Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:40:11 EDT From: RitchChristopher@cs.com Subject: briarwood:new-heaven-and-new-earth-97 All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language, please exit now. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> "BRIARWOOD" Copyright Ritchris, 2006 A dramatic saga by Ritch Christopher <><><><><> BOOK NINE "A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH" * * * * * * * * * * * * Chapter Ninety-seven Tell me your secret, How you wake up every day And instead of thinking how horrible Life is, in every single way, You see the sunshine, The brand new day.. The colors of the rainbow at your feet, Instead of endless shades of gray. Tell me how you drift into sleep Without first overdosing on pills, How you awake to gentle calling of birds.. Instead of mocking parental drills. Tell me how, when you fall, You pick yourself up again, How you dust off the pain you hold inside, And don't cry, even when... The sun stops shining, The birds stop singing, The walls close in.. And your head starts ringing You must be a solider, yes that's what you are.. I ask how you do it, and I guess the answer's this: Strong or weak, you survive each day because you are who you are. Poem by Uisce copyright 2002 <><><><><><><><><><> The limousine dropped Lee and Hunter off at the townhouse after leaving Rob and Tim's apartment. Roger told the two that he, Cliff, Billy, and Marc would be by around 10:00am the next morning for a day of sight-seeing. Hunter needed no flashlight to place his key in the door lock as his eyes were still beaming from the get-together at Rob and Tim's. Hunter was on cloud ten. He had gone above cloud nine after he had sung Sammy's second act song with Tim accompanying him on the piano. Hunter opened the door of his apartment and immediately turned around to face Lee, whom he picked up in his arms and swung him completely around twice before setting him down in the foyer. "LEE!" Hunter shouted, "Isn't THIS just the most glorious night? I don't know whether to thank Dame Fortune or get on my knees to God and thanking Him for sending you to me! MY GOD! I can't believe what just happened! AND YOU! You, little runaway! You're a BRIARWOOD BOY and didn't even know it!" "I...I'm glad the evening went well for you, Hunter..." "Ah, come on! Weren't you glad to see your Uncle Roger and Father Cliff?" "I suppose...It's just that I thought I had escaped and no one could find me..." "For chrissakes, Lee, what are you running away from? Do you know how many millions of guys would trade places with you in a nanosecond?" "I don't want to be a part of a family. My family is dead..." "Jesus Christ, Lee, the rumors on the gay blogs say that Roger gives his Briarwood Boys up in the millions of dollars." "Then, my eight-hundred bucks proves I'm not really a Briarwood Boy, after all." "Yes, but you left town without anyone...especially, Roger, knowing that you were leaving." "I guess money is more important to you than it is to me." "I...I've never thought much about money, Lee." "That's because you've always been rich! When you're born poor, you don't miss what you've never had. I...I miss Jake. I had him. He was my brother and my life." "Then what you say must be true. I...I never had a brother, so I can't miss what I've never had. Hell, I've never had a best friend...until you..." "You think I'm your best friend, Hunter?" "You're closer to being a best friend than I've ever had before." "Friendship is a two way street. Do you think I'd consider you as MY best friend?" "From your negativity, I guess not..." "If I were to go upstairs and pack the things I came here with and left...how long would you miss me? A day? An hour? Your 'nanosecond'? We've known each other for what? Two days? Three? And you think we can become best friends the same way you pick up your sex partners in a gay bar?" "Lee, you're not like any sex partner I would meet in a bar. You're special. You're honest, sincere, and although I have nothing to compare you with, I've thought during the past few days I...I might fall in love with you." "WHY? So that you could BUY me things with your money? Dress me up the way you want me to look? Show me off like you would a new BMW or Porsche? I can't be anyone's boy toy..." "Is that what you think?" "I said it, didn't I?" "What about last night on top of the Empire State Building? You seemed to like kissing me." "Yes, but only in the shadows. You, Hunter, like being center stage, showing off, attracting attention. I'm just a small town hick country boy. The thousand bucks I had in my pocket before I went to the Briarwood bus terminal was the most money I'd ever had at one time in my life...and half of that belonged to Jake." "You don't like me because of my dad's money?" "I didn't say that, but it DOES make us different." "Lee, I can't believe you're saying all this. I've just had the grandest night of my life and you're pulling my euphoria down to a complete halt." "I'm sorry." "But, don't you see? It was because of you that I got to meet Rob Hawley and Tim Woodrow. They love you and care for you! I'd give every dime of my dad's inheritance to be in your shoes." "Hunter, if you get the part of Sammy in Tim's show, I don't want it to be because of me. I want you to earn the role, honestly, with YOUR talent. I'm sorry, but when you got up and started singing with Tim, I...I felt, again, like I was being used by you." "Fuck! If that's what you were feeling, I won't even audition. There are other shows that are casting right now. I'll forget all about 'Dark' and see if I can get into the chorus or dancing ensemble of a new show." "No, Tim is expecting you the day after tomorrow, and I don't want you to disappoint HIM or yourself." "Can we change the subject? You didn't say whether or not you enjoyed your meal at the French restaurant..." "It was a bit difficult for me to enjoy a hamburger steak with french fries, knowing what it cost. I could have had practically the same meal at McDonald's for three bucks! But, I DO appreciate your taking me there. I...I'm just sorry, for MY sake, that we had to run into the bunch from Briarwood afterwards." "Well, changing the subject didn't seem to improve the mood. I'll try another. Did you hear that one of the 'n'sync' guys came out of the closet? He announced that he's gay." "Whoop de doo! Why do gay people have to proclaim their sexuality? Do they want the world to KNOW that they're different or that they're freaks? So, he likes to go to bed with men and give blow jobs or get fucked in the butt! What difference does that make? I knew a guy in Fort Stockton...a straight guy, who liked his wife to insert an ice cube up his butt just when he came after fucking her...but that wasn't on the news. I had a friend in high school who used to fuck livestock on his daddy's farm...cows, sheep, a horse, even a chicken. That was a lot stranger than the 'n'sync' guy saying that he liked sex with men. Why do gays have to 'come out'? It's no one's business what anyone does in bed. I already told you that I had sex with my brother. In most states, I could be put into jail...but I didn't call NBC news to announce what I was doing! 'Coming out' is just someone's way of getting attention he's not getting any place else. He proclaims, 'I'M GAY!' and I say, 'So'? So what! Are we suppose to feel sorry for him? Praise him for being so brave to reveal his dirty laundry in public? Wave a flag? Wait for the Jay Leno jokes? I don't need to know his business. Let him keep it to himself and be happy. What must his mother think? Can you imagine the guy in Texas calling his mother on his wedding night to say, 'Mom, I love it when Mary puts an ice cube up my ass when I'm coming!' or 'Mom, Mary goes down on me and then she spits my semen back into MY mouth!'. What kind of guy would do that? So why would a guy want ANY and EVERY one to know what he likes to do in bed? When I was in the Cole Institute, I would hear gay guys talking about seeing photos on the Internet. One would say, if you look closely enough, you can see the outline of his dick in his pants! Often I would reply, 'Didn't you know he had one?' What's the big deal about a celebrity's penis. All male celebrities have them! They have to pee, don't they?" "You said that your dad was a preacher, didn't you?" "A hard-shelled evangelical preacher." "I think you missed your calling. Your sermon which you just spouted out was brilliant!" "That's something I'll NEVER be...is a minister!" "Do you intend on going sight-seeing in the morning?" "Sure. I don't want to make Roger and Cliff think I'm depressed or anything. I've got to keep up my 'front', so to speak." "Then, it's all right if I go, too?" "Heck yes! Your not going would arouse another suspicion." "Your Uncle Roger..and I think Father Cliff, as well, think that you and I are a couple." "I know. They're the happiest two gay men in the world...and they want everyone in the world to be just as happy as they..." "They'll only be in New York for a couple of days, would you like to put on a little act for them to convince them that you're really happy?" "What? Pretend that you and I are lovers?" "Just for pretense...not real." "Why pretend?" "What do you mean?" "I know that you want to go to bed with me. I've had gay sex before. Would you like me to have sex with you?" "I think you're setting a trap for me and I don't know what game you're playing. You know damned well, I'd love to have sex with you...but why the sudden change? Why are you suddenly giving in? If we go to bed, I can expect to wake up and find you gone in the morning?" "NO! I told you I was going sight-seeing." "You really would go to bed with me?" "I asked if you would like me to..." Hunter grew tense. "But what repercussion can I expect after we're through?" "I just feel that I OWE it to you. You bought me clothes, gave me a place to sleep, took me out to an expensive restaurant...I should do SOME kind of retribution." "Oh, no! I'm not accepting payback. That would be like treating you like a whore and I can get a whore anytime I wish. I want you to give yourself to me, freely, because YOU want to and for no other reason." "In that case, I'll go to my bedroom and go to sleep by myself." "I think that's a good idea." Lee started up the stairs and said, "Good night...and thanks for dinner." "You're welcome..." Lee went up the stairs and Hunter went into the kitchen. He stopped and listened for the sound of Lee closing his bedroom door. Then, Hunter opened the cabinet door under the sink. In the back of the cabinet was a small box with a lock on it. Feeling that he was alone, Hunter unlocked the box and got out several small bottles and a large one which was labeled, 'AZT'. Hunter got out the exact number of pills, swallowed them with a glass of water, turned off the lights and went to his bedroom. "Goddamn it!" Hunter uttered. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> The heated kissing session in the car between Chris and Will had subsided. Actually, they were both out of breath and took time out for a breather. Will was sitting looking straight ahead into the chilled autumn black night in Briarwood. The unleashed passion which had built as they were 'making out' left both with dozens of unanswered questions...questions which both feared to ask. Was this just a instantaneous release of built up tension and grief? Did each of them say too much? How much of their erotic platitudes were real? Where could a relationship between them lead to? Should either of them pursue it to the next step? Was hopping into bed together too much too soon or was sex out of the picture for now...or ever? The silence in the car was as thick as humidity on a July evening, but this was September and the weather had turned cold. Who would dare be the first to speak...and what in God's name could or would he say? Finally, it was Chris who broke the stilled hush. "Did we go too far?" Chris asked, looking at Will, who was still looking straight through the front windshield. "I don't think so, but perhaps, you do..." "We WERE rather 'caught up' in the moment. I was afraid what it might do to you?" "Want the truth?" Will asked, looking at Chris. "Always from you..." "This is the best I've felt since before I went to Iraq...before Rick...and of course, afterward. I'm totally relaxed. I'm fulfilled as if we had had a great night of sex. What about you? Are you feeling guilt and remorse?" "Do you mean do I feel as if I cheated on Ed?" "Yes..." "No. What about you and Rick?" "There were no men in my life before Rick, but if he were alive, he'd want me to carry on with my life without him. At least with his death, I didn't have to make a choice between him and marrying Kathy. God! I used to lie on my cot at night in Iraq and visualize what the two of them would say to each other. Rick knew all about her, but she, of course, had no reason to suspect anything between him and me." "Ha! Can you imagine the scene if you and I started a relationship and the news got out? Kathy's family AND your mother would have every Bishop from every diocese from every state barring me from the priesthood. I'd be lucky to get a night manager's job at a Seven-Eleven convenience store." "That's because you don't speak Arabic!" Will replied, trying to ease their tension with a small joke. "It's not that I didn't want to kiss you, Will. Believe me, I did. I kept thinking that you would want more from me and that could lead to disaster for both of us. If I rebuked your advances, it would drive you over the hill again with your 'PTSS'." "Chris, why would anyone HAVE to know?" "Do you honestly believe we could carry on in a clandestine fashion and get away with it? Roger and Cliff could spot it immediately...not to mention Jay and Troy." "They wouldn't say anything, would they?" "Most likely not. But where and when would we meet? Outside the Briarwood city limits after midnight?" "You live alone, don't you?" "Yes, in that big gothic mansion which Ed and I called home." "Suppose Dr. Herbert said that for my emotional therapy, it would be a good idea if I spent more time with you...even move in, temporarily, at your place. No one but YOU and Dr. Herbert know about me. No one else, including my mother would ever suspect a thing. I could fake a few panic attacks around her and let Dr. Herbert suggest that YOU are the only one who can calm me..." "I...I don't know, Will." "You hinted that the place is too large for you and gives you eerie feelings being by yourself there. I...I could be a companion to you and hopefully, fill some of the loneliness you feel there." "Will, do you WANT a relationship? I mean, if you DID move in with me, would it be companionship or something bigger?" "You mean, like sex?" "Yes. I don't know what kind of sex you had with Rick, but since he was your one and only lover, it's quite different living together, sharing, planning, dreaming..." "Chris, I've done nothing but dream about you for several days. So far as I know, Rick was the first man I was ever physically attracted to...until you sat on my bed the other day. I almost had to put a pillow on my lap to hide my raging hard on." "'I' excited you, sexually?" "Hell, man, you know that dudes don't turn me on...or at least, they didn't used to. I don't know if you realize it, but you're really one hot Reverend! I know you're more experienced than I...and I would always have the feeling that the guys you met or went to bed with before me would give me an inferiority complex..." "Are you fishing for a compliment?" "Maybe? Do...do you find me, at all, attractive?" "Jesus Christ! You could be on the U.S. Army recruiting poster. Even gay guys would join up if they thought they had a chance to be your bunk mate!" "So you DO find me attractive?" "Hell, yes!" "Enough to get it up for me?" "You did a pretty good job of getting it up a few minutes ago when we were kissing..." "That was better than a compliment. I appreciate your telling me that!" "Look, Will, if I take you to my house now, don't you think we should get your prescriptions filled just for good measure?" "YES! DEAR GOD! Let's go get those fucking pills and make everyone happy! Don't tell my mother or Dr. Herbert, but I'm not taking a single one of them. I don't need them as long as I can be near you." "Good. I want you to continue seeing Dr. Herbert, but for GOD'S sake, but mostly, my own, please don't mention me to him..." "Too late. I told him that I found someone who interested me in Briarwood and he guessed, you, right off!" "So much for clandestine affairs and keeping a secret relationship in Briarwood!" "Chris, would you do me a favor?" "If I can..." "Let's go pick up those goddamned pills and take me home with you!" "You have an ulterior motive for wanting to go home with me?" "I...I'd like to satisfy my curiosity to see if we're compatible. We don't have to have sex. I'd just like to roam through your house, see where you live, look at your books, your CD's, your DVD's...I'd like to smell your bathrobe in the bathroom to see what you smell like as a man, not a priest. You DO have a bathrobe, don't you?" "Yes, Ed and I had matching terrycloth robes." "Will you call your mother as soon as we get there and tell her where you are?" "Chris, I'm NOT twelve-years-old and need my mother's permission for a sleepover! The nights I had sex with Rick, I sure as hell didn't call my mother to get her to say, it's OK!" "Maybe not, but with your PTSS, she's worried about you, I'm sure. I don't want her to think you've run away or have been picked up by the police and put into a psych ward." "OK! OK! I get your point! I'll call her and tell her I'm going to stay at your house and help you unpack some of the stuff you brought home from Europe." "Let's hurry to the pharmacy and stop by the grocery store to pick up two steaks!" <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Roger and Cliff had no trouble getting Billy to go to bed once they had returned to the hotel from Rob and Timmy's. Billy really had no ultimate desire to find out if Marc was gay or if they would have a jolly good time in his private hotel room. Billy was just glad to be near someone his age after witnessing Jake's death and nearly his own. Marc had let it be known that he had no friends, so having a sleepover with Billy was a rare joy and treat in his spurious life as the son of celebrities. The idea of the two of them spending the night together and going sight-seeing all day the next was thrill enough for both of them. Cliff knew that Billy wouldn't overstep the boundary of good manners and even safe sex, should the moment arrive. But Cliff and Roger were so pleased to see Billy in such good spirits...the best they had seen him in many days. Cliff and Roger decided to have a late night cocktail before retiring. Roger made a pitcher of vodka martinis and the two sat outside on the open patio of the Presidential suite at the Waldorf and looked at the New York autumn night. "Did Lee look all right to you, tonight?" Roger asked. "Considering that he just lost his brother, he seemed okay," Cliff answered, taking a martini from the tray Roger was carrying. "What did you think of Hunter?" "I don't know. He seems ambitious, but he has a lot of talent..." "Do you think Tim and Rob were impressed by him?" "I think so, Rog. It's obvious that Hunter knows the straight play inside and out. I don't think that the role of Sammy requires a dancer, but if Hunter can dance half as well as he sings, I think he stands a pretty good chance with his audition." "Do you think I should offer MY influence?" "ABSOLUTELY NOT! You might be the show's backer, but leave the casting entirely up to the director and Tim. This is one of those times when you shouldn't meddle, Mr. Harold Prince!" "All right, I'll stay out of the production end of my new show." "Roger! It's NOT your new show! It's Tim's!" "Oh, sweetheart, I know that. I just thought if I could do anything to get a struggling young actor a break..." "I know how you finagle to get your ways. I've been married to you so long, I can actually get into your mind and read your thoughts." "Cliff, you could read my thoughts when we were teenagers. You knew how much I loved you before 'I' did. I think you had to convince me that I did." "Oh? And when did you first realize that you loved me?" "The nights I spent at my house after I'd left you after the school day was over. That's when a person REALLY knows how much someone means to them...not when you're around them, but when you're NOT around them..." "Then you'll never fathom how much I loved you when you traipsed off to see the Dalai Lama in Tibet. God! Those nights without you were so miserable for me, Roger." "Then I'm glad Lee has Hunter to be with. I came home to you, but Jake will never come home to Lee. He must miss Lee terribly." "I don't really think that Lee and Hunter are a couple. Seeing the outside of Lee's townhouse, the boy must come from a 'money' family. That's the exact opposite of Lee." "Cliff, can I tell you that I was actually hurt when Lee left so suddenly. Had I known he was coming to New York, I would.." "I KNOW, Rog! You would have stuffed his pockets with money and opened up a bank account for him..." "What good is my money if I can't give it away to people who need it more than I?" "Lee was brought up in a very poor household. He never got used to having money and he, unlike most kids, today, learned to get by without it." "You know I would have given my last cent if there was anyway I could have saved Jake's life." "I know, and God forgive me for even thinking about it, but it COULD have been Billy instead of Jake. The acid was meant for Billy." "When do you think we should tell him about Chuck's suicide? He's sure to find out when we return home to Briarwood?" "Not during the next few days. I hope that Marc's schedule will allow him to spend lots of time with Billy. I'm tempted to ask Rob and Tim if Marc can go to New Hampshire with us." "That's a wonderful idea, my love...but then, you're ALWAYS full of wonderful ideas. That's why I could never live without you!" "HA! How about when you went to Tibet without telling me where you were going?" "That's when I was trying to find out who the real me was. I had to find out what there was about me that made you love me so much!" "And just WHAT did you find out about yourself...AND me?" "That in this world of imperfection, you were the closest thing to being a divine human and I had to be the luckiest guy in the world to have you in my life." "Oh, no! 'I'm' the luckiest to have you! It's been a daily goal of mine to help as many people as you have!" "We DO make quite a team, don't we?" "Oh, by the way, Mr. Fort Knox, did Walter tell you that you did or did NOT own this hotel?" "Did you hear me calling Walter while you were showering this afternoon?" "Nope. I can read your thoughts! Remember?" "You, dirty bum! Can you read my thoughts RIGHT NOW?" "Uh huh!" "And...?" "You're thinking evil, nasty thoughts!" "So, if you know so much, are you ready to meet me in the bedroom?" "As soon as I finish my martini!" "Hell, I'll make a fresh pitcher and put it on the night stand beside the bed." "You're a lecherous old roué, Mr. Cole!" "And YOU, Father Cole, are the cause of my being that way!" Roger stood up. "Come on, finish your drink and I'll strip off your clothes at the same time!" <><><><><><><><><><><> Billy showed Marc where to put his clothes, toothbrush, and overnight gear and went to the small refrigerator unit near the bed. "Wanna Coke? Milk? Some juice?" Billy asked. "A Coke would be great!" Marc replied, taking a seat on the couch. "Two cold Cokes coming up!" Billy said, popping the lids of two cans. "Whaccha want to do? Watch TV? A DVD?" "Why don't we just talk awhile? Get to know one another a little better!" "Great! I LOVE to talk!" Billy said, sitting on the couch cushion, next to Marc. Billy crossed his legs and sat on them in a Yoga position. "How long have you been Roger and Cliff's adopted son?" "Not long...less than a year..." "They ARE gay, aren't they?" "They'd better be! They adopted me as a couple." "What's it like to have two gay dads?" "Shoot! I don't even think about it! They're just Daddy Roger and Daddy Cliff to me. I mean, being gay is what they do in private. When they're around me or other people, they don't act any different than anyone else." "Are your real folks dead or were they alive when you were adopted?" "It's kinda hard for me to explain it. I mean, usually, I don't talk about it, but, somehow, with you, I feel like I can tell you secrets." "Tell me as much or as little as you like, Billy." "I...I shot both of my parents with a Colt 45 gun..." "Aw, you're shitting me!" "No shit! I did." "Why, for God's sake?" "Because they were going to kill me. You see, my dad was really strict. I had to be the perfect son. Then one night, my mom found me with a bunch of gay magazines filled with naked pictures and she went and got my dad. Both of them started kicking and beating me and my dad said that he thought I'd be better off dead than being gay..." Billy took adeep breath. "So he came after me with a butcher knife to cut off my penis. I managed to escape to my parents bedroom where I grabbed the gun my dad had in his night stand and in the process closed my eyes and started shooting... killing my mother who was in the room AND my dad." "God! Billy! I'm so sorry." "The judge ruled in my favor, saying that it was self-defense. I had no family left...no one to turn to and Father Cliff and Roger came to my rescue and Roger's lawyer, Walter Clayton, got all the legal papers drawn up and I was adopted in just a matter of days. So, Roger and Father Cliff became my Daddy Roger and Daddy Cliff." "You're HOW old?" "Almost sixteen...the same as you..." "How old were you when you discovered you were gay?" "I'd probably known it all my life, but I could never BE gay because of my parents." "How did you know 'I' was gay, Billy?" "Heck, if you were straight, would you have held my hand in the limousine?" "Damn! I did that without thinking! God, if my agent knew, he'd shit bricks!" "Well, you can relax with me. Your agent will never find out anything you do when you're around me or my two dads...even Uncle Rob and Uncle Tim. They sure as heck won't say anything either." "I can't believe I held your hand in front of your two dads. It just seemed so natural and the right thing to do when you grabbed my hand." "Do you have a boyfriend in Hollywood?" "God, no!" "Then, who do you have sex with if your agent is so careful with you?" "I DON'T have sex." "WOW!" "Wanna hear something worse?" "Sure, it's tell your secrets night." "I...I've never had sex with anyone in my life." "Not even a jerk off session with your best friend?" "Billy, I've never HAD a best friend! My parents don't give two hoots in Hades about me, yet they keep me guarded like I was Charles Manson or Osama Bin Laden. I'm allowed to go to acting classes, dance lessons, voice coaching, and my private tutor comes by daily for my schooling. I don't go to movies, restaurants, clubs, concerts, NO PLACE!" "CRAP! And I thought my life was lonely with MY parents! What about church? Do you go?" "My folks are atheists and I guess I am too." "You don't believe in God?" "God? I don't even know what studio He works at." "If you get the part in Tim's play, where will you live?" "With Rob and Tim, I guess." "Someone made a joke at the restaurant that they might adopt you...is there any truth to that?" "Dear God, how I wish! Man-oh-man, to have two fathers like you have...I'd be the happiest kid in the world!" "Would you like to see if I can make that possible for you?" "How, for God's sake?" "Marc, my two dads have performed almost as many miracles as there are in the Old Testament!" "Yes, but how could they...?" "Leave EVERYTHING to me!...AND Daddy Roger and Daddy Cliff AND Uncle Walter." "I...I suddenly feel like hugging you!" "Then, what's stopping you?" "Lack of experience, I guess..." "How about ME hugging you, then?" "I'm all yours!" "Careful what you say..." Billy uncrossed his legs, leaned across the couch and put both arms around Marc. Marc was timid at first, but slowly got the urge to put his arms around Billy. The two embraced tightly. Billy could actually feel Marc's heart beating next to his chest. "Relax, Marc, I'm not going to hurt you. Relax and enjoy the moment." Marc gave a sigh of relief, exhaled broadly, and Billy moved his head so that his lips were inches away from Marc's lips and Billy kissed him. Marc moaned as he pulled Billy's body even closer to his own. "How was that?" Billy asked. "More wonderful than you can imagine," Marc said, softly. "Was if okay with you? I mean, did I do it right?" "Marc? Was that your first kiss?" "I'm afraid it was. I...know you were disappointed, probably." "Oh, no, I wasn't! If you like, we can practice kissing all night..." Billy smiled. "Would you like to kiss me, now?" "Uh huh..." Marc said, leaning in to kiss Billy, only Billy surprised Marc by slipping his tongue in between Marc's lips. This made Marc so excited, he raised up on the couch and lay his body on top of Billy's, all the while, grinding his crotch into Billy's. Billy responded by raising his lower torso to meet Marc's and thus began a first-time session of dry-humping for Marc. Billy pulled his head back long enough to say, "Wanna get out of these clothes and go into the bedroom?" "You don't mind if I'm a rank amateur?" "Ha! I was once one myself. I can show you how to make love the easy way." "I'm ready, Billy. I've been ready all my life." The two didn't wait to get to the bedroom before stripping. Billy began undressing Marc as Marc undressed Billy simultaneously. Soon they both were naked, still lying on the couch. "My Lord, Marc! Your body is as beautiful as your face." "I can't believe this is happening, Billy." "Just wait, the night is just beginning...a lot more things are going to happen before we get to sleep." "Billy, would it be all right if I took your...you know, in my hand." "Only if I can take YOURS at the same time." "Good God, Billy! You're HUGE!" "From what I'm holding in MY hand, I'd say we're the exact same size." "Let's go into the bedroom and show me how to do EVERYTHING!" "That might take a while...as long as we get enough sleep to enjoy the sight-seeing in the morning..." "Billy, I think you have a few sights I want to see, tonight!" "You're on, Mr. Carlton. It's SHOW TIME!" The two naked teenagers ran frolicking from the couch to the bed. <><><><><><><><><> When Roger and Cliff's entourage left Rob and Tim's, the two Broadway Tony winners walked back into their West 75th Street apartment where Rob turned and gave Tim a tremendous hug. "Didn't I tell you that Roger would like it?" Rob exclaimed. "I WAS rather proud, if I say so myself!" Tim replied. "Are you going to let Roger back the entire show by himself?" "Just try and stop him! We both know that when Roger gets enthused about a project, money is no object...Come to think of it, money has never been an object for Roger about ANYTHING!" "He certainly made his Briarwood Boys lives possible with luxury. You know, neither of has ever touched the endowment he gave us. It's just sitting in Chase-Manhattan growing interest," Rob said. "We've never HAD to touch Roger's money because of the success of our last two shows. Maybe in a year or two, IF 'Dark' is a hit, we can get away to Europe, just the two of us. We moved directly from Briarwood to New York, got into 'Green Dolphin Street' and except for a quick jaunt back home, we haven't been any place except to work and here." "Tim, while Marc is spending the night with Billy, this is a good time for the two of us to talk." "You mean about adopting him?" "Yes." "Rob, I know that Roger and Cliff adopted Billy when he was fifteen, but I always figured that when it came time for us to consider adoption, we might get a baby like Jeff and Johnny, when they got their twins. Marc, on the other hand, is sixteen. In a couple of years, he'll be going off to college, so that would only give us two years with him." "I know, babe, but Marc NEEDS us so much. He'd still be ours AFTER he goes off to college. Who knows, if he takes the role in 'Dark', he might not go to college like the Foster kids, Sutton and Hunter. Since the two of them made a big splash on Broadway, they've gone from hit show to hit show to hit show...non-stop. The same thing might happen with Marc. I know we could look after him and his career than his agent out in California. But MOST of all, Tim, we could give him love and a home. Those are the TWO items he's never had...and if WE don't apply to adopt him, he'll never know either!" "Can you hear Marc calling you, 'Daddy Rob' and me, 'Daddy Tim'?" "Honestly? I'd LOVE to hear him say it." "He and Billy surely hit it off great, didn't they?" "I hope Marc will be all right! The last time we were in Briarwood, Jay mentioned how horny Billy stays. I don't really know if Marc is gay or not?" "I doubt if Marc knows. But I'm sure he can handle Billy." "HA! What I'm afraid of is how Billy will handle Marc...remember, 'The Karate Kid'...'hands on...hands off'?" "I'm certain that if anything out of the ordinary happens, both Roger and Cliff are very close by." "I didn't tell you because I didn't want Billy to hear, but Cliff took me into the kitchen and told me that Chuck Brindley, the kid who threw acid at Billy, but caused Jake, Lee's brother's death, committed suicide in jail." "My God!" "Billy had gone to jail to see Chuck just hours before. Billy wanted to forgive Chuck for doing what he did." "Billy doesn't know about the suicide?" "Not a word. Cliff and Roger whisked him on an airplane to New York, then on to Jeff and Johnny's in New Hampshire, before Billy could hear about it on the news." "Damn! That poor kid! First, both his parents, then watching Jake splashed with acid, and now Chuck. I...I'm glad Marc went back to the hotel with Billy. The two will be a great comfort for one another." "I hope not TOO much comfort!" "What do you mean?" "Hell, if Roger thinks Marc is a good companion for Billy, he'll call Walter Clayton and begin adoption proceedings to adopt Marc for Billy, as a brother." "You know, Roger JUST MIGHT DO THAT!" Tim replied. "So what do you think? If Marc is agreeable, should we try to adopt him before Roger does?" "I think I have to agree with you. Marc would STILL be a Briarwood Boy for Roger and Cliff. Of course, his real parents may want some kind of adoption dowry or whatever it's called." "We've got money we'll never spend and you know it!" "Rob, do you think Marc's right for the role of Sonny?" "You knew he was right as soon as you set your eyes on him at JFK airport when he arrived from L.A.. Of course, when you heard him sing and read, there was no other actor considered for the role." "While we're on the subject, what was your opinion of Lee's roommate, Hunter?" "Tim, he LOOKED right and God knows, he can sing the part!" "I'd considered using a named performer, but, although the role of Sammy is important, it's not that big..." "Let's just wait and see if he shows up at the audition the day after tomorrow and see how he compares with the tryouts planned for tomorrow!" "Do you think there's a love connection between Hunter and Lee?" "I don't know, but it might be good for Lee's sake." "Ready to go to bed?" "MORE than ready. We have a busy day tomorrow. Hundreds will be lined up outside the theatre...ALL thinking they have talent. It's just too bad we don't have Simon Cowell helping us with the auditions." "Simon DOES know talent when he sees it!" "HA! Can you see me imitating him when the first little girl comes in to sing for the part of Reenie and I slap my hand on the desk and say, 'OH, GOD, YOU'RE HORRIBLE!'." "That's a shock of recognition, I never want to hear when I AUDITION for a show." "Sweetie, you audition in our bedroom every night." "Yeah, and I always get the part I want!" Rob said. <><><><><><><><><><><><> Hunter went to bed with his mind racing over the evening's events. He had actually met the composer, lyricist, AND the star of the play he wanted to be in more than any in the world. He had also had a long discussion with the only boy he might ever fall in love with. Both prizes were dangling right before his eyes. BOTH were so close and yet, so many obstacles stood in his way of achieving either of them. During dinner when Lee told Hunter that he had acquired AIDS from his piano teacher in Texas, Hunter came so close to telling Lee that he, too, had the HIV virus. But then, Lee went on to say, he had been cured at the Cole Institute and Hunter clammed up and couldn't tell Lee about himself. Lee was cured. Hunter was not. Hunter wondered if he would ever have the nerve to tell Lee the truth. He also wondered if he could stay well enough to perform 'Dark' eight times-a-week? There was NO one individual who Hunter could blame because there had been SO many one-night tricks. It could be any of dozens of guys in the night. How many had HE infected before he found out that HE contracted the virus? Hunter had experienced his happiest night ever tonight and all he could do in the dark of his bedroom was turn his head into his pillow and cry. Just when everything could be so perfect...'Suddenly, there's God, so quickly', Tennessee Williams wrote. <><><><><><><><><><> (To be continued in "Briarwood" Book Nine--'A New Heaven and a New Earth' chapter 98).