Chapter 4
Sparks
Next the tour moved to Latin America.
The boys were staying on the top floor of a centuries old hotel.
Unfortunately, the only access to their rooms was provided by a rickety old elevator that probably had not been serviced since 1934.
They all would have preferred to take the stairs.
But they were closed for repairs.
The elevator was so old and slow that it took ten minutes to reach the lobby.
And since the boys were staying on the top floor, they usually had to wait for the elevator to make a stop on each floor.
One morning as Jonny and Chris were on their way to find a decent breakfast, they found themselves on a severely overcrowded elevator.
There was only one more floor to go when three people pushed their way into the tiny space.
Jonny had to move quickly to keep from being stepped on by a very tall man dressed in a mariachi costume.
When the elevator lurched to a stop in the lobby, Jonny was flung against Chris.
"Sorry, man," he said.
"Sure," Chris said.
They both felt a queasiness in their stomachs.
They both told themselves it was the quirkiness of the elevator ride.
They both knew better.
They found a small restaurant not far from the hotel.
After looking at the menu, Jonny said, "I'm not that hungry anymore."
Chris laid his menu down on the table.
"Me either," he said.
"It's that elevator," Jonny said.
"No, it isn't," Chris told him.
"What do you mean? What else is it then?" Jonny asked.
Chris reached across the table and took Jonny's hands.
They both felt a spark of electricity.
"That's what it is," Chris told him,"That's what it has been every time."
Jonny jerked his hands back.
"What does that mean?" he asked.
"I don't know," Chris said, "It's never happened to me before."
"Me either," Jonny said.
"It's just chemistry," Chris said, "Because we have been friends for so long."
Jonny looked at him.
"That's good," he said, "I like that."
Then he smiled, "Yeah, just chemistry."
Chapter 5
Sparks
Jonny knocked on the door of Guy's hotel room.
"What?" Guy asked.
"Can I come in?" Jonny asked.
"Sure," Guy said.
He was sitting on the sofa flipping through a local newspaper.
"I didn't know you read Spanish," Jonny told him.
"I don't," Guy said, throwing the paper aside.
Jonny sat down on the sofa very close to Guy.
So close that Guy looked at him strangely and scooted away a little.
Jonny felt nothing.
"What the hell was that?" Guy asked.
"Just an experiment," Jonny said, "I have to go."
"Will, I need you to do me a favor," Jonny said.
"Sure, What?" Will asked.
"Hug me," Jonny said.
Will frowned.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Just do it please," Jonny said, "It's an experiment."
Okay," Will said, shrugging, and embracing Jonny tightly.
Jonny felt nothing.
Jonny went straight to Chris' hotel room.
"Chemistry? Huh?" he said to Chris, "Between close friends, huh?"
"Yeah," Chris said.
"I have been friends with Guy and Will just as long as with you," Jonny told him, "I don't feel like throwing up when I am near them."
Chris looked away.
"Oh shit," Jonny said, "This really is something else, isn't it?"
"Yes," Chris said, turning around and walking closer to Jonny.
"But what?" Jonny asked.
"I don't know," Chris said, looking at Jonny in the eyes.
"I'm scared," Jonny said.
"Me too," Chris whispered.
"But I like it," Jonny said, reaching over to touch Chris' cheek.
"Me too," Chris said, running his fingers along Jonny's lips.
"I think I would like to kiss you," Jonny said.
"Me too," Chris said.
"I flunked chemistry in school," Jonny said.
"Me too," Chris said.
Jonny leaned in and gently brushed his lips against Chris'.
A jolt of passion shook them both.
"School was never like that," Chris said, smiling.
The End