A Rush of Blood

Chapter X

 

 

Removed, please PM to read.

 

The Escapists

 

Part 5

 

 

 

"WHOA! What happened to your hair?" Paul exclaimed as he sat down in his seat.

 

"I got it cut," I replied.

 

"Yeah, I'll say. Is there even anything left?"

 

"Yes, the lady just cut it too short, that's all." Actually, she shaved it. I went from having about three inches of curls to having less than a centimeter of fuzz. Every time I moved around I could feel this sort of breeze that wasn't there before. And my head felt a bit lighter, too.

 

"It looks good, though," Jonny chimed in.

 

"Thank you. I miss the curls, but I think I might keep it like this for a while."

 

"You're going to have to anyway, until it grows out," he laughed.

 

"Well, yeah." Jonny started to search around his desk, obviously looking for something.

 

"Oh, shit, I forgot my math book. Mr. Adams?" he spoke up, "Can I go to my locker?"

 

"Yeah, go ahead," Mr. Adams answered.

 

"OK," Jonny said, standing up. "I'll meet you out there, yeah?"

 

"Yeah," I replied. He gave me a wink, and I blew him a kiss.

 

"Ugh, shoot me now," Paul moaned.

 

"Jealous?"

 

"Oh, yeah."

 

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll meet a nice girl one day. And then maybe you'll find someone who likes you."

 

After homeroom, I went to meet up with Jonny like I promised. As I walked down the hall, I started humming to myself. Sometimes I do that without even realising. I think other people are used to it, though. Anyway, I was simply walking. Nothing unusual at all, until some guy jumped in front of me.

 

"Where do you think you're going, fag?" he said, shoving me back.

 

"What?"

 

"You heard me," he sneered. "Going to see your boyfriend?" I started to walk past him, but he just pushed me again. "No, you're not."

 

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, trying to remain calm.

 

"It's fun," he laughed. I tried to maneuver around him, but it was no use. He kept blocking me no matter what I did.

 

"Jonny's waiting for me," I said. I don't know what use that information was, but it was the only think I could think to say.

 

"He's gonna have to keep waiting, isn't he?"

 

"You're not gonna let me go at all?" He just stood there, shaking his head. I felt so trapped, and a little frightened. "Can you at least let me go to class?"

 

"Not this way. You'll have to find another way around."

 

"The room's right there!" I shouted. The room really was right there. By this point, I was almost late for class, so I tried to assert myself by shoving him out of the way. Before I could even touch him, though, he grabbed by right arm. His grip tightened until the pain forced me to yell aloud. He finally let go as the bell rang.

 

"Fag," he spat as he walked away. I held my bruised forearm with my other hand and walked into the classroom.

 

I couldn't believe what had happened. I never thought anything like that would happen, since there had been plenty of time for it to happen before the end of the last school year and it never did. Until now. But really, the worst part was that I didn't get to meet up with Jonny. I felt horrible, even though there wasn't anything I could have done.

 

By the time lunch came around, I had nearly forgotten the pain in my arm, but I still could not stop thinking about the incident. I ran over to the table where Jonny was sitting, waiting for me, and began to apologize profusely.

 

"Jonny, I'm so sorry about this morning. I-"

 

"Chris, what happened to your arm?" he interrupted. There was a large purple spot where that guy had grabbed it.

 

"Um... nothing. I just... some jerk stopped me in the hallway."

 

"He did that to you?"

 

"Yeah, he said a few things, pushed me a couple of times, then he grabbed my arm."

 

"What? Why?" Rather than answer, I just looked at him. I couldn't bring myself to actually say it, but I knew Jonny would get it. He has this amazing talent of being able to know exactly what someone is thinking just by looking into their eyes. "Of course."

 

"Oh my," Genieva said. Sometimes I think she's invisible. "Chris, are you OK?"

 

"I'll be fine."

 

"Who was it?" Jonny asked.

 

"I don't know. I'd never seen him before."

 

"Oh, Chris..." Jonny wrapped his arms around my shoulders and pulled me close. It felt so warm, so comfortable.

 

"Jonny, maybe that's not such a good idea."

 

"Right." He pulled away, looking so disappointed. It broke my heart to see him like that, but I just had a bad feeling about how open we were to the world. I couldn't help myself, though, and I quietly reached for his hand. Then there was a sudden loud bang, the result of Genieva pounding her fist into the table.

 

"I'm sorry, these things just make me angry. Why would you hurt someone you don't even know just because you don't like who they've chosen to love? It's ridiculous! And neither of you deserve anything like that, you're both so nice."

 

"Exactly!" Jonny said. "It doesn't make any sense at all, we're not harming anyone."

 

"Maybe it'll just be a one-time thing," I said. Jonny looked at me with his sweet eyes and nodded.

 

"Maybe." We both knew it wouldn't be.

 

 

 

Losing Grip (Part 1)

 

 

 

 

The cool Winter air started to breeze into New York. No more swimming in Lakes. No more hula-hoops. No more sidewalk chalk. It brought a sudden ending to those things, but another beginning to the new things. But where did those new things start? Where was the beginning?

 

This Winter hadn't started so easily for me. I've been scared of everything ever since tragedy struck. Everyday I felt lonely. Killed; inside and out. Deep depression swept over me. I couldn't blame anyone else for what happened. No one but myself, even though it wasn't my fault.

 

There was nothing I could have done...

 

I sat there in the middle of the room, with nothing but thick glass walls. Watching the light snow slowly come to the surface of New York. I was in my Enchanted place. Inside my Enchanted place I was being nothing. I could wash out my mind in my Enchanted place, and I swore I could feel my family with me still. I could hear Apple and Moses foot steps against the floor and Gwyneth was sitting next to me. In our Enchanted place.

 

But when I got up from the cold floor, I realized they really weren't there...

 

 

 

 

Losing Grip (Part 2)

 

 

 

 

I sat on the couch, wrapped in a cozy blanket and feeling frozen by the winter air, which was lurking inside my home. Jonny rushed out of my kitchen with 2 cups of steaming hot tea. He handed one to me.

 

"Thank-you, Jonny." I said softly as I quickly sipped it. As I did, I burnt my tongue, but I didn't even care. It was the least I had to worry about.

 

"No problem. Why don't we watch some TV and just relax?"

 

I didn't answer but passed him the remote. "Tell me when to stop..." Jonny said as he clicked through the Channels. There was almost nothing on TV, but then something caught my eye;

 

There were no survivors of the crash and... Jonny clicked to the next channel.

 

"Wait!" I almost shouted at him. Jonny quickly flipped back to the News Channel.

 

"On the plane was Gwyneth Paltrow, wife of Chris Martin who is lead singer of the band 'Coldplay', and their two children, Moses and Apple Martin. Sadly all three of them died as the plane caught on fire and crashed into the Pacific..."

 

Jonny turned off the TV and I just continued to stare at it. Like it would bring everything back if I did so. I could feel tears start to form in my eyes and I uncontrollably started to cry.

 

I felt Jonny's arms wrap around me, forming a tight hug, "Chris, it's alright. You will get through this. I'll do anything I can to help you. Anything." Now I felt the promise in Jonny's heart, he was so close to me.

 

I know I will get through this.

 

 

 

 

 

Losing Grip (Part 3)

 

 

 

 

I opened my eyes, finding myself awake on an airplane. What was going on?

 

I looked out the window beside me. Around the plane was massive white clouds and a deep blue sky with beautiful rays of sunshine. I looked to my side just to see my wife, Gwyneth, with a bright white smile, and she kissed me on the cheek. I felt so confused. I opened my mouth to ask about what was going on, but not a peep came out. So I tried to move, but I had no control over myself. It was as if I was forbidden.

 

Something was wrong.

 

I smelt smoke coming from ahead. Then I saw it, and it filled the area until all I could see was the thick black smoke hovering all over the plane. I coughed and closed my eyes, hoping it was all a nightmare. Suddenly I heard screams and I was flung all the ways back into my seat and loud siren-like noises rung in my head. I tried to break free from my loss of control, so I could run freely away from this cruel nightmare and I screamed as if I was a victim of a bloody murder scene.

 

I squeezed my eyes shut and all the screaming suddenly stopped and I heard nothing. It felt like a pause in time. So I opened my eyes again and the black emptiness turned into the flaming airplane. I felt the plane tipping down and the flames roared in my ears, along with the screams of the passengers.

 

I looked out the window watching as we quickly approached the pacific ocean. As soon as we were ready to hit the waves, everything went black.

 

***

 

My eyes flung open and I screamed as loud as I possibly could. I fell off of my bed onto the wooden floor. I quickly shuffled up, realizing it was all just a dream. A nightmare. I store down at my bed with the imprint of me and pools of sweat in it.

 

I looked at myself, covered in so much sweat, and breathing heavily. It looked as if I just finished a concert, again. I removed my clothing and quickly jumped into the shower, to help rinse my mind off.

 

What an exciting week it has been.

 

 

 

 

 

New Part:

 

Losing Grip (Part 4)

 

 

 

 

A month had past...

 

I walked down the street and through the thin blanket of snow covering the sidewalk. The snow made me realize Christmas was next month. The most wonderful time of year, as they would say. Well for most people it was the most wonderful time of the year.

 

Just a few days ago, I took a gun out of a small safe I secretly had hidden in my bedroom's closet and sat at the end of my bed, grasping it in my hands. I placed my finger on the trigger and aimed it towards the left side of my head and closed my eyes for one last time... but a call from Jonny interrupted me. I answered it, absent-minded, and as soon as I heard his beautiful voice, I realized that I was going insane and dropped the gun. I couldn't live with out Jonny, not even in Heaven or Hell.

 

I walked up the stairs to Jonny's apartment, hoping he was home. He was usually home this late in the evening, but I probably should have called to see if it was good time for him.

 

I stood by the door for a moment, wondering if I should just to turn back home and forget about seeing him. I slowly extended my arm and knocked on the door lightly, yet loudly at the same time. I heard footsteps approach, louder and louder.

 

"Hey Chris!" Jonny said as he opened the door.

 

"Is this a bad time? I was feeling kind of lonely at home, you know being alone and stuff... and..."

 

"No way, perfect timing, we were just about to watch that Twilight movie!" Jonny said cheerfully as he stepped to the side to let me in.

 

Sitting on the couch was Chloe, Guy, Phil, and 2 girls. I'd seen the two girls both before; they were Chloe's friends, April and Julia. I meet them last time I watched movies at Jonny's house.

 

When me and Gwyneth went to Jonny's house.

 

Jonny closed the door behind me. I slowly approached the couch and sat next to Julia. She had thin, light brown hair that formed luscious waves and brown eyes to match them. She was pretty.

 

"Hi." she said shyly, "You're Chris, right?" Julia asked.

 

"Yeah." I scratched the back of my neck. "You're Julia, right?" I already knew the answer, but I asked anyhow.

 

"Yeah." She blushed.

 

 

 

No Regrets

Chapter 8

 

 

 

Jonny could stand it no longer. He had to know what the doctor had told Chris.

Maybe Chris didn’t want to talk to him or see him again. Maybe he was still pissed.

“But dammit, he at least owes me the truth about his test,” Jonny thought.

And so he went looking for Chris.

Jonny found Chris sitting in the park underneath the tree where they had carved their initials.

He approached him slowly and noticed how pale he looked.

Jonny knelt down beside Chris.

"Tell me the news is good," Jonny said, practically begging for the answer he wanted to hear.

Chris looked at him with a blank stare.

Then he took a deep breath.

"I'm so sorry," Chris said, in a whisper, "So very sorry, Jonny."

Jonny felt his heart drop into his stomach.

"The doctor says I am fine," Chris told him.

Suddenly, Jonny felt himself breathe again.

"That's amazing....incredible.....are you sure?" Jonny asked.

Chris nodded.

"All the tests were negative," he said.

Jonny leaned forward and hugged Chris tightly before kissing him squarely on the mouth.

"It shouldn't have been that way," Chris said, pushing Jonny away, "I should be sick too."

Jonny's brilliant green eyes flashed angrily at Chris.

"Don't say that," he said, with force in his voice, "I won't listen to that shit."

"I want to die with you," Chris said.

"That's bullshit," Jonny told him, "Just some romantic bullshit. This is how life works. This isn't some movie we are in the middle of."

Chris looked at him with a hurt look in his eyes.

"That's easy for you to say," he told Jonny, "You aren't the one who is going to have to find a way to survive alone. You aren't the one who is going to have to deal with the pain and the loss every day for the rest of their life."

Jonny ran a hand across his chin.

"I know," he said, sitting down and leaning against the tree.

Chris stared at him for a moment.

"My God, Jonny," he said, "You really don't look so good."

"I don't feel so good right now either," Jonny admitted.

"I am sorry I made you come look for me," Chris said, moving over to Jonny and putting his arms around him.

"It's okay," Jonny told him, "If I can just sit here for a little while I will feel better."

 

 

ohmigosh, i forgot about this'n

 

previously on

It Could Be Worse...

1-2-3

 

Chris: Do you even know where we are?

Jonny: Uh, maybe. But... probably not... Wait, guys! I think I see a light over there....

 

Person: I'm a huge fan of yours, Guy.

Guy: Awesome! Do you want a picture, or an autograph or something?

Person: Oh, I want more than just that. Yeah, a lot more.

 

Jonny: Oh, no! The light went out!

someone screams

Chris: Oh my god, what was that?

 

 

 

 

Chris: Guys, it's so dark in here!

Will: That's because the light went out, dumbass. Why else would we be investigating?

Chris: Why are you so mean, Will?

Will: Someone's got to be, Chrissy. Someone's got to be.

Jonny: Sh, guys! I think I hear some people talking...

(muffled voices)

Person: Yes, this is the best part!

Guy: Why are you doing this to me?

Jonny: OH MY GOD, IT'S GUY!

Chris: GUYYYYY, YOU'RE ALIVE?

Person: What was that?

Will: Oh, shit, he's coming to get us now! Thanks a lot, Chris.

Person: Who are all of you?

Chris: We're called Coldplay... well, three-quarters of Coldplay. You've got our other quarter in there.

Jonny: Yeah, can we have him back?

Person: No, but you can join us.

Will: Do we have to?

Person: Well, I mean... do you like girls in tight outfits, hmm?

Will: I have been known to like that, yeah...

Person: Then I'm sure you'd love to join us.

Will (to Chris and Jonny): What d'you say, guys? I'm sure it can't hurt.

Chris: I don't know...

Jonny: Well, if it's to save Guy... then OK.

Chris:... fine.

 

will the boys be able to save Guy? will they be able to handle what Person has in store for them?

tune in to the next 'episode' of "It Could Be Worse" to find out! :wink2:

 

 

 

No Regrets

Chapter 9

 

 

Will didn't move.

Neither did Guy.

It was as if they were made of stone.

Or rather frozen in time.

Frozen stiff in the moment when Jonny had confessed his illness to them.

Finally, Guy moved his arm just a little.

"It's okay," Jonny told them, "You are both safe. You can't get it from me."

Will shifted a little in his chair.

"We know that, Jonny," he said, in his usual sophisticated tone.

"What about Chris?" Guy asked, "You two used to live together."

Guy and Will didn't know about the sometimes intimate nature of their relationship.

All they knew was that they shared an apartment in the early days. The same apartment where they all hung out and played music and got drunk.

"I'm fine," Chris said, getting up from his seat by the window and going to stand beside Jonny.

"Are you sure?" Will asked.

"I got tested," Chris admitted, "Just to be sure."

"We shared a beer last week," Guy said. His eyes showing his fear.

"You can't get it that way," Jonny told him, "But if you would feel better, you should get a test. I will give you the name of my doctor."

There was more silence in the room.

Finally, Will spoke.

"So that's why you have been losing weight and have been so tired."

Jonny just nodded.

"I thought that only happened in the last stages," Will said.

"I am in the last stages," Jonny said.

Chris took a deep breath and walked out of the room.

He didn't want to hear any more of the conversation.

Guy jerked his head up and stared at Jonny.

"You mean....you are going to die?" he asked.

"Yes," Jonny said, "Sooner than you might think."

"Shit...." Guy said, quietly.

"This is so surreal," Will said, shaking his head.

"Is there anything we can do for you?" Guy asked.

Jonny looked at the two of them.

"Yes," he said, " You can do something for me. You can look after Chris. And you can look after each other."

Guy and Will looked at one another.

"We can do that," Will said.

"Yes," Guy agreed, "We can do that."

 

 

 

Chapter 10

 

 

Two Months Later

 

"The sunshine feels good," Jonny said.

"It will be spring soon," Chris told him.

They were sitting in chairs in the little garden of the hospital.

"I wish I could see your face," Jonny told him.

Jonny had been mostly blind for a few weeks. The eyesight was often the first thing to be lost.

"It looks the same as it always did," Chris tried to joke, "Big nose and all."

Jonny smiled.

"I know," he said, "I always thought it was really beautiful."

"You were always biased," Chris said, wiping away tears from his cheeks.

"Please don't cry," Jonny told him.

"How did you know I was crying?" Chris asked.

Jonny smiled.

"Because you are always crying about something," he said.

Jonny reached out a scrawny hand to touch Chris.

Chris took his hand gently and placed it over his heart.

"I can feel your heartbeat," Jonny said, "It's such a comforting feeling."

"I want you to know something," Chris told him, "Living without you will be hell. But I wouldn't change any of it. If I knew how this would turn out, I would still choose to live this way. I would still want to fall in love with you."

"God, you talk alot," Jonny told him.

Chris laughed.

"Just put your arms around me and let me rest," Jonny said.

"Do you want to go back to your room?" Chris asked.

"No," Jonny said, "I want to sit here with just you and the sun and the fresh air."

Chris slipped his arms around Jonny's thin shoulders and pulled him close.

"Chris," Jonny said, taking a deep breath, "I love you."

"I love you too," Chris said.

But even as he said it, Chris knew he was talking to himself.

Jonny was already gone.

 

The End

 

 

 

The Escapists

 

Part 6

 

 

Jonny's POV

 

Chris and I were walking home from school. And when I say were, I mean we ended up walking to the river instead. It's so quiet there, away from all the horrible, immature jerks who inhabit the halls of our school.

 

I threw my backpack down onto the dirt and hopped up on one of the rocks. A few moments later, Chris joined me. As I looked at him, I could see a patch of bruises on his arm. It had been a month or so since the first incident happened. Ever since then people had continued to attack us, but mostly Chris. It seemed as though every few days he'd have a new bruise or scratch. I wondered if his parents even noticed.

 

"So... how was today?" I asked. Chris absentmindedly rubbed his arm as he stared up at the trees.

 

"Not so bad. Pretty much the same as every other day. You?"

 

"I found this in my locker." I unfolded a small note that was in my pocket, and handed it to him. It was a pretty crude drawing of myself, with LOSER written all over it. "I actually think it's from Paul." Chris chuckled and gave me back the paper.

 

"It is, I saw him write it. He's an idiot. They're all idiots, really." He sounded so calm. I don't know how he could act so uncaring about everything that was going on.

 

"Do you think this will stop?" He nodded.

 

"One day, people will get tired of it."

 

"And until then?"

 

"Until then, we just deal with it," he said.

 

"How can you just deal with it?"

 

"They hate us... but I don't care about them. I don't care about what they think."

 

"What about what they do? They hurt you."

 

"It's not any different from them calling you names, is it?"

 

"Names couldn't kill you." Instantly, he frowned, and his voice became rather husky.

 

"I... I just want to be with you. Because I love you. I don't want them to hurt me, but I'll take it if that's the price. I don't mind, I just want to be with you." Then he looked at me. His teary eyes revealed all the fear that he had buried inside himself. "But I am scared. I'm scared that they'll take it too far... or they'll h-hurt you, too. That would be worse. Jonny, I'm terrified."

 

"Christopher," I said, wrapping my arms around him and resting my head on his shoulder, "you are so sweet. I don't get why anyone would want to hurt you."

 

"Maybe they're jealous."

 

"Of you?"

 

"Yes, because I have the handsome Jonathan boy, and they do not. So, they're jealous."

 

"I don't think they're all jealous of you, though, otherwise they wouldn't say anything to me."

 

"Well, then a few can be jealous of you, I suppose. But if I were them, I'd be jealous of me."

 

"Would you hurt yourself, too?"

 

"For you? Yes."

 

"Maybe you aren't so sweet, then," I laughed.

 

We were quiet for a few minutes after that, soaking in the beautiful sight around us. The leaves were scattered and scarlet and golden now, but that didn't make it any less amazing. It was just as breathtaking as the first time I had seen it. When Chris tried to run away. I often think that boy is crazy. He probably is. Then, as if to show that he knew what I was thinking, he asked me the most outlandish thing I've ever heard him ask.

 

"Jonny, will you marry me?"

 

How was I supposed to respond to that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*ahem*

WITH A YES, JONATHAN. :whip:

 

 

 

 

 

The Married Man

Chapter 1

 

 

Guy was shopping at the outdoor market that he loved down near Trafalgar Square.

The tomatoes looked particularly scrumptious this morning.

He sat his basket on the floor and grabbed a bag for collecting the tasty red fruit.

"Those things will kill you," a voice said from behind him.

Guy looked around in confusion.

"What?" he asked.

"Those things," the tall dark haired man said, pointing to the packages of cigarettes that were laying in Guy's basket.

"Oh," Guy said, self-consciously, "I thought you were talking about the tomatoes."

The tall man laughed and Guy noticed how his eyes sparkled.

"Not hardly," he said, "Those are my tomatoes."

"Yours?' Guy asked.

"Yes, I sell them to the market here. I am a farmer. Organic farmer to be specific," he said.

"They taste wonderful." Guy told him, "I buy an entire bag of them every week."

"That's good," the man said, "Good for your heart, you know."

"I have heard that," Guy said, smiling.

"My name is Aaron," he said.

"I am Guy," he said, extending his hand for a friendly handshake.

"I've seen you here before," Aaron said.

"Yeah," Guy confessed, "As I said, I come once a week just for the fruit and for these tomatoes."

"You should skip the middle man," Aaron said, "And come straight to my farm. I would even let you pick them right off the vine."

"That sounds like work," Guy said, laughing.

"It could be. But it also can be lots of fun. Finding them is sometimes a trick. And then it is like a little reward when you get one that is just perfect."

Guy found himself staring at Aaron as he talked.

"I almost believe you," Guy told him.

"Ah, don't you know that farmer's never lie. Especially not about their crops," Aaron said with a wink.

"Where is your farm?" Guy asked.

"Not far from here," Aaron said, "Just down on the left side of Jasmine Lane."

"Maybe I'll drop by," Guy told him.

"You might want to call first," Aaron said, "It is a busy place. You know tractors and equipment and stuff."

"Then can I have your number?" Guy asked.

"I thought you would never ask," Aaron said.

 

 

 

The Married Man

Chapter 2

 

 

"What is there to eat in this place?" Chris asked, opening the cabinets.

"I don't know," Guy said, changing the movie in the DVD player.

"I'm having a sandwich," Jonny said, opening the refrigerator.

"Good idea," Will said, "Guy always has those great tomatoes."

"Hey!" Guy said, walking into the kitchen, "Not the tomatoes."

"Why not?" Chris asked, trying to hide one behind his back.

"Because I said so," Guy said, taking them away from Jonny and Will.

"But these are good. Good and juicy," Chris said.

"Then get your own." Guy told them.

"Kind of touchy aren't you?" Will asked, "It's just some fruit."

"No, it isn't," Guy said, blushing a little.

Chris smirked.

He smelled a situation like an animal smells blood.

"What's going on here?" he asked, waving the tomato at Guy.

"Nothing," Guy said.

"I think you must have met somebody who works down at that market of yours," Chris teased.

"Screw you," Guy said, "Do you want to watch a movie or not?"

"No," Jonny said, "We want to hear about your little farm girl."

"Kiss my ass," Guy said, getting in Jonny's face.

"Does she wear pigtails?" Will teased.

"And those really short little cutoff shorts with the pockets hanging out?" Jonny asked.

"I bet she goes skinny dipping in her daddy's pond," Chris said.

"Enough!!" Guy said, "I don't want to hear one more word about it."

The other three looked at each other in surprise.

Guy was usually so quiet and not so shy about discussing his girls.

"Let's watch a movie or you guys can get the hell out of here," Guy told them.

 

Two hours later, the guys had all gone to their respective homes.

Guy sat on his sofa tearing the label from the bottle of beer he was drinking.

He always did that when he was nervous.

He took out the phone number that Aaron had scribbled on the back of a receipt.

Guy looked at it for several minutes.

He picked up his phone.

He put it down.

He picked it up again.

Finally, he got the nerve to dial the numbers.

Aaron didn't answer right away and Guy was about to hang up when he heard Aaron's voice.

"I'm glad you called,"Aaron told him, sounding very tired.

"If this is a bad time..." Guy started to say.

"Nonsense," Aaron told him, "Anytime is good to hear from you."

 

 

 

The Married Man

Chapter 3

 

 

"This place is amazing," Guy said, standing with his hands on his hips.

"This is the busy season," Aaron said.

"Everything is so green," Guy said, scanning the fields of corn and other crops that were laid out before him.

"The blessings of all this English rain," Aaron said.

"And your house," Guy said, turning around to look at the traditional wooden farmhouse, "It's really beautiful. I love the swing on the porch."

"It is very peaceful," Aaron said, "Come on inside. I'll get you something to drink."

They entered the house through the kitchen door.

It was a neat, clean old-fashioned kitchen.

"Beer?" Aaron asked.

"Sure," Guy nodded, taking off his sunglasses.

"Is this your family home?" Guy asked, looking at the photographs hanging on the wall.

"Oh, no," Aaron said, handing the beer to Guy, "This house belongs to my wife's family."

Guy turned around and looked at him in total surprise.

"Your wife?" he asked.

"Yeah," Aaron said, leaning against the counter and blushing a little, "My wife."

"Is she here?" Guy asked.

"No, she has gone to Manchester for the summer," Aaron said.

"For the entire summer?" Guy asked.

Aaron nodded.

"She goes away every summer to stay with relatives. We are so busy here that....well...it is good for her to go."

Guy took another drink of his beer.

"Well, thanks for the tour," he told Aaron, "It was really interesting."

Aaron looked up.

"You aren't leaving, are you?" he asked.

"Yeah," Guy said, "I have to get back."

"It's because of my wife, isn't it?" Aaron asked.

Guy didn't know what to say.

"Well, it is a little odd," he admitted, "I just must have misunderstood the situation."

Aaron smiled at him.

"No," he said, "No you didn't misunderstand. I was flirting with you. I wanted to get to know you better."

Guy looked around nervously.

He didn't really know what to say or do.

"I don't get involved in things like this," he said, "I feel really guilty about this."

Guy turned to go.

"Please," Aaron said, putting his hand on Guy's arm, "Don't go. Let me explain."

 

 

 

For those who were interested: more of the World War II story.

 

 

Blood and Stone

Chapter 13

 

 

Christmas, 1941

 

"Shit I am nervous," Chris said.

Why?" Jonny asked him, "We have rehearsed and practiced. We have good songs. We are ready."

Chris was staring at himself in the mirror and desperately trying to force an unruly curl to join the others and lie flat.

"This could be it," Chris said, "This could be our big chance. It isn't everyday that someone like Glenn Miller is going to be in our audience."

The door opened and a gust of freezing cold air entered the long barracks room accompanied by Guy.

"Shut that damn door," Chris said.

"Calm down," Guy told him, "One gust of air won't ruin your vocal chords."

He sat down heavily on Chris' cot.

"Don't sit there," Chris whined, "I just made it up for inspection....hospital corners and all."

Guy rolled his eyes at him and Jonny laughed.

"He's a bit nervous," Jonny told Guy.

"Screw that," Guy said, casually, "A German with a machine gun is a reason to be nervous. After that, nothing is too upsetting."

Chris turned to look at him with large eyes.

"I forgot all about what you went through during that evacuation in France. I am kind of ashamed now," he told him.

Guy shrugged his shoulders.

"At least, I wasn't captured," he said, looking away, "Not like those Americans on Wake Island. I shudder to think what the Japanese will do to them in those prison camps..if they even live long enough for that."

"I heard that they were being tortured," Jonny told him.

Guy looked up at Jonny.

"I heard that too," he said, "I would rather kill myself than be taken prisoner by those people."

The door opened again.

Will came striding in. He was wearing his nicest dress uniform.

Jonny let out a low whistle.

"Somebody got all fancied up," he said.

Will walked over and smacked him on the head with his hat.

"I can't wait to get out of these clothes," he said, "We better hurry up. I have to be back at the flight line in two hours."

"Another bomb run?" Guy asked.

Will nodded.

"Where to?" Chris asked.

"Bremen is what the scuttlebutt says," Will told them, "But nothing is confirmed yet."

"Damn that's a long flight over enemy territory," Guy said, "You are sure to lose some planes."

"Yeah," Will said, "I know. I am the only mechanic that hasn't lost a crew. The odds will catch up with me sooner or later."

No one said anything for a few seconds.

"Well hell," Chris finally said, "Let's go impress the hell out of Mr. Miller."

 

 

 

Chapter 14

 

 

June 1942

 

"You know this being in the military isn't so bad after all," Chris told the other three as they sat in the bar of the Hotel Savoy in downtown London.

"All patriotic and gung ho are you now?" Will asked.

"Look around," Chris told him, "We all got 24 hour passes, together. There are girls everywhere who are checking us out in our uniforms. We got rooms at the swankiest hotel in town for practically nothing and everywhere we go people are buying us drinks and treating us like heroes. I could get used to living like this."

Guy shook a cigarette free from his pack and lit it.

"That's all well and good," he said, "But you haven't done anything to deserve all that nice treatment."

Chris looked at him and frowned.

"I think standing over a hot stove for eight hours a day should be classified as combat pay," he told Guy.

They all laughed.

"Definitely it should be for the other cooks who are around you," Will told him.

Two pretty young women in the sky blue uniform of British WRENS approached the table.

"Hello," the dark-haired one said, "Would any of you gentlemen care to dance?"

"Sure," Will said, standing up.

"What about you?" the redhead asked Guy.

He turned a little bit to face her.

"Maybe later," he said, "I am just relaxing with my friends."

She stared at him for a few extra seconds and then turned to Jonny.

"How about you green eyes?" she asked.

Jonny blushed slightly and smiled.

Chris and Guy sat quietly watching the other two dance with the girls.

"I might as well tell you now," Guy said, "There is talk of an invasion. And my unit will be one of the first to go."

Chris fiddled with a book of matches lying on the table.

"Can you tell me where?" he asked.

"Nothing is official yet," Guy said, taking a last puff on his cigarette.

"I know," Chris said, "It's never official until it's over. That's the army way."

Guy pushed his chair back from the table and stood up.

"I think it is my turn to dance with that girl and rescue Jonny," he said.

Chris looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Where will the invasion be?" he asked.

Guy looked around the room.

"Africa," he said, quietly, "Somewhere on the coast of North Africa."

"But that's where the German Armored Corps is," Chris said, "And your unit is just lightly armed paratroopers. You will be annihilated."

Guy nodded.

"Yeah," he said, "It won't be pretty."

 

 

Blood and Stone

Chapter 15

 

 

November 1942

 

Guy was surprised.

He always expected that if he was wounded there would be alot of pain.

There wasn't any.

One minute he was running across the open sand to take cover behind a large rock.

The next minute he was on the ground.

He felt a little weird and he tried to move.

"Stay put!" someone yelled.

That actually sounded like a very good idea.

He just shut his eyes and suddenly felt like he could sleep for a week.

 

Guy woke up two days later to a gentle swaying.

He tried to look around to see where he was but his head didn't feel so good.

"Hi there," a sweet female voice said, putting a cool hand on his forehead.

"Am I dead?" Guy asked.

She laughed at him.

"No," she said, "You are on a hospital ship. On your way back to England."

"So you are real?" he asked.

"Yep," she said, checking his IV bottle.

"Then will you marry me?" he asked, "You are beautiful."

She laughed again.

"Well, I would," she said, "But I am kind of busy. That's the fourth proposal I have had today."

"Forget the others," he said, sleepily, "I really love you."

She wiped his face with a damp cloth.

"That's the morphine talking," she said, "Once it wears off I will be just another girl."

"What's your name?" he asked, in a slurred voice.

"Molly. My name is Molly. What's yours?"

Guy's head felt like it was full of cotton. He searched through his thoughts but could not remember his name.

"I don't know," he said.

She smiled at him softly and gently picked up his I.D. tag.

"Your name is Guy," she told him.

"That's right," he said, "Guy. I always thought that was such a stupid name."

"Oh," she said, "I think it is quite lovely."

"I'm going to sleep now," he told her, "And I am going to dream about you."

She laughed at him again.

"I'll check on you later," she said, tucking his blanket in.

 

 

 

Chapter 16

 

 

March 1943

 

Jonny was sitting in his usual place in the radio room studying code tables.

In his opinion he had drawn the easiest and also the most boring assignments.

It was his job to keep track of all the radio traffic that passed between the huge flights of B-17 bombers and their little fighter escorts.

Which meant alot of reading and calculating time and distance and rallying points and all other kinds of numbers and statistics.

In other words----boring as hell.

At times it felt like everyone else was contributing something and he was stashed away in this little room.

That is until the day he got word to report to the flightline.

"We are pitifully short of radio operators for these bombing runs," the commanding officer told him, "We have been losing air crews at an alarming rate. We need you to serve as a substitute until new operators can be trained."

"I don't know how to operate the machine gun," Jonny told him. Jonny knew that every radio operator also was in charge of operating the machine gun near his post.

"Don't worry about that," the officer told him, "Just be ready and up to speed on that radio. Your first mission will be tomorrow."

Jonny felt a tremendous combination of excitement and fear as he hurried over to the flight line to tell Will the news.

Will was less than thrilled.

"Dammit, they can't do that," he told Jonny.

"Why not?" Jonny asked, "I know all about the radio."

"Yeah, but it's too dangerous," Will said, "I see it everyday. Planes half shot up with most of the crew dead. Planes that are too damaged to land. And that doesn't even cover the planes that get shot down or blown up."

"I'll be fine," Jonny told him.

"Have you told Chris yet? Or Guy?" Will asked.

"No," Jonny said, "I came straight here to tell you."

 

Chris and Guy were pacing back and forth near the control tower waiting for word on how Jonny's mission was going.

"Shouldn't we have heard something by now?" Chris asked Will.

"Look around," Will said, gesturing toward the large crowd that had gathered, "All these people either have friends or crews out there on a bomb run today."

"If anything happens to him.....I'll..." Chris didn't finish. He just started pacing again.

Suddenly they heard shouting and saw people running.

"What is it?" Guy asked.

"Planes are starting to come back," Will said, "Come on."

They waited and waited.

Half an hour later, they saw Jonny's plane come into view. They had all memorized the tail number of the huge bomber.

"I don't see any damage," Will said, "The plane appears to be in good shape."

As the wheels locked and touched the runway, Guy, Will and Chris ran out to the plane.

Jonny was the next to the last one off. The pilot always being the last to leave the aircraft.

"How was it?" Chris asked, grabbing Jonny and hugging him. And making sure he wasn't injured.

Jonny smiled.

"Fucking awesome," he said.

 

 

The Escapists

 

Part 7

 

 

 

Would I marry Chris...

 

...Could I marry Chris? This may seem like a silly question, but it felt like an appropriate one. We are both guys, and I don't think they allow that sort of thing to happen. Not yet, at least, and that could very well change in the future. For now though... well, I suppose that question is unimportant...

 

...Should I marry Chris? The big one. Where to start...

 

I love him. I really do. There isn't a minute that goes by that I don't think about Chris and his absolute beauty. The hair, the eyes, the goofy smile, the uncanny ability to make me laugh no matter what.

The way he raises his eyebrows when he talks. The way he says my name.

The way his eyes light up when he's excited. The way he doesn't care what other people think.

That beautifully hypnotizing voice.

That endearing self-deprecation.

That ridiculously adorable gap in his front teeth.

The fact that he loves me too.

Who could ask for more? Is there even more to ask for?

 

If Chris and I spend the rest of our lives together... that would be so nice. Magnificent. And we'd always be there for each other, of course, when things get tough. Be a shoulder to cry on, be someone to talk to about anything, everything. Whatever. But not just that. Our lives are rough now, even, and it's not just that. Someone to make you smile, if not only on the inside. Happy times, bad times, and all the times in between. We'd be so perfect for that.

 

And if we got married, none of that would change. I wouldn't love Chris any more or less than I already do. No ceremony, or ring, or gift registry will change that.

 

Ah, there it is. If nothing would change, then what's the harm? Why not say yes? It would feel no different to me telling him that I love him in front of a bunch of people than it does when we're alone. But...

 

"We're a bit young, don't you think?" I sat up and turned to sit facing him. At first I was afraid of how he would react, but he seemed to do well.

 

"Yeah, but... that shouldn't matter. And I didn't mean we'd have to get married right this second... or as soon as we're legally old enough. Though, that would be nice," he added.

 

"You would still want to marry me even though you keep getting beat up because of me?"

 

"Uh, duh."

 

"... Why?"

 

"Does the word LOVE," he said, moving his arms in the shape of a giant heart, "mean nothing to you, Jonnyboy?"

 

"Well, I mean-"

 

"Would you fight someone, physically fight someone, to defend me?"

 

"Well, yea-"

 

"No, you wouldn't," he said, tapping my nose with his index finger. "Because I wouldn't let you."

 

"That's a little controlling, isn't it? I'm not sure I want to be married to someone who's so controlling. I don't want to be suffocated." He laughed, grinning his goofy grin as he did so.

 

"If I promise not to suffocate you, will you marry me?"

 

The big one. Biggest of them all.

 

Would I marry Chris...

 

"Yes."

 

 

 

Lessons in Perception

 

Just a little short story. (Jonny's POV)

 

 

 

 

I gently wrapped my hand around Guy’s skinny wrist, although I knew he wouldn’t like me doing it. Sure enough, he made a small noise of annoyance and slipped his arm away from mine. “Sorry,” I muttered. Guy shrugged slightly and tried to disguise the movement by scratching the nape of his neck.

 

“It’s nothing. But I don’t need you to baby me, okay?” He tried to sound final, but his voice just didn’t carry much weight behind it.

 

“I know you know, mate,” I said, smiling. I wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and I felt him jerk slightly, then stiffen.

 

“Don’t do that. You startled me.”

 

I apologized again, but I didn’t let him go. Guy seemed to realize that I was going to help him whether he liked it or not, so he just stayed silent. “Wanna stop at Starbucks really quick?” I asked, noticing one of the cafés at the street corner. Guy stopped walking for a moment, and I watched his head turn slightly, as if he were watching something.

 

“If you want,” he said quietly.

 

I held the door open for him, and he thanked me, probably out of obligation. He absolutely hated it when I babied him, but I didn’t know what else to do.

 

“Order for me, Jon?” he asked, running a hand carefully over the back of a chair. “I’ll have a cappuccino.”

 

“Yes, sir,” I said. “Shall I grind the beans myself or is it okay if they do it?”

 

“Shut up,” he sighed. But even as he said it, I noticed his smile. He lowered himself into the chair and promptly started scratching at his fingernails as I got a place on line.

 

By the time I made it back to him, he was resting with his head on his arm. “Guy...”

 

“Oh, you’re back. What took you so long?”

 

“Do you see how many people are in here?” The moment the words slipped past my lips, I realized my grave mistake. The corner of Guy’s lips twitched, and for a moment, he looked as if he were about to cry. But then he smiled.

 

“No, mate. I wish I could, though.”

 

“I’m sorry...”

 

“It’s okay,” he whispered, holding out his hand for the coffee. I carefully let the cup brush his fingers and he plucked it from my hands without much hesitation. I was silent for a few moments, frowning deeply. “Are you sulking?” he asked, raising a hand tentatively.

 

“No...”

 

“Do you mind?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

Gingerly, Guy reached forward and ran his fingertips across my face, especially around my forehead.

 

“You are sulking,” he corrected. Then he sighed, taking a tentative sip of his drink. “I’m blind, Jon, I’m not stupid.”

 

For a moment, I was silent. “Are you sure about that?”

 

For the first time that day, Guy laughed.

 

 

Blood and Stone

Chapter 17

 

 

August 1943

 

"I have had enough," Chris said.

"What's your problem now?" Will asked.

Chris opened his locker door and pulled out a clean t-shirt.

He was tired and hot and worst of all, he was bored.

"I am sick of working in that damn kitchen all day. All I do is peel potatoes. Guy gets wounded. Jonny gets to go on bombing missions. And you...well you have the coolest job of all. Meanwhile I sit here....peeling more damn potatoes.

Will looked at him and frowned.

"So you want to get shot?" he asked.

Chris slammed his locker door shut.

"No, smart ass," he said, "But I want to do something besides this. I can see it now. My kids ask me what I did in the war. I can tell them I peeled potatoes."

"What kids?" Guy asked, "You don't have any kids."

Chris turned and looked at him and stuck his tongue out at him.

"No, but I expect to some day," he said, sarcastically.

"You have to go on a date first," Jonny quipped.

The other three laughed.

"Fine," Chris said, "Make jokes. But I heard these two guys talking today while they were in the chow line. Seems there is a shortage of medics. I am thinking of transfering to the medical corps."

Will, Guy and Jonny all looked at each other and then at Chris.

"Is that a good idea?" Will asked.

Chris put his hands on his hips and flashed his huge eyes at Will.

"Don't you think I can do it?" he asked.

"I don't know," Guy said, "Those guys.....they see alot of awful stuff."

"And......" Chris asked.

"And you are kind of sensitive about stuff like that," Jonny told him.

"Screw you," Chris said, "I am as tough as anybody."

"Well, if you really want to do it, then I think you should," Guy told him.

"What?" Will asked, slapping Guy on the head.

"Why not?" Guy asked.

"Would you want him treating you if you were injured?" Jonny asked.

Guy shrugged.

"Might as well be him as anybody else."

"Hey," Chris said, "That's enough. I just really want to do something more useful than being a cook. I don't believe in using guns so I would be of no use in the army, but I could be of use as a medic."

"That makes sense," Will said, "We are sorry for being so hard on you."

 

 

 

Chapter 18

 

 

November 1943

 

"Get up," Chris said, slapping Guy on the arm, "Let's go."

Guy groaned.

"I don't want to go to another dance," he said, "I am tired."

Will grabbed his legs. Jonny grabbed his arms. And they jerked him off his cot.

"It will be fun," Chris told him, "I met some great nurses in medic training. We are meeting them there."

Guy took a deep breath.

"Okay," he said, "For a little while. But then I have to get some sleep. We are training hard for the invasion, you know."

"Yeah, yeah yeah..." Chris said, "The invasion of France that everyone talks about, but never seems to happen."

 

Guy recognized her before she turned around.

"You two know each other," Chris asked.

"Well, sort of," she said, smiling sweetly, "He proposed to me once."

Guy laughed and she saw how his eyes sparkled.

"Yeah," he joked, "But that was just because you had me at your mercy in that bed."

Chris, Will, Jonny and the other three friends of Molly all had bewildered looks on their faces.

"What is going on here?" Chris asked.

Guy and Molly ignored him and the others and just smiled at each other.

"Let's dance," she told him, grabbing his arm.

"I hate when he does that," Will said, looking after them.

"You know what it is, don't you?" Chris asked, "It's those damn paratrooper wings. Women fall for them every time."

 

"I am glad to see you in an upright position," Molly told Guy.

"I am glad to see that you didn't marry one of those other guys," he joked.

"Now why would I do that when I was waiting for you?" she said.

"You really are beautiful," he told her, "And I am not even drugged on morphine this time."

"It's the uniform," she said, "Men always fall for a woman in uniform."

Guy laughed.

"Let's get out of here," he told her.

"I am not that easy," she joked.

"I just want to talk to you," he said.

She raised one eyebrow and smiled at him.

"Damn," she said, "I never could resist a gorgeous man with a brain."

"It's just possible that I do love you," Guy joked.

"Awfully impulsive, aren't you?"

"Why?" Guy asked.

"You know nothing about me. You don't even know my last name."

"What difference does it make what your last name is now?" Guy asked, "It will be the same as mine soon enough."

 

 

Blood and Stone

Chapter 19

 

 

June 5, 1944

 

"How long have we been on this damn ship, Jonny?" Chris asked.

"Two days and six hours," Jonny said, looking at the clock.

"I am starting to get seasick," Chris told him.

"We haven't even left port yet," Jonny said.

"I'm going to go mad sitting here just waiting and waiting."

"Well, they have to wait for the storm to clear the channel before we can go," Jonny said.

Chris looked at Jonny.

"Do you really think this is it?" he asked, "Or is this just another training exercise?"

Jonny threw down the deck of cards he had been shuffling.

"This is it," he said.

Chris took a deep breath.

"I am scared, Jonny," he said.

"Me too." Jonny admitted.

 

Guy and some other paratroopers were hanging around the outside of the airplane hanger.

His parachute and rifle lay on the ground.

"It's almost midnight," his friend said, "We should know soon if we are going or not."

Guy lit a cigarette and nodded.

"Rain has stopped," he said, looking at the sky, "If we don't go tonight, we will have to wait another month before we get a no moon period."

"Let's just go," another one, said nervously.

"Here comes the captain," Guy said, putting out his cigarette, "Maybe he has news."

"Okay, boys," the captain said, "The word is that we are going. Get your gear and get on the plane."

Guy shrugged into his parachute pack.

"Check me over," he said, to his friend.

It was standard procedure that each paratrooper checked the gear and parachute of another jumper.

"Looks good," his friend said, "Check me."

"You have a loose strap," Guy told him, tightening it for him.

"Thanks man," he said, "I wouldn't have had a very good landing in France with half a chute."

As they made their way to the big C-47 transport plane they could see the gliders lining up behind them.

"Those guys are the ones that are crazy," his friend said, "Going into battle in a glider?"

"I sure as hell wouldn't do it," Guy said, "My friends think I am crazy for jumping out of planes."

 

The transport ship was slowly making its' way out of the harbor.

Chris and Jonny stood on deck with thousands of other soldiers.

"Shit, Jonny, look at all these ships," Chris said, "There must be more than a thousand of them."

"How can they not know we are coming?" Jonny asked.

Chris shook his head.

"I don't know," he said, "But all I can think about is Guy jumping out of that plane in total darkness over enemy territory."

"At least Will is safe back at the airfield," Jonny said.

Just then they heard the roar of approaching aircraft.

Everyone on deck looked up at the black sky.

"It's the paratroopers," Chris said, "They are on their way."

As the planes passed over the convoy of ships, each one was blinking out the morse code for "V" for victory.

 

 

 

Chapter 20

 

 

October 1944

 

Dear Molly:

 

I have never seen such a flat landscape as it is here in Holland. They said that this drive for the bridges would

be a cakewalk. No one realized we were going to land right on top of a resting panzer division. Everyone was so excited

that we were jumping in daylight. Seemed like a bad idea to me. For the record, I prefer jumping in the dark. I don't like

seeing the ground coming up to meet me.

I have seen Chris once. We actually ran into each other by accident at an aid station. Don't panic....neither one

of us were injured. He was doing his usual medic job and I was there picking up some first aid supplies. Despite all

our misgivings, he really seems to be enjoying his job. Who would have believed that? He is tan and fit and talking up

a storm as always.

Jonny is somewhere back in England. I think Chris said he had one letter from him since Normandy. I know that you

and Will are keeping in touch so I will ask that you share this letter with him. (or at least this first part of it.)

Now this part is just for you, sweetheart.

Sometimes at night I lay in my foxhole and just think about you. I make plans for what we are going to do after the war.

I already told you that I want to get married as soon as the war is over. I think about what we will be like when we are

ninety-five years old, watching our kids and grandkids and great-grandkids grow up. I think about how beautiful you will be

with gray hair. It will look good with your blue eyes. And then I think about all the incredible years that we will have in between.

I think about how cute our little girl will be if she sasses me the way that you do. I think about how hard it will be to make her

behave when she smiles at me like you do. I think about how much trouble we will be in if we have a son who behaves the way

I did when I was younger. Thank God you are patient. I am planning on six kids. For starters, anyway. Of course, that is just

an approximate number. You do get to have some input into that decision. I have always liked the names Joseph, Benjamin,

Shannon and Elizabeth. You can decide on the middle names.(ha ha)

Tomorrow we are starting another drive in support of Thirty Corps. Rumors keep swirling that we will be taken off the line soon.

Hell, we aren't infantry. We are the elite troops. We have already been here longer than we should have been. And those rumors that

the war will be over by Christmas are so far off the mark. The Germans are still fighting and fighting hard.

Meanwhile, I love you very much and can't wait until we are together again.

 

Guy

 

P.S. You can show this entire letter to Will. I don't care if he knows what I say to you.

 

 

Blood and Stone

Chapter 21

 

 

December 1944

 

Chris was sitting or rather laying across a table in the hotel restaurant in Paris.

Jonny and Will were sitting at the table with him.

"I haven't been this drunk in ages," Chris moaned, trying to hold his head up.

"Well it has been quite awhile since we all got together," Will said.

"I thought Guy was coming too," Jonny told him.

"He is," Will said, "He just had to check in with his unit first."

Just then the door of the restaurant opened and Guy came strolling in.

"I am so jealous of that red beret you get to wear," Chris told him.

Guy laughed.

"It isn't the safest piece of head gear," he said, "A helmet would be much more practical, but it certainly is popular with the ladies."

A cute little waitress sat a beer down in front of Guy and winked at him.

"See," Guy said, with a wink back at her.

Chris sat up.

"Hey...." he said, "I thought you and Molly were..."

A beautiful smile crossed Guy's face.

"We are," he said, "I am going to marry her. But it still feels good when someone flirts with me."

"A toast," Jonny said, raising his mug, "To Guy and Molly..."

"And to the four of us being together again and surviving this long," Will added.

The door of the restaurant flung open and several military police entered.

"What did you do now?" Chris asked, looking at Guy.

"I am innocent," Guy said, truthfully.

The police men blew three loud blasts on their whistles.

"Anyone here from the U. S. 101st or 82nd Airborne Divisions....report back to your barracks immediately. All leaves are canceled."

The four friends looked at each other.

"That can't be good," Chris said.

"Wonder what's happening?" Jonny said.

"Must be something really serious," Guy said, "Those divisions just got into town for a rest period. They wouldn't be ordered out unless it was an emergency."

"So...no chance the war is over by Christmas?" Will asked.

Guy shook his head.

"We will be lucky if it is over before summer," he said.

"Shit," Chris said, "I think I need another drink."

"What you need is to sober up," Guy said, "Let's go for a little walk."

Outside the four friends saw soldiers hurrying in every direction. Large troop trucks were stopping on the street to pick up stragglers.

In the distance they heard the thunder of artillery and they could see the flickers of light from the bursting of the huge shells.

"What's happening?" Guy asked a young soldier.

"The Germans!!" he yelled in answer, "They have broken through our lines!!! It's a massacre!!"

This was the start of the last German offensive action of the war.

It would be known as the Battle of the Bulge.

 

 

 

Chapter 22

 

 

May 1945

 

"Hitler killed himself," Jonny told the others.

"What a coward," Guy said.

"So, I guess that means the war is over soon, huh?" Chris said.

"I hear from a friend of mine that the powers that be are meeting as we speak to arrange a surrender," Will said.

"That's great, but don't forget that we are still fighting in the Pacific," Guy told them.

"It's only a matter of time before that is over too," Jonny said, "I have heard some things around headquarters."

"Mail call!!!!" the sargeant said, tossing two letters toward Chris.

He picked them up and read the addresses.

"One is from my mom," he said. Then he frowned as he looked at the other one.

"It's from RCA," he said, with a puzzled look on his face.

Chris opened the letter and his eyes got bigger as he read each sentence.

"Holy shit!!!" he told them, "This is from RCA. It seems that Glenn Miller actually sent them a recording of us. It got lost somewhere in the shuffle after he was killed in that plane crash and they just found it again. They want to sign us up to make records. After the war."

"What?" Will jerked the letter out of his hand and read it.

Jonny, in turn, jerked it away from Will.

"They are serious," Will said, looking a bit pale.

Jonny handed the letter to Guy, who didn't bother to read it.

Chris stood up and paced around the room a few times.

"Shit...." he kept saying over and over, "It really is going to happen. After all this time."

 

August 1945

 

"Damn you look beautiful," Guy told Molly.

"Do you like my dress?" She asked, twirling around for him to see it.

"You are the prettiest bride anyone has ever seen," he told her.

"Here is your bouquet," Chris said, handing her a clutch of roses.

"And here are your rings," Will said, digging in his uniform pocket for the jewelry.

"And here is your best man," Jonny said, beaming proudly.

Guy looked at Molly and held out his hand to her.

"Let's go get married," he said.

 

Epilogue

 

Two days later the United States dropped the world's first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

Three days after that the world's first hydrogen bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki.

The Japanese government signed an unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945.

The war was over.

 

THE END

 

 

Losing Grip (Part 1)

 

 

 

 

The cool Winter air started to breeze into New York. No more swimming in Lakes. No more hula-hoops. No more sidewalk chalk. It brought a sudden ending to those things, but another beginning to the new things. But where did those new things start? Where was the beginning?

 

This Winter hadn't started so easily for me. I've been scared of everything ever since tragedy struck. Everyday I felt lonely. Killed; inside and out. Deep depression swept over me. I couldn't blame anyone else for what happened. No one but myself, even though it wasn't my fault.

 

There was nothing I could have done...

 

I sat there in the middle of the room, with nothing but thick glass walls. Watching the light snow slowly come to the surface of New York. I was in my Enchanted place. Inside my Enchanted place I was being nothing. I could wash out my mind in my Enchanted place, and I swore I could feel my family with me still. I could hear Apple and Moses foot steps against the floor and Gwyneth was sitting next to me. In our Enchanted place.

 

But when I got up from the cold floor, I realized they really weren't there...

 

 

 

 

Losing Grip (Part 2)

 

 

 

 

I sat on the couch, wrapped in a cozy blanket and feeling frozen by the winter air, which was lurking inside my home. Jonny rushed out of my kitchen with 2 cups of steaming hot tea. He handed one to me.

 

"Thank-you, Jonny." I said softly as I quickly sipped it. As I did, I burnt my tongue, but I didn't even care. It was the least I had to worry about.

 

"No problem. Why don't we watch some TV and just relax?"

 

I didn't answer but passed him the remote. "Tell me when to stop..." Jonny said as he clicked through the Channels. There was almost nothing on TV, but then something caught my eye;

 

There were no survivors of the crash and... Jonny clicked to the next channel.

 

"Wait!" I almost shouted at him. Jonny quickly flipped back to the News Channel.

 

"On the plane was Gwyneth Paltrow, wife of Chris Martin who is lead singer of the band 'Coldplay', and their two children, Moses and Apple Martin. Sadly all three of them died as the plane caught on fire and crashed into the Pacific..."

 

Jonny turned off the TV and I just continued to stare at it. Like it would bring everything back if I did so. I could feel tears start to form in my eyes and I uncontrollably started to cry.

 

I felt Jonny's arms wrap around me, forming a tight hug, "Chris, it's alright. You will get through this. I'll do anything I can to help you. Anything." Now I felt the promise in Jonny's heart, he was so close to me.

 

I know I will get through this.

 

 

 

 

 

Losing Grip (Part 3)

 

 

 

 

I opened my eyes, finding myself awake on an airplane. What was going on?

 

I looked out the window beside me. Around the plane was massive white clouds and a deep blue sky with beautiful rays of sunshine. I looked to my side just to see my wife, Gwyneth, with a bright white smile, and she kissed me on the cheek. I felt so confused. I opened my mouth to ask about what was going on, but not a peep came out. So I tried to move, but I had no control over myself. It was as if I was forbidden.

 

Something was wrong.

 

I smelt smoke coming from ahead. Then I saw it, and it filled the area until all I could see was the thick black smoke hovering all over the plane. I coughed and closed my eyes, hoping it was all a nightmare. Suddenly I heard screams and I was flung all the ways back into my seat and loud siren-like noises rung in my head. I tried to break free from my loss of control, so I could run freely away from this cruel nightmare and I screamed as if I was a victim of a bloody murder scene.

 

I squeezed my eyes shut and all the screaming suddenly stopped and I heard nothing. It felt like a pause in time. So I opened my eyes again and the black emptiness turned into the flaming airplane. I felt the plane tipping down and the flames roared in my ears, along with the screams of the passengers.

 

I looked out the window watching as we quickly approached the pacific ocean. As soon as we were ready to hit the waves, everything went black.

 

***

 

My eyes flung open and I screamed as loud as I possibly could. I fell off of my bed onto the wooden floor. I quickly shuffled up, realizing it was all just a dream. A nightmare. I store down at my bed with the imprint of me and pools of sweat in it.

 

I looked at myself, covered in so much sweat, and breathing heavily. It looked as if I just finished a concert, again. I removed my clothing and quickly jumped into the shower, to help rinse my mind off.

 

What an exciting week it has been.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losing Grip (Part 4)

 

 

 

 

A month had past...

 

I walked down the street and through the thin blanket of snow covering the sidewalk. The snow made me realize Christmas was next month. The most wonderful time of year, as they would say. Well for most people it was the most wonderful time of the year.

 

Just a few days ago, I took a gun out of a small safe I secretly had hidden in my bedroom's closet and sat at the end of my bed, grasping it in my hands. I placed my finger on the trigger and aimed it towards the left side of my head and closed my eyes for one last time... but a call from Jonny interrupted me. I answered it, absent-minded, and as soon as I heard his beautiful voice, I realized that I was going insane and dropped the gun. I couldn't live with out Jonny, not even in Heaven or Hell.

 

I walked up the stairs to Jonny's apartment, hoping he was home. He was usually home this late in the evening, but I probably should have called to see if it was good time for him.

 

I stood by the door for a moment, wondering if I should just to turn back home and forget about seeing him. I slowly extended my arm and knocked on the door lightly, yet loudly at the same time. I heard footsteps approach, louder and louder.

 

"Hey Chris!" Jonny said as he opened the door.

 

"Is this a bad time? I was feeling kind of lonely at home, you know being alone and stuff... and..."

 

"No way, perfect timing, we were just about to watch that Twilight movie!" Jonny said cheerfully as he stepped to the side to let me in.

 

Sitting on the couch was Chloe, Guy, Phil, and 2 girls. I'd seen the two girls both before; they were Chloe's friends, April and Julia. I meet them last time I watched movies at Jonny's house.

 

When me and Gwyneth went to Jonny's house.

 

Jonny closed the door behind me. I slowly approached the couch and sat next to Julia. She had thin, light brown hair that formed luscious waves and brown eyes to match them. She was pretty.

 

"Hi." she said shyly, "You're Chris, right?" Julia asked.

 

"Yeah." I scratched the back of my neck. "You're Julia, right?" I already knew the answer, but I asked anyhow.

 

"Yeah." She blushed.

 

 

 

 

 

New Part:

 

Losing Grip (Part 5)

 

 

 

 

We were half way through Twilight when I suppose I had started to feel a little tipsy. It was the first time I was able to forget the death of my family for a moment and was able to relax and think about what was happening right now.

 

I looked toward the right of me to find Julia, fast asleep. Her thin brown hair covered half her delicate face. I slowly reached for a strand of her hair and placed it behind her ear. I saw her brown eyes open slightly and she looked over at me. She smiled and placed a hand on my shoulder and shook it lightly, but I quickly removed it from my shoulder and held it in my palm.

 

Jesus, her hand was freezing!

 

"Your hands are freezing!" I whispered to her as I took both of them and traced her palms wih my fingers.

 

She blushed, "Well it is a little cold. You know winter had begun a little while ago, don't you?"

 

I grabbed my black, zip-up sweatshirt and slide it over her shoulders. "Here you go,"

 

She gave me a kiss on the cheek as a thank-you for my kindness and I started to blush.

 

Then we conversed through out the rest of the movie, only loud enough for the two of us to hear though. Julia said that she was Scottish (which explained her lovely accent), she worked as a math teacher, her last name was Wakefield, she teaches ballet as a second job, and she has a pet dog named Bella. Oh yeah, she also has date with me on Saturday night.

 

 

 

GARDEN STATE

another Dianna/Brooke collab! :cheesy:

 

 

 

 

"This is it," Will said, dramatically spreading his arms out in front of him.

"What?" Guy asked, looking around.

"I don't see anything but some dirt," Jonny said.

"I am going to plant a garden," Will said, crossing his arms in front of his chest and smiling broadly.

Guy turned around and walked away.

"Where are you going?" Will asked, "I need help."

Guy just kept walking.

Jonny shook his head.

"You know he doesn't like to get dirty," Jonny said, "And he just bought those new jeans."

"Will you help me Jonny?" Will asked, in a pleading manner.

Jonny took off his cap and scratched his head.

"I kill everything I touch," Jonny said, "I once killed a plastic plant."

Will looked extremely disappointed.

"I bet Chris will help you," Jonny volunteered, as Chris came bouncing up to them.

Will looked at Jonny and then at Chris hopping excitedly around the yard.

"Thanks a lot," Will said, sarcastically.

"I'll help you Willie my boy....."Chris said, rubbing his hands together, "What are you doing?"

"He is planting a garden," Jonny told him.

Chris' pretty blue eyes grew large.

"What a fabulous idea!!!" he said, excitedly, clapping Will on the shoulder.

"Do you really want to help?" Will asked.

"Yes!!" Chris told him, "We will be just like those pioneers in the Old West movies from America. We can live off the land and eat only what we grow and...."

"You are getting carried away again, as usual," Will said.

Chris looked a little sheepish.

"Sorry," he said.

"Okay," Will told him, "You can help. But I am planting flowers too."

"This is fantastic," Chris said, taking a pen and paper out of his pocket, "I must make lists."

"Lists of what?" Will asked.

"You know," Chris said, "Lists.....every project needs lots of lists......lists of books to read....lists of supplies to buy...lists of plants to buy...lists of lists to make."

Jonny laughed and Will rolled his eyes.

 

 

 

 

 

"Are you done yet?" Will asked out the window of his kitchen. He was preparing a few snacks while Chris pulled some weeds from the ground.

"Almost!" Chris shouted. "Um... OK! Done."

Will peered outside, but by the time he looked Chris had disappeared.

"So, what did you make?" he asked, suddenly popping up right next to Will.

"JESUS CHRIST!"

"Jesus... no, I don't really like that," Chris said, crinkling his nose.

"What? No, I made some sandwiches."

"Sandwiches?!" Chris exclaimed, jumping up and down and clapping his hands. "What kind of sandwiches?"

"Peanut butter and jelly," Will replied. He grabbed a sandwich from the plate on the counter and handed it to Chris.

Chris immediately grabbed the sandwich and tried to stuff it in his mouth. Will decided to go out to the garden and check on the work Chris had done.

When he finally reached the little clearing, he noticed that Chris had done a wonderful job of removing all the pesky weeds.

But something else was missing, too. Will scanned his eyes over the scene, frantically hoping that he was just imagining things.

"Chris!" Will shouted. "Chris, where's my..."

Will looked down at the pile of weeds next to his feet. "...rose bush."

Sure enough, right on top of the pile was Will's prize rose bush. He had planted it several years ago, and had taken pride in caring for it.

He often received compliments on its loveliness.

Not anymore.

Will stormed angrily back into the kitchen, all the while yelling, "Chris, you bastard!"

"What?" Chris innocently asked.

"You tore up my rose bush!" Will shouted. He then noticed that the sandwich plate on the counter was empty.

"And you ate all my sandwiches!!"

And then he looked down on the floor.

Chris was sitting, cross-legged, against the counter, with a jelly-covered pen in one hand, and a paper in the other.

The floor around him was smeared with peanut butter.

"Or should I say you ate half of them," Will began, his temper flaring, "and fed the other half to the ground!!!!"

Chris, noticing Will's anger, apologetically smiled, held up the paper in his hand, and said, "I made a list of all the things I liked about the sandwiches, though."

Will said nothing, he just continued to stare.

"The first thing is they were delicious."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Where's Will?" Chris asked Guy.

"He's not here yet," Guy said, plucking a few strings on his guitar.

Then he looked up at Chris.

Chris' eyes were twice as large as normal and his face was pale.

"What's up?" Guy asked.

Chris was peeking out the kitchen window.

"It's......it's.....horrible....." he said.

"What's horrible?" Will asked, walking in through the front door.

Chris ran across the room and threw himself at Will.

"Don't go out into the garden," he said.

Will frowned at him.

"What did you do now?" he asked.

"It's not me," Chris said, "It's......something is out there."

He pointed toward the window.

"Holy hell, Chris," Will said, putting his hand on the doorknob, "You make it sound like the end of the world or something."

Chris ran into the kitchen and came back carrying a large broom and a can of insect spray.

"We don't have a gun, do we?" he asked, in a shaking voice.

"For what?" Will asked.

Chris' bottom lip trembled and his eyes watered.

"It's a spider......" he said, "Out there....."

Will fell over laughing.

"That isn't so unusual," Will told him, "They are actually beneficial in a garden. We are lucky to have it."

Chris backed away from Will slowly.

"Not one like this....." he said, "It is as big as my head."

Guy put down the guitar and started laughing.

Chris shot him a look of disgust.

"This is none of your concern, pretty boy," he said.

Will walked over to Chris and took the broom from him.

"Spiders are our friends," he said, gently, patting Chris on the head.

Chris was just shaking his head.

"Now give Will the insect spray. We don't want to hurt the little spider do we."

He reached for the can and Chris jerked it back.

"Give it here!!" Will demanded.

They wrestled around with each other for it, falling onto the couch and almost smashing Guy's guitar.

Then they rolled into the floor.

Suddenly the swish of spray escaping from the can could be heard followed closely by sounds of extreme cursing.

"Fuck!!!Chris!! You sprayed me in the face with that shit!!!" Will screamed.

"At least the spider won't get on you now," Chris said, " I saved your life."

 

 

 

 

 

"Are you sure you don't want to help?" Will asked Guy as they were sitting in Will's living room.

"Yep, I'm sure," Guy replied.

"Jonny, please? Chris is really out of hand."

"I... I suppose," Jonny said, standing up. "But you owe me."

"Thank you, thank you," Will said, giving Jonny a quick hug.

Suddenly, there was a loud, girly scream from the backyard.

The three men ran to see what the problem was.

They found Chris by the garden, holding his stomach with a look of terror on his face.

"What's wrong?" Guy asked.

"Chris, are you OK?" Jonny said.

Chris turned to them and tried to speak, but no words were coming out.

"Chris?" Jonny repeated.

"I... I'm going to die," Chris whispered.

"What?" Will asked.

"I'm going to die, you guys," Chris replied. "It was nice knowing you all."

"Why do you think you're going to die?" Jonny asked.

"I swallowed a bee! A big, ugly, yellow bee, and now I'm going to die!"

"Chris, do you want me to slap you?" Will threatened.

"No, don't slap me!" Chris exclaimed. "That'll only upset the bee, and then I'll definitely die!"

Will walked over to Chris, and slapped him upside the head.

"Oh, God!" Chris yelled. "Oh... I see... I see a light!"

Chris dramatically threw his hand to his forehead and slowly buckled his legs.

As he reached the ground, he said, "Farewell, dear friends... We shall meet again one day..."

Chris stopped speaking after that. The other three men let him stay there for a few minutes.

"Chris, we can see you breathing," Guy finally said.

"What a drama queen," Will commented.

"Hey!" Chris said. "I am not a drama queen!"

"And you're not dead, either," Will replied.

"Oh... so I'm not," Chris said, standing up. "False alarm, I guess. Back to work!"

Chris skipped over to the spot of the garden he was supposed to be working on.

Before he made it, however, he caught his foot on the hose that was lying in the ground, and fell face forward.

"... Ow."

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Wow..."Guy said, looking around the garden, "All these things that you guys planted are really beautiful."

Chris was scampering up and down the aisles of blooming plants. Ever few steps he would stop and stick his nose deep into one of the blossoms and inhale deeply.

"They smell divine," he said.

"Has Will seen this?" Jonny asked.

"No," Chris said, shaking his head sadly. "He still isn't feeling well."

"He stopped by earlier," Guy told them, "He was on his way to the doctor."

"Ah ha!!!" Chris said, pointing a lone finger at his head, "I just had a great idea!!!"

He went running into the house, arms straight out at his sides, making a buzzing sound like a bee.

Guy looked at Jonny.

"Am I the only one that gets scared when he says that?" he asked.

Jonny laughed.

"What do you think is wrong with Will?" Jonny asked.

Guy shrugged his shoulders as Chris came running out of the house with a pair of scissors.

"Shit Chris, be careful with those things," Guy told him.

Chris stuck out his bottom lip and showed Guy his big, sad eyes.

"I was only going to cut some flowers to cheer Will up." he said.

Ten minutes later they heard the squeak of the hinge on the garden gate.

"That must be him," Chris said, jumping up and down and collecting his bouquet of flowers.

Guy and Jonny ducked as the pair of scissors went flying through the air.

Will came walking around the corner.

"Surprise!!!!!" Chris yelled, jumping out from behind a bush.

Will jumped four feet into the air and his sunglasses went flying off his face.

"I picked these for you," Chris said, thrusting the flowers right into Will's nose.

Will started to say something, but all they heard were a few syllables here and there as he collapsed on the ground in a coughing and sneezing fit.

The other three looked at each other.

"It's the flowers........" Will said, trying to catch his breath.

"I.......I.....am......alll.....er......gic.......to.........th....em..." he finally got out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I'm sorry, I didn't know!" Will apologized.

He, Chris, Guy, and Jonny were sitting in Will's living room.

"I can't believe I did all that work," Chris pouted. "And I almost died!"

"So did I!" Will exclaimed.

"You were only sneezing and coughing!" Chris shouted back.

"And you were only lying down and closing your eyes. I bet you didn't even swallow a bee."

"Well..." Chris began, "I'm not sure if I actually swallowed it... but it came really close to me!"

"Draaamaaa queen!" Guy sang.

"I am not a drama queen!" Chris cried. He folded his arms across his chest and started to pout again.

"Jonny, tell him I'm not a drama queen."

"Actually, Chris, you are a bit over the top," Jonny said.

Chris turned to Jonny, tears forming in his big, blue eyes.

"Why... why does everybody hate me all the time?!?" he asked, burying his face in his hands and running out of the room.

"Total drama queen," Will said. "So, do you guys have any plans tonight?"

"No," Guy said.

"Not that I can remember," Jonny replied.

"Good," Will said. "Let's go see a movie or something, I need to get out of here for a little while. I've had enough of this place for today."

"What movie?" Guy asked.

"It doesn't matter, let's just go," Will said.

Will and Guy stood up and walked to the door. Jonny stayed behind, watching the exit that Chris had left through.

"Wait, guys, aren't you forgetting about Chris?" he asked.

Will turned around, a smug grin on his face.

"That's the point."

 

The end!

 

 

 

One Day Like This

Chapter 2

 

 

 

Neither of them said anything for the duration of the car ride. There seemed to be some silent, mutual agreement between the two to keep their conversations private. They didn't want to speak and somehow take the magic out of their words. And especially not in front of the grumpy taxi driver, of all people. They wanted to stay in their own little bubble. But of course this didn't stop their thought from flowing freely.

 

I can't believe I'm actually in a car with him thought Emily with barely contained excitement.

 

I never thought I'd even get to ask more than a couple of questions, and yet I'm on my way to his hotel room so we can continue our conversation. I'm flattered that he finds me this interesting. I mean, he can't just be humoring me, can he? If he was, he never would have gone to these lengths. Would he?

 

Meanwhile, Guy was asking himself a few questions.

 

Why did I do that? Why did I invite her to come to my room? And why the hell do I feel so drawn to her? I mean, she is beautiful and everything, but still. What guy in his right mind would invite someone to their place so she could ask him more questions? And to top it all off, there's absolutely no way I'm going to be able to escape any of the guys. As soon as I walk in those doors, they're going to be there, demanding some sort of explanation for my disappearance. Especially Will. Will is definitely not going to fall for any lie I try to tell him. But he's especially not going to believe the truth. I don't even believe it. Actually, I don't even know what the truth IS. I have absolutely no idea why I'm doing this .Answering a bunch of questions shouldn't be this enjoyable. I should be bored by now. But I feel like I could do this forever...... all I do know is that I certainly don't need an interrogation from them. Fuck, anyways I'm giving myself more than enough of an interrogation for one night. He turned his head from the window to look at Emily again. He caught little glimpses of her face in the light of the passing street lamps. His heart skipped a beat. What's wrong with me? he mused, frowning.

 

But before he had time to figure it out they had reached their destination. Guy quickly gave the driver his money and jumped out of the car, followed closely by Emily, who was also eager to escape the confines of the vehicle. Guy headed toward the doors of the hotel he was staying at, then stopped abruptly.

 

No way am I dealing with them tonight. Will, Chris, Jonny, Phil, I love you guys, but I can't take whatever you have in store for me right now.

 

Emily just looked at him, questions in her eyes.

 

"Come on Emily, we're not going to stay here."

 

Her heart jumped a mile in her chest when she heard him use her name for the first time. She managed to regain her bearings though, and asked "Why? What's wrong with this place?"

 

"What's wrong is that the second I walk in there I'm going to be bombarded with questions. Questions I don't want to answer."

 

And can't answer he added silently.

 

"Oh. Wow. Is that how close you are with the rest of the band?"

 

"Huh?" Now that's what I call an intelligent response. Smooth Guy, very smooth.

 

"Well, I just figured that if you guys are basically on interrogation level with each other, than you must be really close. I mean, my mom used to do that kind of thing to me all the time. Soon as I walked in the door."

 

"Yeah, I guess we are", he noted thoughtfully.

 

She's...something else.

 

"Annoying isn't it? Having people care so much?", she added with a laugh.

 

"Yes, very." he said, laughing awkwardly.

 

"Are you OK?" she asked, and by the look in her eyes Guy could tell she was still joking.

 

But although he laughed as he said it, he was completely serious when he responded "I honestly don't know."

 

"Why don't we go stay over there?" He pointed to a tall, stylish building across the street.

 

"Sure." Emily would have willingly agreed to anything he asked.

 

"But let's hurry, before they catch me lurking about."

 

He smirked, and they ran across the street and hurried into the hotel. Once inside, the first thing Emily noticed was a giant clock hanging on the far wall. The time read 12:15.

 

"Geez. We've been talking a long time Guy."

 

"I know."

 

"Well you should've told me how late it was. I would have shut up. I mean, you probably have an early flight to catch tomorrow, right?"

 

"Oh well, yeah, I guess I do. But it's OK, I like talking to you. You're interesting."

He smiled at her and Emily felt as though she might pass out again.

 

Come on, think of something clever! her thoughts shouted at her.

 

"You're interesting to talk to too."

 

Ugh. way to be clever, genius.

 

"Well, I'm sure you need your sleep, so I'll leave you be. Since you bothered to speak to me more so long, I'll take the liberty of paying for your room. Unless you want to go back to the other hotel?"

 

"No!" replied Guy, a little too loudly. "I mean....I really don't want to deal with the band tonight, you know? That can wait until I've gotten enough sleep so I won't end up strangling one of them for trying to talk to me."

 

She laughed again, and Guy couldn't help thinking what a nice sound it was. She turned then, and walked briskly up to the front desk. All of a sudden Guy remembered what she had just said and practically ran to catch up with her.

 

"Hey, wait up! I'm not... letting you.... pay.... for my room."

 

He was practically out of breath when he caught up with her.

 

Geez, when did I get so out of shape?

 

"One moment please" she told the lady at the front desk, then turned to face Guy.

 

"Emily, it's no trouble, really. I honestly enjoyed talking to you. I wasn't just humoring you. Well, at first I was, but then I realized how interesting you are...."

 

Shut up! his subconscious yelled.

 

Why are you rambling on and on? What are you even saying?

 

After today he was starting to wonder if there was anything he DID know. Whatever he had said must have sounded pathetic, because Emily laughed again. Then her expression turned serious.

 

"Well it's no trouble for me to pay for the room either. I'm paying."

 

She whisked back around and quickly booked two rooms, leaving Guy speechless.

 

You should have booked one room the devious part of her mind was thinking.

 

Well I'm not going to scare him off! But he's leaving in a few hours. This may be your only chance! Oh great, I'm fighting with myself now. A real sign of sanity. Well anyways, what's done is done. The rooms are booked and that's that. I got to talk with him and that's all I ever wanted.

 

It wasn't of course, but it was all she dared to hope for.

 

"Goodnight Guy. Thanks for all this."

 

"G'night" he mumbled back.

 

He really wished he knew what his problem was. He felt aggravated all of a sudden, and grabbing his room key off the front desk, he stalked off to the elevators. He had noticed, with much curiosity, that she had taken the stairs.

 

Interesting.....

 

He had seen her key; her room was on the 11th floor, room 1162.

 

Yet she uses the stairs....

 

He chuckled to himself, but when he thought of her leaving his irritation swelled up again.

 

Geez it's like I'm still a teenager.

 

He got out of the elevator and onto the 9th floor, finding his room at the end of a long hallway. Once inside, he turned on the lights and noticed a clock which read 1AM. Fuck, he had to catch a 7AM flight. He quickly turned the lights off again and fell into bed. He really was tired. he could feel it now. But as he lay there, he could tell that sleep wasn't going to come. Whenever he thought of Emily leaving, he felt that same irritation well up inside him.

 

I want her to stay with me he decided.

 

But why?

 

He didn't know. But he knew suddenly that he couldn't stay here. He practically jumped out of bed and before he knew it he was out of his room and heeding towards the elevators.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I promise the next chapter will be a lot more interesting.:)

 

If Only You Knew

PART TWELVE

 

 

 

 

"Mrs Anna Buckland?" the manager said in a tone which wasn't quite statement and wasn't quite a question.

"Yes, that's me" Anna replied in an uneasy tone, either presuembing that it was a question or being sarcastic.

"You havn't got enough money on your card!" the manager said bluntly, leaning towards her.

"Oh" Anna replied, with a blank expression on her face.

"Unless you have money to cough up, then I'd like you to please give back your purchases!"

"What if there was another option?" Anna asked, sitting up from the very posh chair.

"Oh? And what might that be?" the manager asked, intrigued.

"You and me, tonight, in the best hotel in London!" Anna asked, grinning.

"Out!" The manager exclaimed.

"What?" Anna said.

"Out of my sight, get out of my store!" The manager stood up, literally pushing her out of his office. "Guards, please escort this woman out!"

Two bulky security guards approached Anna.

"Get off me! I'll leave!" Anna screamed, pushing the guards away and walking out the store.

 

Anna swung the front door open and ran upstairs.

"I hate you Jonny!" Anna shouted, punching her husband in the chest as he lay in his bed.

"What the hell are you doing?" Jonny replied, weezing as he sat up.

"Out of bed you bastard!" Anna screamed.

Jonny jumped out of his bed, Anna nudged him downstairs.

"Get in the car!" Anna exclaimed, leading the way. She sat in the passangers seat.

"What the hell are you doing, Anna, really?" Jonny asked, scared.

"Shut up and drive!" She demanded.

 

 

 

 

If Only You Knew

PART THIRTEEN (THE FINAL PART!)

 

 

 

 

"Take a left here!" Anna demanded as she reached for her mobile phone.

"Where are we going?" Jonny asked, beginning to sweat.

"You are going where I tell you to go, now get a move on!"

Anna began to type in a number, Jonny tried to look over but could not see who she was calling.

"Hello Police, there is this crazed man, Jonny Buckland who has kidnapped me I'm heading towards Wembley stadium , help me, help me!" She shouted down the phone, before hanging up.

"What the hell did you do that for, you bitch!" Jonny exclaimed.

"Bitch?" Anna shouted before punching Jonny in the face. The car stopped, Jonny fell unconscious.

For the first time in her life, Anna looked worried. She took a moment to look down at Jonny before moving him out the way and getting into the drivers seat. She turned on the radio. Coldplay's 'Trouble' began to play. Anna paused again, stared at the radio, took a deep breath and began to drive.

Anna began to get faster and faster, taking several sharp turns before approaching Wembley Stadium where three police cars, a police bike and a van awaited her. She braked sharply, knocking her husband into the windscreen, she put a handbrake on, turned the engine off and got out of the car.

"Help me!" Anna shouted, several policemen turned and began to run towards her.

"He's in the car, help me!" she continued.

One policeman opened the car door, and as he bent over, Anna grabbed his gun out of his satchel.

"Nobody move!" Anna demanded, gun in hand. Several of the policemen began to slowly walk towards her.

"Don't do anything stupid!" one of the policemen said, his hands in the air.

"All I wanted was money and a man who could protect me, a man who would make me feel safe and who could stand up to anything and anyone! I thought that would be my Jonny, so I married him. He had the money and I thought he'd give me the protection- he didn't! I thought I could deal with that, I couldn't, and when all his money went, I just couldn't take it anymore!" Anna said, not a tear in her eye.

"Look, we can help you!" Another policeman said. "Just put down the gun!"

 

Jonny opened his eyes and looked out of the windscreen to see over a dozen men facing his wife.

"Now, who should I shoot first?" Anna pondered. "I don't like short guys, let's find the shortest here!". She pointed her gun at a small, dark haired policeman.

"Stop it Anna!" Jonny cried out.

Anna pointed the gun at Jonny now.

"Go back to sleep Jonny!" Anna said, looking away. Jonny slowly got out of the car and grabbed Anna.

"Come on, let's go back home, I'm not very well, I'm sorry but we can get through the cancer together!" Jonny said, smiling.

"You havn't got cancer you idiot, now get off me!" Anna demanded.

"No!" Jonny replied, grappling the gun.

"Get off it Jonny!" Anna demanded once more. Jonny pointed the gun into his chest.

"You don't really want to shoot anyone, do you?" Jonny said, taking a risk by taking his eyes of the gun and into his wife's eyes. "I love you Anna"

Anna began to laugh "You don't love me!"

 

Two shots were fired. Two people fell to the ground. Two people died.

 

If only you knew.

 

 

 

For Kyra:

You were right. I never posted the last two chapters of this story.

Sorry.....:embarassed:

 

 

Sailing

Chapter 7

 

 

"That's just a coincidence," he told her, "the same thing happened the other day when I was...." he stopped.

"Yes," she said, smiling at him,"It did. I told you. I brought you here."

"I still don't believe you," he said.

She walked up to him and took his hand.

"Come," she said, "I'll show you."

She took his hand and led him into the water.

She dove into the waves and Guy felt compelled to follow her.

They swam and swam until Guy felt his lungs would burst.

Lily looked at him and saw that he needed air.

She swam up to him and carefully placed her mouth over his, filling his lungs with air and his body with a strange eerie sensation.

She smiled at him and took his hand.

Guy knew that he wouldn't have to worry about breathing anymore.

They swam for hours, seeing awe-inspiring sights that no other human had ever seen.

Cities and towns...sparkling and clean in more colors than human eyes are able to see.

Colors that didn't even exist in the world above the water and therefore had no names.

Magnificent animals, fascinating plants, curious sea creatures and other sea nymphs.

All the animals and plants greeting Lily in a strange and warbled language.

Or at least it was some form of communication and 'language' was the only word Guy could think of to describe it.

Guy longed for his camera yet he knew that the most delicate and expensive lens could never capture the sights he was seeing.

His delicate brown eyes were wide with wonder at the vista spread out before him.

His mind barely able to comprehend the images his eyes were capturing.

All his nerves felt raw and sharp.

His entire body felt alive and shimmering.

"How wonderful to be part of a world like this," he thought.

Then he saw a worried look pass across Lily's face.

She brought her forehead to his and he heard her thoughts.

"We have to go," she said.

"Why?" Guy asked, in return, with his thoughts.

"Because it's time," she said, wordlessly.

 

 

 

Chapter 8

 

 

"Now do you believe me?" Lily asked.

Guy nodded.

He was so stunned by all that he had seen that he could not speak.

She smiled at him.

"I'm sorry for bringing you here against your will," she told him.

"I'm glad you did," he was finally able to say.

"I've seen many humans. But none like you," she said, reaching over to touch his face.

"Such incredible soulful eyes you have. I knew you could be trusted to see this place and not want to destroy it."

"Destroy it?" he asked, "Why would anyone do that?"

"Oh, they would think they would be helping, but in reality it would lead to destruction. I knew that you could enjoy it for what it is

and leave it untouched."

"Does that include you as well?" Guy asked.

She looked at him with large blue eyes.

"Yes," she said.

"Damn, I was afraid that was going to be your answer. I'm really sorry about that."

"Not as sorry as I am," she admitted, "I will live to be very, very old and all that time I am afraid I will only be thinking of you."

 

"I must take you back now," she told him as they walked along the beach.

"How will you do that?" he asked.

"You will fall asleep on your boat and I will take you back."

"So this is good-bye," he said.

"Yes," she nodded.

"How can I ever thank you for what you have shown me?" he asked.

"You can't," she told him, "You won't remember it when you wake up."

Guy stood still.

"That makes me very sad," he said.

"You will not suffer sadness. Your memories will be gone. I, however, will always remember you."

 

Guy woke up on the deck of the little sailboat.

"Damn," he thought, "What time is it?"

The sun was still up so he knew it wasn't too late.

He checked the time on his phone.

He had been asleep only two hours.

He stretched and reached into the cooler for another beer.

Beside the cooler a lei was draped across the deck.

"Wonder where that came from," he thought.

He picked it up and put it around his neck.

The fragrance of the plumeria and lily blossoms was overpowering.

"Hmm," he said, "Plumeria and lilies....but how did I know that?"

A strange feeling of de ja vu passed over him.

"Probably from t.v." he thought, "Oh well, I better get back before Chris sends the Harbor Patrol looking for me."

 

The End

 

 

Sorry for posting so much, but after tomorrow I will be gone for five days.

I wanted to post the rest of the story so no one forgets what happens.

 

The Married Man

Chapter 4

 

 

"Her name is Beth," Aaron said, when they were sitting on the swing.

Guy was listening carefully.

"She and I...we have known each other since we were kids. We lived on neighboring farms. We always teased each other that we were going to get married.

But I.....I... didn't like girls. Beth was the first person that I ever admitted that to. She's the best person anyone could ever know. And then when we found out a few years ago that she was sick....." Aaron stopped.

Guy didn't know what to do, so he reached out and took hold of Aaron's hand.

Aaron looked at him and smiled; his eyes slick with tears.

"It's okay," Guy said, "I think I understand now."

Aaron wiped his face with his free hand.

"I told her about you," he said, "I told her the first day that I saw you that...."

"What did you tell her?" Guy asked, quietly.

"I told her that I found what I was looking for," Aaron said, smiling.

"You couldn't possibly have known that," Guy said, "I've never even gone out with a guy before."

"Well, that may be true," Aaron said, "But I knew that you and I should be together."

Guy looked away in the distance.

Then he looked back at Aaron.

"I guess I must have known it too, in some way or another, or else I never would have called you and I wouldn't be here now."

"Then will you stay here with me?" Aaron asked.

"You mean.... no, I don't think I can," Guy said.

"Beth is coming back this week," Aaron said, "She wants to meet you."

"She does?" Guy asked.

"Yeah, she says she wants to tell you all about my bad habits and my temper. She wants to make sure you can put up with me."

"Why?"

"Because she doesn't have much longer to live and she wants to make sure I am taken care of," Aaron told him.

Guy smiled.

"She sounds like a wonderful person," he told Aaron, "I would be honored to meet her."

Aarons' phone buzzed.

"Come with me, please," he said, standing up.

"Sure," Guy said, "Where are we going?"

"We are about to see a new foal be born," Aaron said, excitedly.

"You mean....like see everything?" Guy asked.

Aaron nodded.

"And I suggest you leave that beautiful leather jacket in the house unless you want it ruined."

Guy frowned

"I don't know if I am ready for this," he said, taking off his jacket.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 5

 

 

"She's beautiful," Guy said, looking at the newborn colt.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Aaron asked.

Guy shook his head.

"No, I actually forgot what was happening," Guy said, smiling, "I should have had my camera."

As they watched, the colt struggled to stand on her wobbly legs for the first time.

"Congratulations," Guy told Aaron, slapping him on the shoulder.

"Oh come on," Aaron said, taking hold of Guy's arm and pulling him close to him, "Don't I deserve more than that?"

Guy looked around nervously.

He had never been that close to another guy before, except Will, Jonny and Chris, and that didn't really count.

"Don't look so scared," Aaron said, touching him on the cheek, "I don't bite. At least not yet."

Guy looked straight into Aaron's eyes and he felt a calm presence come over his entire being.

He wasn't afraid or nervous or self-conscious anymore.

He closed his eyes and let his lips brush against Aaron's.

Guy opened his eyes and looked at Aaron.

"That was unbelieveable," he said.

Aaron smiled softly at him.

"Then why did you stop?" he asked.

Aaron slid his strong, tanned arms around Guy's thin waist and pulled him tight against his chest.

As if it was the most natural thing in the world, Guy wound his arms around Aarons' neck.

"Come here, farmer boy," Guy said.

 

"Where in the hell have you been?" Will asked.

"Why?" Guy asked, as he walked into the studio and sat down in a chair.

"Because you look like hell. And I had an extra ticket for a football match and Jonny and I couldn't find you anywhere. You weren't answering your phone and you weren't home."

"And you smell kind of like......" Jonny wrinkled his nose....."like animals and grass."

"If you must know," Guy said, "I was watching a baby horse be born."

Jonny looked at Will and they both shrugged.

"You mean like a foal?" Will asked.

"Dammit," Guy said, "I knew I would forget what they are called...yeah...a foal."

"Were you at the zoo?" Jonny asked.

Guy burst out laughing.

"No, Jonny....I was at....at...a friends' farm."

"Ah," Will said, "That little farmer girl from the market," Will teased, "We should have known."

Guy had a sweet smile on his face.

"It was pretty fucking amazing," he said.

"The horse being born?" Jonny asked.

"Yeah," Guy said, "That was amazing as well."

 

 

 

Chapter 6

 

 

"Guy, is that you?" Beth called as he walked into the kitchen.

"It's me," he said, laying the bouquet of flowers that he had brought her on the table.

"Where are you?" He called back.

"Here," she said, sounding out of breath.

He followed her voice to find her mopping the floor in the hall way.

"What are you doing?" He asked with his hands on his hips.

"There was just a bit of mud here that I thought I would clean up."she said.

Guy took off his jacket and threw it in a nearby chair.

"Give me that." he said, taking the mop from her, "You shouldn't be doing things like this."

She looked a bit relieved as she handed him the mop.

"I'm not dead yet you know," she said, with a laugh.

Guy gave her a reproachful look.

"Aaron's not back from Liverpool yet," she told Guy as he mopped the floor with smooth long strokes.

"I know," he said, "I came to see you."

She looked at him and smiled.

"You use that mop like you've done it before," she said.

"Well, I wasn't always a famous rock star," he told her, "First at home and then when I worked in that bar, I was well-acquainted with a mop."

She sat down in a chair and smiled calmly at Guy.

"What?" he asked.

"I'm just so glad that Aaron found you," she said, "I hated the idea of dying and leaving him here all alone. And when he first told me about who you were I was a little apprehensive."

"A little?" Guy asked, "I would have been terrified if the situation was reversed."

"But now I know that you are such a good, solid, stable man. And you care about Aaron for who and what he is. You won't try to make him be anything besides a farmer."

Guy stopped mopping and leaned on the handle.

"Can I tell you something?" he asked.

"Of course, anything," she said.

"I came out here today to tell you that I think I might be in love with Aaron."

"Well that's fantastic," Beth said, jumping up to hug him.

"But should I tell him?" Guy asked.

"Why certainly," she said, "As soon as possible.Why would you even wonder?"

"He's dealing with alot right now," Guy said, "I wouldn't want to add to the pressure."

"What pressure?" Beth asked, shrugging her shoulders, "You love him. He loves you."

Guy looked at her in surprise.

"He does?" he asked.

"Well, I guess I wasn't supposed to let that slip out, now was I?" she said, slyly.

 

 

The Married Man

Chapter 7

 

 

"What are you boys doing this morning?" Beth asked, pouring more coffee into Guy's cup.

Guy was rubbing his eyes from sleep.

Aaron was whistling as he poured cream into his cup.

He had been up for hours doing the usual morning chores around the farm.

"Since city boy here finally woke up from his beauty sleep, I thought I would put him to work."

Guy opened one sleepy eye and looked across the table at Aaron.

"You worked my ass off yesterday," he said, "Hauling all those bales of hay."

Aaron and Beth both laughed.

"Well, today will be a bit more fun," Aaron said.

"Yeah?" Guy asked.

"A couple of the horses need some work. I thought we would take them out for a ride."

Guy almost choked on his coffee.

"Ride? A horse? You can't be serious.....me...on a horse?"

Aaron laughed and stood up slipping his cap over his curly black locks.

"Meet me out in the barn in ten minutes," he said, kissing Guy on the head.

Guy looked to Beth for help.

"You better do as he says," she told him.

Guy groaned and stretched.

"You can't ride in those clothes you usually wear," She advised.

"These are all I have," he said, looking down at his shirt and pants.

"The boots are good," she admitted, "Come with me, I'll find something of Aaron's for you to wear. Although you are so damn skinny, they won't be much of a fit."

"I am not wearing a cap," Guy said, decisively.

"Suit yourself," she said.

Beth rummaged around in the closet, finally bringing out a denim shirt for Guy.

"What's wrong with mine?" he asked.

"It's too thin, sweetie," she said, "Those briars and weeds would tear it to shreds."

"Here you go," she said, handing him a pair of faded jeans.

"They will be way too long, you will just have to roll them up."

Guy took the clothes and went into his bedroom to change.

He had been staying at the farm for a few weeks now.

When he emerged, ten minutes later, Beth couldn't do anything but laugh.

"You look like a boy playing dress up," she said.

"I am in need of new clothes," he admitted, looking down at himself.

"We will go shopping soon," she told him with a kiss on the cheek, "at a real store, not those London stores you go to."

 

 

 

Chapter 8

 

 

 

"This one is yours," Aaron told Guy, as he walked up to a beautiful sorrel horse.

"Her name is Carmel."

"She's beautiful," Guy whispered, reaching up to stroke the animal's head.

The horse seemed to like Guy.

"She likes you," Aaron told him.

"That's good," Guy said, "Maybe she will be gentle with me."

Aaron raised one eyebrow and looked Guy up and down.

"Saddle up," he said.

Twenty-minutes later Aaron told Guy, "Let's take a rest."

"It's going really good," Guy said, "Why do we need to stop?'

Aaron looked at him and smiled.

"You will find out tomorrow morning," he said, "You entire body will be sore."

"From what?" Guy asked.

"Horseback riding is hard exercise. You just don't realize it."

They sat under the shade of a huge old tree while the horses grazed nearby.

"The doctor said Beth doesn't have long. Maybe two months or so," Aaron told him.

Guy felt like someone had slapped him.

"She seemed to be so much better," Guy said.

"I think she is just at peace and happy."

"I helped her plant daffodils yesterday," Guy said,quietly.

"I'm not taking her back to the hospital," Aaron said, "She wants to die at home."

"Okay," Guy said, "Do you want me to leave?'

Aaron looked up at him with a confused look.

"Why would I want that?" he asked.

"I thought you might want to spend the last few months just with her."

Aaron shook his head.

"Is it any wonder that I love you," he said, "You are so thoughtful and kind. Of course I want you with us. We are all a family. Besides, Beth would kick my ass if I let you get away."

"I love you," Guy said, quietly.

Aaron looked stricken.

"I.....I..."

"Don't say anything," Guy told him, "I just said it because I felt it. You don't have to say it too."

Aaron looked away.

"We better go," he said, "It looks like it might storm in a little while."

Guy felt sad and confused.

He had told Aaron it was okay not to respond to his declaration of love but the truth was that he was crushed when Aaron didn't say anything.

They rode halfway back in silence.

Guy was lost in his thoughts.

"Hey!" Aaron called, "You better catch up!"

Aaron was way ahead of him.

There was the distant sound of thunder.

Guy spurred the horse a little and caught up to Aaron.

Aaron grabbed the reins of Guy's horse and brought it close to his animal.

"I love you, too," he said.

Guy dropped the reins to his horse and slid both arms around Aaron.

They sat there, each astride their own horse, kissing, until a strong clap of thunder brought them back to reality.

"Let's get back," Aaron said, finally tearing himself away from Guy's embrace.

 

 

 

Chapter 9

 

 

 

"I started a fire," Beth told them, "Go warm up."

Guy was shaking from the combination of rain and cold wind.

He stood by the fire and she brought him a cup of coffee.

"This will help," she said.

He drank it gratefully.

"I think I'll take a shower," he said, "Warm water always helps."

"I started a fire in your room too," she told him, "It should be toasty by now."

He looked at her and smiled.

"You are the most amazing woman I have ever known," he told her.

"Stop with that flattery business," she said, "It will get you nowhere with me."

Fifteen minutes later Aaron knocked on the door of his bedroom.

"Guy? I thought you were taking a shower," he called, "Are you okay?"

Guy had fallen asleep when he sat down to take off his boots.

Now Aaron's knocking barely woke him up.

"Yeah, you can come in," Guy said.

Guy was stretched out across the old brass bed.

"Aren't you a pitiful sight?" Aaron said, standing over him and shaking his head.

"I am exhausted," Guy said.

"I warned you about that, didn't I?"

Guy looked at him with one eye open.

"Here," Aaron said, "Let me take off your boots."

"That would be great," Guy told him.

"Your shirt is soaked," Aaron said, "Take it off too."

Guy was still lying prostrate on the bed.

Aaron started to unsnap the front of the denim shirt.

Guy liked the feel of Aaron's rough hands so near to his skin.

"Okay, that's enough," Aaron said, standing up and walking toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Guy asked, sitting up.

"You can do the rest by yourself," Aaron told him.

"Yes," Guy said, softly, "I can, but I would rather that you did it."

Aaron laughed a little and clasped his hands together.

"You need to stop saying things like that," he told him, "Or else..."

"Or else what?" Guy asked, getting up and walking toward him.

"Or else I am going to have serious problems convincing myself to leave this room," he admitted.

Guy slid both arms around Aaron's waist.

"I don't want you to go," he said, leaning in and kissing Aaron's neck.

"It's just all that fresh air talking," Aaron joked.

"No, it isn't," Guy said, "I want you and me - together - tonight."

Just then a strong gust of wind caused the electricity to go out.

"It's a sign," Guy told him.

"Let me check on Beth," Aaron said, "But I will be back."

 

 

New Part:

 

Losing Grip (Part 6)

 

 

 

 

Saturday quickly came, and I hadn't been so nervous in years. I looked up at the clock on the wall, realizing that I had only so much time until I had to pick up Julia. Worried, I called Guy, he would know what I should do. I searched through the closet, looking for a nice shirt. My search didn't go on for long, I had too many nice shirts...

 

"Hey," Guy picked up his cell phone. I could hear his television in the background.

 

"Do you have a second? I kind of need a little help for... for..." My voice grew softer and softer.

 

He laughed. "Getting ready for your date?"

 

"Yeah."

 

"I'll be over in a minute." And he hung up his cellphone.

 

In less than ten minutes, Guy was in my bedroom, searching through my closet and dresser drawers. He pulled out a pair of Tan pants and a black belt, which I quickly pulled on as he continued to look through my closet.

 

"No...No...Ew..." He pushed the shirts to side.

 

I watched him, nervously.

 

Eventually, he came to a shirt he liked, "Perfect!" he said holding up a light blue button up shirt. He then held it up to my chest. "Would you look at that? It matches your eyes!" he said smiling.

 

"Do you think she'll like it?" I asked, taking off my old shirt and slipping on the blue one he picked out.

 

"Of course she will. Who wouldn't want to be taken on a date by a well-dressed Chris Martin with a new haircut?" He laughed. I couldn't help but grin.

 

"You think the haircut looks nice?" I asked running my fingers over the top of my head. Sometimes I forgot where all of my curls went.

 

"Yeah. Everyone thinks you look younger and cuter." I blushed.

 

I looked at the clock again. Perfect timing. "Right on time. Thanks Guy." I said as I flew into the kitchen putting on a black jacket and my shiny shoes. I liked my shiny shoes.

 

"Well, good luck." Guy said flying out, but hee quickly creeped back in. "Uhm, could you tell her I said hi?" He looked down at the floor, shyly.

 

"Yeah, sure." I said flying down my apartment stairs, right behind him. I jumped into my car and hesitated for a moment to turn it on. This was it...