Date: Sat, 3 Feb 2001 21:06:56 -0800 (PST) From: . . Subject: For Whom the Bell Tolls Loudly part 1 This work contains consenting sexual acts between males age 18+. If this offends you hit the door you don't have to read it. If you are not 18, please, do not continue come back in a couple of years after the story get going good and you can read the completed version but right now you are too young so see ya. All comments and feedback are welcome. goodbburgboi@yahoo.com New Years Eve 2000 was a night of parties, alcohol, and doomsayers. The night progressed as it usually tends to do; people scurry off to one party after another and one bar after another consuming alcohol and making merry. It is no different in the small college town of Levittville. The bars had specials, and it was happy hour all night long. Fireworks echoed throughout the town as different residents heralded the night before the first day of the twenty-first century. The door swung open to Athlete's Bar and Grill and people poured into the local bar, one of twenty Levittville has to offer. A small group sat in the back of the bar in a booth that was a semi-circle...it was characteristic of the bars in the area. It was even of the stereotypical red pleather variety. The group consisted of, in order around the semi circle, Erin, a cute blonde girl with a slight athletic build. Jason was a soccer player a little short but cute with black hair. Melissa was a very cute girl with a big build and a wonderful sense of humor with brown hair and Eric a tall fraternity guy with green eyes and blonde hair. "Pass the salt bitch," Melissa said to Erin laughing. "Get it yourself ho," Erin retorted passing Melissa the salt. The group sat and drank and talked about the times they had had since school began in the fall. It has been a very interesting semester. "So, I was fucking this chic right," Jason started... "We don't want to hear about your drunken sexual escapes hombre, " Eric said. "Aight, so who wants another drink," Melissa asked. "Tequilla Shots all around my friend, " Eric said. Melissa went to the bar retrieved the shots and returned to the booth. "We should all propose toasts and we'll like drink at the end," Erin said. "Ok, I'll go first," Jason said raising his shot, " to many more years of drunken new years and fine pieces of ass." The group laughed at how uncouth their friend was even just buzzed. Melissa raised her shot. " To finishing our degrees, being friends forever, and making it home tonight alive." "Cheers," the group sounded. "I would like to propose that like I get to be homecoming queen next year and you all can be like my subjects, " Erin said. " Blow it out your ass sorostitute," Jason said leaning over and kissing Erin. "Well, my toast is that by gones be by gones and we have a year of peace," Eric said smiling though not totally there in the room with his friends. Midnight came and went as always does, and the group scattered to their homes. Eric took the bus that runs to Richmond Grove, his apartment complex. He walked the short distance from the bus stop to his door and was amazed at how pleasant it was to be early morning of January 1, 2001. Eric opened the door and walked over to the table where his answering machine rested by the door, and pushed the play button. "You have -two-new messages," the mechanistic voice resounded. "Hey Eric, its Jamie you know your little bro, just calling to say happy new year man one minute to go...I'll call you back tommorrow." "Umm, is anyone there? Eric? Anyway, this is this is Tommy I'm just calling to say hi and that I know you arent' gonna like this and I'm not sure how you are gonna take it but I'm asking Jessica to marry me tonight...I just thought you should know please don't try to ruin this for me." Eric couldn't believe what he heard. Tommy? marriage? It didn't make any sense. He fell to his knees cupped his head in his hands and started to cry. He got up and turned on his stereo trying to think of what to do or where to go and on the radio Creed's "With Arms Wide Open" played. He sat motionless on his black sofa still in shock and unsure of what was going on. The events of the last few years played back in his mind. He saw the party at the neighboring school when he and Tommy kissed for the first time. They both thought it was funny that no one noticed they were making out in the back of the Jeep. He saw the first time they has slept together not sex but slept. He had held Tommy and Tommy said he felt safe for the first time in his life. Not to mention that Eric wasn't sure he was gay at this point. He had always been curious, but after he held Tommy that night there was no doubt about his sexuality. Then, he remembered the first time he realized he was in love with Tommy. They were sitting together under a tree on Tommy's farm and Eric told Tommy he loved him. Tommy said he did as well, but the next day he told Eric that he couldn't' be gay and that what they were doing was wrong and that they could be friends and fraternity brothers but they couldn't' be together. It had been almost six months since that had happened and the injury was still fresh. Love is something you don't' just turn off and now to hear Tommy was getting married made him unsure of how to feel for now all he could do was sit and cry.