How come they are always writing about Chris' eyes?" Jonny asked.

"I don't know," Will said, shrugging, "They look like regular eyes to me."

"Me too," Jonny said.

"They always write about Guy's butt too," Jonny said.

"Looks like a regular butt to me,"Will said.

They both looked across the room to where Guy sat at the piano.

"Hey Guy," Will said, "Stand up so we can see if your butt is cute."

Guy looked at them and flipped them off.

They both started laughing.

"Do guys really have sex like that?" Jonny asked.

"Why are you asking me?" Will said, fidgeting nervously.

"It was just a question," Jonny said, innocently.

"These stories go all the way back to 2006," Will said, in amazement.

"Look at the title of this one 'Careful Where You Stand'," Jonny said, "Let's read it."

About half-way through the chapters Jonny handed the laptop to Will.

"Here," he said, "I'm tired of reading."

Will looked surprised.

"Don't you want to know what happens?" Will asked.

"No," Jonny said, "Just more of the same, I'm sure."

"What!!!??"Will burst out a few minutes later.

They all looked at him.

"It just stopped," he said, "This incredible story just stopped...no ending or anything."

"Serves you right," Guy said, "For reading that shit."

 

Jonny went home.

He couldn't sleep.

He pictured Chris in his mind.

Those fans were right.

He did have gorgeous blue eyes.

"Shit," he said, "What is wrong with me? I have been brainwashed by fan fiction."

 

Chris went home.

He couldn't sleep.

He thought about how close he and Jonny were.

How he would do anything for Jonny.

How he had written songs for and about Jonny.

"Why did I do that?" he asked himself.

 

 

Chapter 4

 

"Can I come over?" Jonny asked Chris.

"Sure," Chris said, "I think we need to talk."

"What's up?" Jonny asked, when he arrived at Chris' apartment.

"Those stories yesterday kind of creeped me out," Chris said.

"Me too," Jonny said, "At first they were just funny, but then that last one kind of got to me."

"I read it after you left," Chris told him.

“Those days were so long ago…having to sleep two to a bed like that,” Jonny said.

“Yeah,” Chris laughed, looking at Jonny, “But it wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“No,” Jonny said, looking down and fiddling with his jacket buttons, “It was really quite nice.”

“Yeah?” Chris said.

“Well, no one ever got lonely,” Jonny tried to joke, “Not like sometimes now.”

Chris nodded.

Neither of them spoke for a moment and the silence was deafening.

Finally, Jonny spoke.

"Have you ever thought about anything like that before?" Jonny asked.

"No," Chris said, honestly, "Have you?"

Jonny shook his head.

"Have you thought about it now?" Chris asked.

Jonny blushed.

"Yes," he said, "It's all I have been thinking about."

"Me too," Chris confessed.

"Do you think there is something between us that everyone sees except us?" Jonny asked.

"I don't know," Chris said.

"They did get one thing right," Jonny said.

"What's that?" Chris asked.

"Your eyes are very beautiful. I never noticed them in all these years."

"Thank you, Jon," Chris said, "They got one thing right about you too."

"Yeah?" Jonny asked, "What?"

"You are my rock and I couldn't live without you," Chris told him.

"So what do we do now?" Jonny asked.

"What do you want to do?" Chris asked.

Jonny looked at him for a long time.

Then he answered.

"I want to kiss you."

Chris smiled, slightly.

"Thank God," he said, "So do I."

"I guess it's true," Jonny said, "Give the fans what they want and everyone will be happy."

"Yep," Chris said, "Fans always know best."

 

 

The End

 

 

Guilt

 

 

Chapter 1

 

 

Guy was sitting alone in the cold and bare jail cell.

He was holding his head in his hands.

His thin body was shivering in the concrete-lined room.

Suddenly he heard voices out in the hall.

He heard the jangle of keys as a guard approached.

Then he heard Chris' voice chatting up the guard.

Guy knew that Jonny and Will would be with him.

He stood up anxiously and took hold of the cold metal bars that separated him from his friends, from freedom and from everything else in life.

As soon as the other three came into sight, Guy felt a huge rush of relief and warmth.

"Everything will be okay now," he thought.

"How are you doing?" Will asked.

"I'm okay," Guy said, quietly, "Can I go home?"

The other three looked at each other.

"We tried to post bail," Chris explained, "But they say we can't. Maybe tomorrow."

The color drained from Guy's face and he slumped against the bars.

"I have to stay here all night?" he asked.

"I'm really sorry," Chris told him.

Guy looked up.

His eyes were wet with unshed tears.

"It's okay," he said, "I know you did your best."

"Do you need anything?" Jonny asked.

Guy shook his head.

Will reached over and put his hand over Guy's as a sign of reassurance.

"You are freezing," he said.

Chris turned and walked to the guard.

"Can't you give him some heat in that place?" he asked.

The guard shook his head.

"How about another blanket?" he asked.

The guard looked around the corner at Guy.

"He's at least got a cell to himself," he said.

"Screw it," Guy said.

"They won't let us stay long," Jonny told him.

Guy nodded.

He looked at the faces of his three dearest friends.

"I didn't do it, you know," he said.

 

 

Guilt

 

Chapter 2

 

 

 

 

Will looked at Guy in shock.

"We know that," he said.

A look of relief passed Guy's face.

"You do?" he asked.

"Of course," Jonny said.

"It's all some kind of mistake," Chris said.

"There's no way you could do something so...well..we know you aren't guilty," Will said, smiling.

"We will get you out of here tomorrow,"Jonny said.

"And everything will be cleared up," Chris told him.

"I'm sorry," Guy said, hanging his head, "Now it will be in all the papers and the tabloids."

"Yeah," Chris told him, "That is going to be unpleasant. But the main thing is that we get your name cleared."

"Did you call a lawyer?" Guy asked.

Will nodded.

"We got our lawyer to recommend a criminal lawyer," he told Guy.

"A criminal lawyer...." Guy repeated to himself, "I am not a criminal."

"Try to relax," Chris said.

He regretted saying it as soon as the words were out of his mouth.

He actually thought Guy was doing pretty well.

If he was the one accused of a crime, he would be bouncing off the walls and tearing out his hair.

"My brother...." Guy said, "Will one of you call him? I don't want him to hear it on the news."

"Sure," Jonny said.

"Tell him I am innocent," Guy said.

"Okay," Will said, reaching through the bars to rub Guy on his shoulder.

"Time's up," the guard said.

Guy looked at them all with large dark eyes.

He was terrified and it showed through every inch of his face.

"Try to rest," Will told him.

"Everything will be settled tomorrow," Chris said.

"And this will all be like a big joke that we laugh about," Jonny said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Let's go," the guard said, pushing them all out of the hall.

Will squeezed Guy's hand.

Guy held on to Will's hand as long as he could, stretching his long arm out as far as it would go.

Finally, they both had to let go.

 

 

Violent Waters

Chapter 18

 

 

 

 

This girl wasn’t giving me much room to breathe. I wasn’t complaining; her lips were quite soft, and she had just the right mixture of gentleness and energy. “You’re so hot,” she breathed, sucking at my lower lip. She ran a hand through my hair and I eyed her neck. It was so beautiful. I leaned forward and kissed it, at the same time tracing her spine with my thumb. “I want to see your room,” she purred, smiling brilliantly. I felt my stomach drop a bit, but I nodded and took her by the hand.

 

By the time I opened the door to my hotel room, she had started kissing me again. “Mm...wait,” I said breathlessly, kicking the door shut with my foot. I slid my hands under her under her thighs and lifted her up, smiling as I watched her hair fall around her pale, round face. She grinned back at me, her eyes sparkling with lust. She licked her lips and her hand tightened around the back of my neck.

 

“Do you have any condoms? Trojan came out with a new brand called Ecstasy, I’ve wanted to try them...”

 

I nearly burst out laughing at the irony, before I fully realized what she’d said. “Oh...um...I...Jen, I don’t think...”

 

“What is it?” she asked, her face falling. I set her down, and she pushed her hair out of her face. She looked worried and annoyed at the same time.

 

My throat tightened uncomfortably. How was I supposed to do this? I could feel the sweat forming on my brow as I looked at her. “Jen, I don’t know if I can do this.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I was...oh, shit. Well, um...I was...something happened. A few months ago. After that, I just haven’t felt comfortable with...you know.”

 

“Someone hurt you, didn’t they?” she said slowly, frowning. “Did she leave you?”

 

I shook my head despairingly. “It’s not like that. Well, someone did hurt me, but not like that.”

 

“Are you sure you want to tell me?”

 

I looked up into her eyes. They were a pale gray; intelligent and caring. “No.”

 

“How about we take it slow?” she said, stroking my stomach from under my shirt. I took a deep breath and nodded.

 

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “I’ll be fine.”

 

“Don’t worry,” she insisted, kissing me gently on the lips. “I’ll be gentle.”

 

........................................

 

I awoke shivering; it was freezing in the room. Blearily, I opened my eyes and blinked against the bright, early spring sunlight. The only thing covering me was a sheet that was draped across my lower body. I pressed my face into the pillow and groaned, curling up to warm myself. That’s when the night came rushing back to me. I’d actually managed to sleep with Jen without having some sort of post-traumatic flashback! But where was she? I rolled around on the bed only to find it empty. Oh no. I noticed a slip of paper on the bedside table and picked it up, fumbling to unfold it.

 

Guy,

Tonight was wonderful. I loved being with you, but I need to go now to catch my flight. It’s 7 am. I’m so sorry, but you seemed so tired and I didn’t want to wake you. I’ll see you around maybe.

Love, Jen.

 

I moaned and dropped my head back onto the pillow, tightly shutting my eyes. I felt used, maybe even a little violated. My head was beginning to ache, and I felt cold, but I just wanted to lie there and sleep. But then I heard the door open. I swiveled my head around, startled. “Fuck!” I gasped. Will!

 

“Oh, god!” he said loudly, looking down at the floor. “Sorry.”

 

“What are you doing here?” I asked, making sure the sheet was secure around me.

 

“It’s an hour till checkout time, mate,” he said, looking anywhere but at me. “Where’s Jen?”

 

“Not here,” I muttered. “She had to go.”

 

“Was she good to you?” he asked, gesturing to the sheet.

 

“What? Of course, she’s great,” I said, my face reddening.

 

“Oh, look at that. He’s blushing,” said Will, grinning. “So, how did it go?” he asked. Then Will picked up my boxers that were lying on a nearby chair and threw them to me. Embarrassed, I pulled them under the sheet and struggled into them.

 

“She had to leave early.”

 

“Oh,” said Will quietly. He seemed to understand what had happened. “God, it’s so cold in here.”

 

“Yeah,” I shrugged, lying back down.

 

“But...you’re okay? You’re all right?” I nodded reassuringly.

 

“I’m just angry at myself I guess. I should’ve been awake to say goodbye to her.”

 

Will shook his head. “You need the sleep; you still look pale.”

 

“Maybe it’s the cold. If you hold me I might feel better,” I said, holding out my arm. We both laughed, and I felt a little more lighthearted.

 

“You stay and sleep. I’ll talk the front desk into giving you a later time.”

 

“No, man, no...” I groaned, scrambling to pull myself out from under the sheet. I began shivering immediately, and Will laughed, covering his eyes.

 

“You look ridiculous.”

 

I glanced down at myself and realized he was right. Not only was I scrunched up, trying to stay warm, but I also looked like a skinny teenage boy who’d just had his first sexual experience, and had then been caught by his parents. “Would you get out of here, please?” I snapped.

 

“Okay, fine,” chuckled Will, holding up his hands. He straightened out the black shirt he was wearing and made his way over to the door. Before he left, however, he paused to adjust the climate control. “I put the heat on. I mean, Jesus! Was Jen trying to give you hypothermia or something?”

 

“It felt warm last night,” I said, shrugging.

 

“Too much information,” Will said as he made a face.

 

“Sorry. Now get out!” I commanded, pointing at the door.

 

“Chris saved you a mini bagel from breakfast,” he called, slowly closing himself out of the room. “Want it?”

 

“I’ll get it later!”

 

“Are you all packed?”

 

“Will!” I snapped. But he had already shut the door. I wrapped myself in the sheet, shivering. God, that was so embarrassing. Why did he have to do that? He just wants to make sure you’re okay. Why? He cares. Now I feel really awkward. Get over it.

 

 

 

:stunned: It's almost been two weeks since the last chapter, sorry about that I lost track of time. This one's pretty short as well but here it is:

 

 

 

 

A Warning Sign

Chapter Thirteen:

 

 

 

 

 

May – London: Jonny

 

 

When I wake up it takes me a few seconds to realize where I am. I lift my head to find that I’m leaning against April’s lap as she slouches against the bathroom cabinet, asleep. A mess of towels surrounds us on the floor and I look down to see her hand linked in mine, her face streaked with mascara as if she had fallen asleep crying.

 

 

My heart wrenches in my chest at the sight. Why was hurting her turning out to be the only thing I was any good at lately?

 

 

I spot the aspirin on the sink and stand slowly, steadying myself on its ledge as my head pounds painfully. I take the bottle and head for the kitchen trying not to wake her as I leave the bathroom. I know once she’s up there will be questions to be answered, and deservedly so, but I need to prepare myself for what I’m about to do.

 

 

On my way to the kitchen I catch a glimpse of myself in the hallway mirror, startling at my appearance. My clothes are rumpled from having slept on the floor and my hair is sticking out haphazardly. The usual clear green of my eyes clouded and bloodshot, deep circles forming below them from lack of sleep.

 

 

…so much for never drinking again.

 

 

I start to fix myself a cup of coffee and down a glass of water and two aspirin while I wait for it to brew, leaning against the counter in the eerie stillness of the morning.

 

 

Lowering myself slowly onto the soft cushion of the window seat in the living room I take a sip of the coffee with no cream, letting the black, bitter liquid burn my throat as I stare out at the gray misty sky. Setting my nearly full cup of coffee onto the windowsill, I pick up the clean sheet of paper and pen I had taken from the drawer in the kitchen.

 

 

It was the part of morning when the sun was only just beginning to rise, everyone was still tucked warm and safe against their sheets, no concern about the horrors of the world as dew formed on the grass and clouded up the windowpanes.

 

 

Placing the pen to the paper I’m expecting the words not to come; anticipating that each word will have to be dug up and dragged out of me by force but surprisingly, the words pour onto the page, my hand fighting to keep up with my thoughts.

 

 

 

Standing, I hold the sheet of paper with cramped writing filling both sides and fold it precisely in half, taking my time to crease it sharply.

 

 

My life as I know it is over, I’m sure of that. I continue to stare blankly out the window when I feel two arms wrap around me from behind.

 

 

She hugs herself to my back, her hands sliding up to rest flat on my chest and I can feel her plant a small kiss between my shoulder blades. We stand there for a few minutes in silence, we both know what happens next but maybe she’s trying to think about how to approach this after my behavior last night.

 

 

“Do you want to talk about it?” she’s asks with her lips still against my shirt, the warmth from her words reaching my skin. Her touch is soothing and I definitely don’t deserve it but I can’t pull away; I can’t when I know that this is the last time she’ll ever want to be near me.

 

 

I try to memorize the feel of her against me, the way she smells, the fact that she has the ability to make me feel calm and safe in a way no one else can and I blink back tears. Taking a shaky breath I place my hands on top of hers, breaking the embrace and turning to face her.

 

 

I take her hand in mine and give it a squeeze before turning it so her palm is face up, laying the letter on top.

 

 

“I need you to read this,” I tell her and my voice sounds strange as it hits my ears but she takes the paper anyway.

 

 

“For me?” she looks surprised, the corners of her mouth tug into a small smile, her eyes scanning my face before locking with mine. She must see my apprehension and her smile fades, her forehead creased with confusion as she stands in front of the pale light of the window.

 

 

“Just promise me you’ll read it all,” I say.

 

 

I can hear birds now, chirping softly to welcome the day; I imagine children will be waking soon to enjoy the first days of summer holiday, fathers and mothers off to work. The entire world just carrying on, none the wiser.

 

 

April stands there with the letter clutched in her hand, not opening it.

 

 

“What’s this about, Jonny …what happened last night?” she asks, her voice quiet.

 

 

I want to warn her, to tell her to run and never look back, to get as far away from me as possible so she’ll never have to know how much I’m about to hurt her. My heart, or what’s left of it, is threatening to beat out of my chest and the words die on my lips as I sink down onto the couch across from the window, frozen in place as she starts to read it.

 

 

Guilt

 

Chapter 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

The court room was full the next morning at 10 a.m. when Guy was brought in wearing handcuffs like some kind of animal.

Will had brought him a change of clothes but the guard would not let Guy have them.

"These look like they will fit my brother," he said, with a sickening little grin, "Wait until I tell him who they belonged to."

Will, Jonny and Chris had decided not to go to the arraignment in order to avoid a sure side-show atmosphere.

But it didn't help.

As soon as Guy entered the courtroom by the side door flash bulbs went off all over the place.

They blinded Guy and he stepped back and shut his eyes.

But the guards gave him a heavy push into the room anyway.

As they escorted him to the chair at the defendant's table several reporters called out questions.

"Hey Guy, did you really do it?" one called.

"Don't you think you'll get off?" Another yelled.

"Sure, he will," another called, scribbling notes, "He's famous."

Guy just stared at them.

The lawyer that was representing him leaned over and whispered, "Ignore it," to Guy.

The judge banged his gavel.

"No more pictures," he said, "the next person who snaps a picture is going to be held in contempt of court and tossed out of here. I will not have my courtroom turned into a circus."

The judge waited until the room quieted down.

"Now," he said, "How do you plead?"

"Not guilty," the lawyer said.

The judge looked hard at the lawyer.

"I would like to hear it from the defendant," he said.

Guy looked at the lawyer.

He nodded for Guy to speak.

"Not guilty," Guy said, quietly.

Again the court room broke out in chatters and noise.

The judge banged his gavel harder.

Then he turned to the prosecuting attorney.

"Your honor," he said, "We are asking for remand."

"That's ridiculous," Guy's lawyer interjected.

"Your honor," the prosecutor pleaded, "the defendant is very famous. He has friends all over the world. He has the means and the motive to flee."

"Oh come on," Guy's lawyer said, "He is innocent. At least him give him bail for a couple of million dollars."

"A couple of million dollars means nothing to him and his friends," the prosecutor spit back.

The judge cleared his throat.

"Innocence will be determined later. Bail is what we are here to decide today. Unfortunately, I am afraid I agree with the prosecutor. The defendant is a huge flight risk. He will have to sit in jail until as such time as a trial begins."

 

 

 

A Warning Sign

 

Chapter Fourteen:

 

 

 

 

May – London: Jonny

 

 

 

She’s reading the letter as I sit here on the couch, not moving. When she gets about halfway down the first page she stops and turns to face the window, her hand hanging limply by her side with the letter still in her grasp. I watch her shoulders rise and fall more quickly than they had just a moment ago and I can hear her taking deep breaths.

 

 

“This is a trap…” I hear her say softly. She brings her arm up, still facing the window, to continue reading but soon after stops again. Crumpling the letter into a ball she turns to face me and I think for a few fleeting seconds that she’ll throw it at me but she doesn’t.

 

 

Instead, she flings open the window and throws the paper out; it catches in the breeze slightly before plummeting out of sight as she slams the window frame back down with a sickening crack.

 

 

“I want to hear you say it,” she’s fighting back tears and her voice is wavering with anger, or contempt, or sadness or maybe all of them at once.

 

 

There’s a long silence as I argue with myself about how exactly one would say the words ‘I cheated on you’ or ‘I slept with someone else’ out loud. I am trying to figure out how I could say it and let her know that she’s the only person who matters and what happened was unforgivable but that I need her and that I am sorry.

 

 

“April…” I stand up from the couch and move closer to her.

 

 

“You’re a coward,” she says looking straight at me; her brown eyes are glistening with tears.

 

 

“When?” she continues, “Last night? You had Guy make up some bullshit story to cover for you? And I sat there like an idiot taking care of you?” she asks a string of questions, betrayal written across her features.

 

 

“No, nothing happened last night. I went out there to clear my head, I started drinking but it ended up getting out of contol, that’s the truth…”

 

 

“So when?” her arms are crossed tightly in front of her chest as she asks me, her voice sounds detached.

 

 

“It was just after I got back from LA…I didn’t mean for it – I made a mistake - ”

 

 

“You disgust me.”

 

 

I stand there feeling numb. She’s never said anything like that to me before and the sound of those words aimed at me was terrifying.

 

 

“Why did you even tell me?” she asks, her voice almost a whisper. “To hurt me? Why didn’t you just end it, blame it on your inability to commit, anything really, why tell me?”

 

 

“I couldn’t lie to you, I love you and I want to marry you, I can fix this.” I tell her honestly but she’s shaking her head as I speak.

 

 

“No -” she’s starts to pace.

 

 

“No. You couldn’t stand yourself anymore could you? You were sick to your stomach with guilt. You couldn’t keep it to yourself because it would have eaten you alive” she says icily.

 

 

“Coward” she says again.

 

 

“I should have seen this coming I guess. There was all the evidence practically screaming in my face saying, ‘April, he’ll never commit, he won’t ever be ready because he doesn’t have what it takes!’”

 

 

I stare at her delicate frame and can tell she’s trembling, the tears she’s been holding back finally find their way down her cheeks and she wipes them angrily away.

 

 

“I’m not giving you the satisfaction of seeing me break down, Jon. It’s not happening” she says through her tears.

 

 

“At least tell me this – when you came did you scream her name or mine?” her anger is building and I brace myself for whatever happens next.

 

 

“Answer me! Was she at least a better fuck?” she asks bitterly.

 

 

The bluntness of her words wounds me and I feel myself take a step back. I couldn’t even answer her if I wanted to.

 

 

I can’t remember that night; the only memory now is the agonizing sickness that swept over me when I turned to face someone who wasn’t April. I remember running to the toilet to be ill, my insides burning with disgust from what I had done.

 

 

“I don’t remember anything about what happened, I just know that I slept with her.”

 

 

“Her -” she laughs but it sounds hollow, “– her, who the hell even is she?”

 

 

“It doesn’t matter who she is…She’s nobody, it meant nothing.”

 

 

“Why do people always insist on saying that? Oh, ‘it meant nothing’. Fuck you, man.” she’s shaking her head back and forth.

 

 

“Would it mean nothing to you if I went and screwed Guy? Would it be okay because I don’t love him? Maybe I should go and blow Chris while I’m at it?” she’s saying everything she can to hurt me and I deserve all of it.

 

 

“I know that I’ll never be able to forgive myself for what I’ve done to you but I’m willing to hate myself enough for the both of us if you’d just sit down with me so we can figure this out.” I explain and my limbs feel jittery as the fear begins to fully take hold.

 

 

“I’m not saying what I did was okay, it’s not. I just need you to know that it was a mistake. You don’t have to worry because I don’t feel anything for her, I don’t know her...” she doesn’t say anything so I continue.

 

 

“I also know that the fact that I was drunk doesn’t forgive what happened, but I’m human. I’m unbelievably flawed, but you…you are - ”

 

 

“I’m gone.” She’s making her way to the door but I step in her path, putting a hand on her arm gently.

 

 

“April, please. Stay so we can talk about this, I can explain everything if you’d just let me..” I don’t even get to finish my sentence before she jerks her arm away from my hand as if I am some sort of creature to be feared.

 

 

“I’m done. We’re done; there’s no reason for me to stay. I can’t anymore” she says softly, I can hear the resignation in her voice and it feels as though the wind has been knocked dead out of me.

 

 

She’s giving up on me, on everything we have together and I let it happen. Everything was my fault. I dragged her along for almost 4 years all the while keeping her at an arms length, never letting myself fall completely even when she had given one hundred percent of herself and now she had had enough.

 

 

She grabs a sweater from the coat hook and shoves her feet into a random pair of shoes by the door before grabbing the car keys. Her hand is on the doorknob but she stops suddenly, and looks back at me.

 

 

I can just imagine how pathetic I must look but I meet her gaze anyway.

 

 

“I just need to know – what - ” She stops mid-sentence and composes herself.

 

 

“What was it that I didn’t do Jon? Did I not try hard enough? Was I not enough?” she looks at me. My brain is firing millions of different reasons as to why I love her and how much I need her and how she’s always been more than I could ask for but I can’t get the words out, my tongue frozen inside my mouth.

 

 

“Please don’t come after me” she doesn’t give me a chance to respond as she opens the door.

 

 

“I’m an idiot and an asshole and a coward and million other vile things April, but what happened that night didn’t happen because you weren’t enough.” I’m struggling to speak and I feel the tears as they slide hot and wet down my face.

 

 

She pauses with the door cracked slightly, maybe deciding to listen to me after all.

 

 

“I am shit, I’m worse than shit. This should never have happened to us, but I caused it. Please - please forgive me.” I’m pleading with her now but she can’t look at me as she leans her forehead against the door.

 

 

The sound of her sobbing threatens to fracture me for good and send millions of tiny pieces scattering across the floor. I wasn’t supposed to be the one making her cry.

 

 

“Goodbye, Jonny.” She sounds so tired, so unbelievably broken. She doesn’t look at me as she leaves, pulling the door shut behind her. Gone.

 

 

 

Guilt

 

Chapter 4

 

 

 

 

"That sure didn't take long," Will said, shutting off the television.

"We knew it wouldn't," Chris said, crossing his arms.

"It is like they have already decided he is guilty," Jonny said.

"They don't care if he is guilty or not," Chris said, "They only care about the fact that he is in trouble."

"Blood-sucking leeches," Will said, bitterly.

"What are we going to do?" Jonny asked.

Chris shrugged.

"Everyone wants us to lay low. The record company, the PR people, Dave, Phil---everyone."

"We can't just throw Guy to the wolves," Will said, "He needs us."

"Yeah," Jonny said, "He is our friend."

Chris took a deep breath.

"What in the hell do you expect me to do?" he asked, "We do have other people to think about besides Guy."

Will frowned.

"What does that mean?" he asked.

"You know...."Chris said, "We have to think of our futures too."

"Are you saying what I think you are saying?" Jonny asked.

"I'm just saying that we have been saving Guy's ass for a long time...the drinking...and the pot backstage....and other things....maybe....maybe..this time.."

"Don't you even fucking say it," Will said in a low growl.

Chris looked at him with wide eyes.

"You listen to me," Will said, stepping forward and grabbing Chris by the arm, "We will not....not...let Guy go through this alone."

Then he shoved Chris back a little.

Jonny was watching all this silently.

Chris looked to him for help.

"I'm with Will on this," Jonny said.

"But what if he is guilty?" Chris said, "Have you thought about that? Have you thought about what will happen to us?"

"You selfish little bastard," Will said.

"There's no way he is guilty," Jonny said, "I can't believe you can even think that?"

Chris rubbed his eyes with the heel of his palms.

"Shit," he said, "I don't think he is guilty, but someone has to think about what happens if he is found guilty. Just because he is innocent doesn't mean everything will be okay.

The publicity alone will kill us."

"Yeah," Will said, "All I can think of right now is that my friend, my best friend, is sitting in a cold jail cell scared to death."

His voice was a little broken at the end of the sentence.

Jonny reached up and put an arm around Will.

"I'm sorry for being such a prick," Chris said.

He walked to the other two and they hugged.

"We will save him," Chris said.

 

 

 

Chapter 5

 

 

 

Guy lay in the dark, dank, cold jail cell staring at the ceiling.

He had been sleeping briefly.

But the dreams....the dreams....just kept coming.

Each one worse than the other.

Each one more violent and more bloody than the one before.

He turned on his side and tried to stop shivering under the thin, scratchy blanket.

"God, I wish I had a cigarette," he thought.

"I wish I was at home.....hell I wish I was anywhere but here."

Outside in the hall he heard the guards talking to one another and laughing over a shared joke.

He wondered if he would ever laugh again.

He wondered if he would ever see the sun again or smell the clean air of a foggy London morning.

Or if he would ever smell anything again except the smell of old urine and industrial strength cleaner.

"Time to eat," one of the guards told him.

Guy swallowed hard.

The thought of trying to eat anything almost made him throw up.

The guard left the tray by the door.

Guy didn't even look at it.

The guard came back ten minutes later.

"You better eat," he said, "It doesn't get any better than this."

Guy looked at him but didn't say anything.

He heard the guards discussing how much they could sell the food for on an internet auction site.

"But he didn't touch it," one said.

"So what," the other one said, "No one knows that but us. We can sell it for alot. He is famous."

"Just think," one of them said, "This plastic fork might have been touched by a rock star criminal. I could send my kids to college on that kind of money."

"He's hardly a rock star," the other one said, "It ain't like we got Mick Jagger in there."

"Close enough," the other one said, "Who cares if their music sucks?"

Guy sat up from the bed and scooted himself into one corner of the room.

He pulled his long, slender legs up under his arms and tried to comfort himself.

He leaned his head against the concrete wall.

He had never felt so cold in his life.

Cold on the outside.

Cold on the inside.

 

 

Guilt

 

Chapter 6

 

 

 

 

Guy, now wearing the prisoner striped uniform, sat at a table waiting for his lawyer.

The door opened and he came hurrying in.

Guy looked up in the vague hope that the lawyer had good news.

"I've tried everything," the lawyer said, "They are still convinced that you are a flight risk."

"I wouldn't go anywhere," Guy said, "I want to figure this out and clear my name."

"That's very noble," the lawyer admitted, "But prosecutors and judged aren't swayed by that. They already think you are guilty."

Guy looked at the lawyer.

"I didn't do it," he said, quietly.

The lawyer looked up from his briefcase with a surprised look on his face.

"Let's get one thing straight," he said, "I don't care if you did it or not......I just want you to tell me the truth."

"But doesn't it matter to you?" Guy asked.

"Not in the least, "The lawyer said, "It is my job to see that you get a fair trial and if possible to get you acquitted.Whether or not you are guilty is immaterial."

Guy stood up.

"Get out," he said.

"What?"

"Get out," Guy said, again, "I don't want you for my lawyer. I want someone who believes that I am innocent."

The lawyer laughed.

"You are a naive one," he said, "No one is going to believe you are innocent."

"Why not?" Guy asked.

"The evidence is overwhelming," the lawyer said, "The best that you can hope for is that I can get some of it thrown out on a technicality and that the jury never sees it."

"How can that be?" Guy asked, "I didn't do it. How can there be evidence?"

"That's a good question," the lawyer told him.

Guy sat back down heavily.

"My friends, they believe me," Guy said.

"Are you sure about that?" the lawyer asked.

Guy looked at him.

"Yes," he said, "I am sure."

The lawyer took a newspaper out of his briefcase and flung it on the table.

"Maybe you better look at this," he said.

Guy picked it up.

There was a bold headline about the case.

He read the article.

There were all kinds of quotes attributed to Chris, Will and Jonny.

"Those are all out of context," Guy said, "These rags always print stuff like that."

"You better hope that is all it is," the lawyer said.

"They wouldn't sell me out," Guy told him.

The lawyer just looked at him with a disbelieving expression on his face.

 

 

Guilt

 

Chapter 7

 

 

 

 

"I brought you some things," Jonny told him, as they spoke through the phones.

"Thanks," Guy said.

"I don't know how much of it they will actually let you have," Jonny said.

Guy shrugged.

"It doesn't really matter," he said, "I appreciate that you were so thoughtful."

Jonny tried to smile as he looked through the glass panel that separated them.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

Guy laughed a small laugh.

"Probably better than you guys," he said, "At least I don't have the press all over me in here."

"It's not that bad," Jonny said, "We are pretty good at avoiding them. That's why we decided to visit you one at a time."

"Is Chris losing it yet?" Guy asked.

Jonny grinned.

"Chris is Chris," he said, "Will set him straight."

"Will is good at that," Guy said.

Jonny kept his eyes down.

He could hardly stand to look at Guy.

It was bad enough seeing him behind a glass partition like some kind of animal on display.

Bad enough imagining what he was going through behind that big, steel door that they pushed him through.

But his eyes....Jonny couldn't stand the way his eyes looked.

So full of confusion and anger and hurt.

"Do they have a trial date yet?" Jonny asked.

Guy shook his head.

"Maybe by the end of the week."

"Can I do anything for you?" Jonny asked.

It seemed like a ridiculous question, but it also seemed like a natural question.

Jonny's first instinct was always to help.

"Yeah," Guy said, "Tell me that you believe I am innocent."

"Of course," Jonny said.

"No," Guy told him, "Say it."

Jonny looked up at him for the first time.

He was pale and shaking.

"I believe you are innocent," Jonny said, quietly into the phone.

Guy looked like he might cry.

"Thank you, Jonny," he said.

 

 

 

Chapter 8

 

 

"Another visitor, pretty boy," the guard said, kicking Guy's bunk.

Guy stood up and held out his hands for the routine of being handcuffed.

He had no idea who it could be.

The guys had worked out a visiting schedule among themselves to throw off the press and no one was scheduled to be visiting now.

God, he hoped it wasn't his brother.

They had talked on the phone and he had promised not to visit him.

His mind ran through all the possibilities.

The guard pushed him into a seat and said, "Wait here."

Guy couldn't see anything except the wall straight in front of the glass panel.

He stared at the phone and waited.

He heard rustling and looked up.

It was one of his good friends from America.

Guy picked up the phone.

"Hey man," he said.

"Hey," Albert said, "What gives? Stripes are not a good look for you."

Guy laughed.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Ah, just passing through," Albert said, "On my way to a weekend in Italy. We kind of heard about your trouble."

"All the way in America?" Guy asked.

"You are big news every where," Albert said.

"Anyone follow you?" Guy asked.

"Nah, no one knows who we are,"Albert joked.

"Did you visit the others?" Guy asked.

"Not yet," he answered, "I came straight from the airport."

"I really appreciate that," Guy said.

"You look like hell," Albert told him.

"I'm okay," Guy said, "I just want this to be over."

Albert nodded his understanding.

"What happened?" Albert asked.

Guy shook his head.

"I wish like hell I could tell you," Guy said, "But I don't know."

"That's rough," Albert said.

"Do you think I did it?" Guy asked.

Albert laughed.

"You? Hell no..." he answered, "That's crazy."

 

 

 

Guilt

 

Chapter 9

 

 

 

 

"Look I have already answered these questions at least ten times,"Guy said, impatiently.

His lawyer looked up from the notes he was taking on a large yellow notepad.

"And you will answer them ten more," he said, "If it helps me build a defense for you."

Guy took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Riesel," he said, feeling like he had just been scolded by a school master.

"You might as well call me Jack," the lawyer said, "We are going to be seeing alot of each other."

"Okay," Guy said, "Jack it is."

"Now let's go over again what happened that night."

Guy frowned.

"I told you I don't remember much," Guy said.

"I know, but that isn't going to fly with a jury."

"It's the truth," Guy said.

"They don't care about the truth," Jack told him, "They care about how things looks. Perceptions..that's 99% of what this case will turn on."

"How so?" Guy asked.

"Let's look at things from the perspective of a juror," Jack said.

Guy nodded.

"You are rich. You are famous. You have a history of being a party animal. You have a history with drinking. You have a history with drugs...even if it is just pot. You are a relatively handsome fellow. The jurors are not going to sympathize with you."

"But I am just a regular guy," he said, "I can name you twenty other people just like me who aren't rich or famous."

"Yes," Jack said, "It is the famous and rich part that will turn the jury against you."

"That's not fair," Guy said, "We worked hard for what we have."

"Yes, but a jury of mothers and factory workers and regular people who work for minimum wage probably won't see it that way."

"Then what are we supposed to do?" Guy asked.

"Nail down every fact that we can. Be prepared when the witnesses take the stand. Be ready for anything they might surprise us with."

"I still don't remember," Guy said, "I can't do anything about that."

"Yes," Jack said, "That is going to be a problem. There has to be some reason you don't remember."

"Yeah," Guy said, "Because I didn't do it."

"But what about the rest of the night?" Jack asked, "You say you can't remember anything past 9 o'clock? Why is that?"

Guy looked down at the table.

"I don't know," he said, "I just remember going to the pub to pick up my phone that I had left there."

"Did you drink at the pub?" Jack asked.

"No, I don't think so. I was on my way to meet Will and Jonny for dinner."

"And you never showed up," Jack said.

"Yeah, I never showed up, "Guy said, rubbing his forehead.

"And the girl?" Jack asked.

"I never saw her before," Guy said.

"You are positive about that?" Jack asked, "She had your name and phone number in her wallet."

"That's impossible," Guy said.

Jack handed Guy a copy of the piece of paper with Guy's name and number.

"It looks like my handwriting too," Guy said, quietly.

"Yeah," Jack said, "You have alot of explaining to do and no memory. We have our work cut out for us."

 

 

 

 

Chapter 10

 

 

"This time your visitor is a looker," the guard told Guy, "But I bet you get all the girls, don't you?"

Guy ignored him and followed the usual routine.

He saw her as soon as he walked into the visitation room.

"Hello," he said.

She looked like she had been crying.

"Is that all you can say to me?" She asked, through the phone.

"I'm not sure what you want. We haven't seen each other in several months," he told her.

She was a girl that he had dated for several months after meeting in a pub.

Their relationship had been brief but had ended on a good note.

At least that was what he thought.

She was a really wonderful girl but Guy ended up not having enough time to spend with her.

So he broke it off for her own good.

She said she understood.

Still it was quite a surprise to see her here.

"You are quite a bastard," she said, acidly.

"Robin....I...."

"She was my friend," Robin said, "My best friend."

"What?" Guy almost shrieked the word.

"Yes, we were roommates,"She said, starting to cry again.

"I didn't know...." Guy stammered, "Look I didn't even know her," he tried to explain.

Robin looked at him with horror on her face.

"And that excuses what you did?" she asked.

"I never saw her before," Guy said, weakly.

"Really?" Robin said, crassly, "Then how did she end up in your apartment with you?"

Guy shook his head in frustration.

"I don't know," he said again.

She looked at him like he was the lowest form of life.

"I always knew you were no good," she said, "I accepted that when we were dating....But to do this...."

"I didn't do it," he said, under his breath because he knew she already thought he did.

"How do you know?" she asked him, "You can't even remember her...And she was the sweetest girl."

Robin started to cry very hard and put the phone down.

"Robin...please..." Guy was still trying to talk to her.

She picked up the phone.

"Will you at least tell me her name?" Guy asked.

"Good God, you are an animal, "she hissed, "I hope you rot in hell."

 

 

 

The Glass

Part 1

 

 

 

It was so windy. My jacket was zipped all the way, but it was still fluttering all over the place. Maybe because it hung so loosely off me. I had lost a bit of weight since I started exercising (or stopped being lazy, rather), plus the fact that the jacket never fit me right to begin with. I could say that luckily my hair was short, so I didn't have to worry about my curls flying everywhere, but the only good that did was leave my ears exposed.

 

While I was sitting, waiting for the bus to arrive to take me to the restaurant where I was meeting Phil, I observed the ground around me. Piles of the red and yellow leaves that fell from the trees were scattered on the sidewalk. The rough wind brought more and more of the leaves to their fallen friends.

 

In a wonderful stroke of luck, my dear friend Jonny just happened to be walking the same sidewalk the leaves occupied. Now that I think about it, though, he could very well have been meeting with Phil as well. Phil never really told me what we'd be meeting for or who all would be coming, he just told me where to be and when to be there.

 

So Jonny was strolling along, head down, kicking some of the leaves as he went. A few cars passed by, and he looked up as he slowed down in front of the bench. As soon as he saw me, a smiled spread across his face and he lifted his arm to greet me. Then there was the explosion.

 

I don't know where it came from, all I know is that one second Jonny was in front of me, and the next I was laying on the ground. Actually, a burst of flame flew between us, then everything went black, then I was laying on the ground. Sirens were blaring around me, and I slowly opened my eyes. I could tell it was quite some time later, because the sky was darker. It wasn't nighttime yet, but the sun was setting. I couldn't tell where I was. Obviously I was near the bus stop, but I had been sent flying through the air at some point, because I was collapsed on the cold, wet grass that filled the small field behind the bus stop.

 

I had been laying on my stomach, so I turned on my side in order to get a better look at my surroundings. As I did so, I looked at the ground and realised that the grass was wet because it was covered in my blood. A sharp pain revealed itself in my abdomen, the cause of a three inch wide gash just under my ribcage. I fought through the pain as I pushed against the ground, lifting myself up. My one hand instinctively covered the wound, briefly touching a ragged object that appeared to be stuck in my side. I looked at it as best as I could, but with the combination of the blood that covered it and my slightly blurred vision it proved to be an almost impossible task.

 

I needed help. I lifted my head up to look for the origin of the sirens, but I must have been facing the wrong direction. I tried to turn, only to be denied by the stabbing pain. The wind was still going strong, and through my slightly clearer vision I could see what looked like a green hat floating through the sky. Then I remembered that Jonny had been practically next to me when it all happened. I searched as best as I could for his body; he had to be somewhere near me. Judging by the direction the wind was blowing, he must have been to my left. I looked, but saw nothing. Maybe he wasn't thrown like I was? Maybe not as far, maybe farther, maybe he'd already gotten help, or maybe...

 

I started screaming. It was the only thing I could think of doing. He had to be out there, he just had to be. It took all of my energy to scream his name only a few times, but I needed to know that he was there. A few moments later, my desperate cries were answered with a faint, "Chris?" somewhere behind me. This time I turned my entire body around. Sure enough, Jonny was only a few feet away, and what seemed like an eternity away from us was the street, filled with flashing lights and smoke.

 

"Are y-you OK?" I asked as loudly as I could, which was not very loud at all. He was still laying down, but as soon as he heard me, he sat up with almost no trouble at all.

 

"Um... I think so," he replied, swiftly brushing bits of dirt off his torso. "Are you?"

 

"Actually..." I had to think about this for a bit. There was an explosion. I was hundreds of feet away from where I'd been sitting before. There was some sort of pointy thing stuck in a nice, big cut on my side, which was still causing a throbbing pain. A fair amount of my blood was on the ground, and a cool sensation on the right side of my mouth told me that some of it was probably on my face as well. All this, and God knows what else. "M-maybe not."