Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 05:47:44 EDT
From: BertMcK@aol.com
Subject: Dancing on the Tundra, 11

DANCING ON THE TUNDRA
by Bert McKenzie
Copyright 2010

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to any real
person alive or dead is coincidental and unintentional.

CHAPTER XI

     The impromptu party was a lot of fun.  Terry had always had
preconceived ideas about jocks, but now he was finding out that
these guys were not at all like the stereotypes.  The one thing
that did make him uncomfortable was the quantity of beer Dan
consumed, and the way the guys and girls tended to get physical.
Terry looked around and realized he hadn't seen Wayne in quite a
while.  Beginning to worry he finally mentioned this to Dan.

     "Don't get up tight.  He's having fun."

     "How do you know?"

     "Because I saw Jeff follow him into his bedroom."

     "Jeff!"  Terry was astounded.  He was certain all of the
jocks were straight.

     Dan must have read his mind.  "He bet Jeff he could give him
a better blow job than Jeff's girlfriend."  Terry couldn't
believe his ears.  He blushed a bright red at the thought.
"Would you just relax.  Jeff knows what he's doing.  He swings
both ways.  I ought to know."

     "What?" Terry looked up in shock.

     "Don't get all excited, Michaelson," Dan said.  "We're
roommates and he told me."

     "He told you that?"

     "Sure.  Don't you and Wayne tell each other stuff?"

     "Not about things like that," Terry admitted.

     "Well maybe you should."

     "Terry," Victor asked for his attention.  "Can I use your
room?  This girl is really hot for me."

     Terry felt totally at a loss.  He wanted to stay friends
with the guys but he felt really uncomfortable at the thought of
them having sex in his bed.  Fortunately Dan came to his rescue.
"He just changed the sheets, man.  Why don't you go screw her at
a cheap motel."

     "But Dan . . ."

     "Terry's got his own plans for his room in a couple of
minutes, right Michaelson?"

     "Yeah, I do.  I'm sorry, Victor."

     "It's okay, pal.  I just kind of thought maybe you and Wayne
were . . ."

     "Well you thought wrong, Vic.  They're not," Dan said,
raising his voice.

     About this time Jeff came out of Wayne's room zipping up his
fly.  "Next?" he said with a big grin on his face.

     "I think the party's over," Dan announced loudly.  "Time to
hit the road."  His proclamation was met by groans, boos and
other sounds of displeasure.  "If we don't get moving now, we're
not gonna get back into the dorm before they lock the doors."
Apparently the athletic dorms where the guys all stayed had a
curfew.  Slowly the men got up and filed out taking their cooler
and girls with them.

     "Thanks for the party," Terry said as he stood to join Dan.
Instead of leaving, his new friend began picking up empty cans
and potato chip bags, cleaning up the aftermath.  "Dan, I can do
this tomorrow.  You've got to be going or you'll be locked out of
your dorm."

     "I can't leave this mess for my fearless leader to clean up.
Besides, I had too many beers to drive.  I'm not risking my
'vette in an accident."

     "Well what are you going to do?"

     Dan smiled innocently.  "Can't I crash here again?  After
all, you've got a well stocked 'fridge and I never had that
breakfast I paid for."

     "I don't know," Terry said slowly.  It was different this
time.  He was beginning to realize his attraction for this big,
beautiful man.  And this time Dan wasn't as drunk as he was the
previous night when it seemed like Terry had no other choice.

     "What's the problem, Michaelson?  You said you weren't like
Wayne so it shouldn't bother you if I spend the night."

     "Yeah, sure," Terry agreed, not knowing what else to say.
They finished straightening up the apartment.

     "Well, let's go to bed," Dan finally said as he stretched
and yawned.  Terry followed him into the bedroom and grabbed a
clean sheet and blanket from his closet.  "Where you goin'?" Dan
asked as he slipped off his shirt, revealing the perfect torso
that Terry had fantasized about.

     "I'll sleep on the couch."

     "Like hell you will.  I'm not kicking you out of your own
bed.  Now shut up and get in here."

     "But . . ."

     "Get in here or I'll go sleep with Wayne."

     "You can't do that," Terry said in shock.  "You know what he
is."

     "So quit acting like a virgin bride."  Dan sat on the foot
of the bed and slipped off his shoes and socks, then stood and
removed his jeans.  While Terry stood watching, Dan peeled off
his briefs and climbed naked into bed.  He smiled up at Terry.
"I figure if you can sleep in the raw, so can I."

     Terry gulped and turned out the light, then quickly stripped
and climbed onto the edge of the mattress.  He laid there, daring
not to breathe, hoping his erection would subside.  Dan reached
over, gently touching his shoulder, and Terry fell completely out
of bed.  "What the fuck are you doing?" Dan asked.  "Get in bed.
There's plenty of room and I promise I won't bite . . . hard."

     Terry realized the foolishness of his behavior and climbed
back into the bed, moving over just enough to be comfortable.
"You cold?" Dan asked.

     "No, I'm fine," Terry said.

     "Then why are you shivering?  You're shaking the whole bed."

     "Sorry," Terry said in a strangled voice as he tried to
force himself to relax.

     "You tense?" Dan asked.

     "I guess so.  I'm just keyed up because of the show."

     "Well why didn't you say so," Dan replied.  Terry felt the
bed move as his friend changed positions.  "I get that way
sometimes after a ball game.  I can fix that."  Dan grabbed
Terry, shoving him onto his stomach and began to massage his
shoulders and back.  "You really are keyed up," he said as his
fingers played over Terry's knotted muscles.  "You know what else
is good to relax you when you're this way?" Dan asked as he ran
his hands down the small of Terry's back and began massaging his
buttocks.  "Sex."

     "What?" Terry said, his voice was about an octave higher
than normal.

     "You heard me, Terry," Dan said as he called the blond by
his first name.  "Give me your hand."  He gently guided Terry's
hand down to feel his inflated phallus.  "You see?  I'm just as
keyed up as you are."

     "But, you're not queer," Terry said, his voice shaking.  Yet
he never withdrew his hand.

     "No, I'm not.  And neither are you.  Aren't we lucky that
neither one of us is queer."  Dan began to gently stroke Terry's
nude body, rolling him over onto his back.  He gathered the boy
in his arms.  "I'm gay, Terry.  I'm hoping you are too.  But I'm
certain neither one of us is queer."  He leaned closer and gently
kissed Terry's lips, the mouths blending as their passion
mounted.

                            *   *   *

     Terry awoke from a pleasant dream and was at first
disconcerted, then comforted when he realized where he was.  He
was in his room, in his bed, but he was also wrapped in the arms
of a warm, caring man.  It was pleasant to lie there and listen
to his partner's breathing.  He remembered the sex from the night
before and smiled.  This was the first time he had ever made
love.  There was none of the urgency, brutality, or cold one-
sidedness that he had experienced before when he had been used
for sex by the guys in his high school.  Dan had been gentle and
giving, and had worked to bring Terry's body as much physical
pleasure as he took for himself.  It was an incredible
experience.

     Terry wanted to lie there and bask in the feeling of warmth,
but his bladder had other ideas.  He very slowly and very
carefully extricated himself from Dan's sleeping embrace and rose
from the bed.  He then reached for his robe and quietly stepped
out of the bedroom and into the bathroom.  When he was finished
he planned to join Dan again, but he heard sounds coming from the
kitchen.  Terry tightened his robe around himself and went out to
greet his roommate.  What he saw made him gasp.

     "Morning," Wayne said as he looked up from a steaming cup of
coffee.  He was dressed in a robe as well and was sitting at the
kitchen table.  His face appeared puffy and swollen, one eye was
partially closed with reddish purple bruises surrounding it.  His
lower lip was distended on one side and a scab of dried blood had
formed over a cut on it.  "How'd you sleep?" he asked.

     "My God, what happened to you?" Terry asked as he sat down
at the table and stared at Wayne.

     "It's okay.  I'll live.  But I guess I better find someone
else to house manage the rest of the run.  I'd scare off the
audience looking like this."

     "Wayne, who did this?" Terry persisted.  "You were okay at
the party last night."

     Wayne lowered his head for a moment, then looked back at
Terry.  "I guess I should have kept my mouth shut.  I told that
sexy white jock I could suck better than his girlfriend."

     "Jeff?" Terry asked incredulously.  "He did this?"

     "He gets off on beating up fags."

     "But Dan said he likes both guys and girls."

     "Sure," Wayne agreed.  "But the guys he only likes when he
can beat 'em up then fuck 'em and hear 'em scream."

     "So Jeff did this?" another voice asked.  Terry turned
around to see Dan standing in the doorway.  He was already
dressed.

     "Don't worry about it, white boy.  Your jock friend got his
rocks off in my butt and I got what I deserved."

     "Yeah," Dan said with a half nod.  "Now I'm gonna go see he
gets what he deserves."  He turned and walked out the front door.
Terry sat for a moment, too stunned to react, then he jumped up
and ran after his lover.  He opened the door, ran down the steps
and out into the parking lot just in time to see the red corvette
peel out into the street.  Slowly Terry returned to the
apartment.

     "Wayne, I'm sorry.  I feel like this is all my fault," he
apologized.

     "Don't be stupid.  I'm the one who came on to that macho
honky.  I got what I asked for.  I should have known better.  I
should have stayed with my own crowd."

     "What do you think Dan's going to do?" Terry asked.

     "They're roommates, friends and jocks, sugar.  He's probably
on his way to congratulate his buddy for beating up a faggot
nigger."  Wayne sipped the coffee.

     "But Dan's gay," Terry said.  It was the first time he had
ever used the term.

     "Say what?  You're shitting me!  That macho white boy?  Now
how the hell would you know?"

     "Because I am too."  Terry felt himself shake as he uttered
the words.  "I'm gay.  When he slept over last night we . . . we
did it."

     "Shit," Wayne said and his deformed lips broke into a wide
smile.  "I always knew you had it in you, sugar!"

     "Well I sure had it in me last night," Terry admitted and
they both broke into hysterical laughter.

     "Oh, Terry," Wayne finally said as he caught his breath.
"I'm happy for you.  You finally accepted who you are and got one
hell of a sexy boyfriend all in the same night.  There's only one
thing I'm unhappy about."

     "What's that?"

     "That it hurts so damned much to laugh."  They again began
to chuckle.

     Terry tried his best to make Wayne go to a doctor but the
man was incredibly stubborn.  He reasoned that a black eye was
not serious enough to see a doctor.  In fact, with his skin
coloring, in a couple of days when the swelling went down, the
damage would be hardly noticeable.  He did let Terry doctor the
cut on his lip.  It made the blond feel needed and helpful, even
though Wayne would just as soon have done without the extra
attention.

     They then began to discuss Terry's recent revelation.  Terry
admitted being scared and definitely uncomfortable about his
sexuality.  Wayne told him it was only natural and not to worry.
After all, it had only been two years earlier that gays had
started to make a name for themselves by standing up for their
rights at Stonewall.  Wayne suggested that Terry keep his
orientation a secret.  It was the easiest way to survive.

     "But you don't make a secret of your preference for guys,"
Terry argued.

     "Honey, when you got what you got going for you, you don't
have to advertise like I do.  Besides, I don't think I could hide
the way I am if I tried.  I may be a theatre major, but that good
an actor, I'm not."

     "I still wish you would reconsider about going to the
doctor," Terry argued as he saw Wayne wince when he tried to
smile.

     "I done told you.  A black eye isn't serious enough for a
doctor."

     "He's right," Dan said as he came back into the apartment.

     Terry looked to see Dan's left eye was beginning to discolor
and swell.  "Oh my God!  What happened?"

     "A lucky punch," Dan admitted as he dropped into a chair.
"But you should see the mess I left that son of a bitch in.
Wayne, you got any steak for this eye?"

     "No, but I've got a box of Hamburger Helper if you want to
try it."

     "Get some ice," Terry ordered and began to fuss over his new
boyfriend.

     "Well, I guess I've got two things to take care of today,"
Dan said as Wayne returned with a couple of ice cubes wrapped in
a dish cloth.  "I've got to tell Dr. Baker that there's only
going to be seven guards in his show instead of eight."

     "Honey, your helmet will cover that shiner.  Don't you
worry," Wayne said encouragingly.

     "Maybe, but I don't think Jeff's going to be lifting any
shields for a while.  If his arm isn't broken, it's going to be
in a sling with a bad sprain.  Besides, he isn't going to want to
be around me for quite a while."

     "What's the other thing you have to take care of?" Terry
asked.

     "I got kicked out of the dorm.  I'm going to have to find a
place to live."

     Terry looked up at Wayne who just nodded.  "My hero ain't
going apartment hunting while we got room here," the black man
said.

     "You sure it's okay with you?" Dan asked Terry, a nervous,
pleading look on his face.

     "I'm sure it's okay on one condition," Terry said with a
mischievous smile.  "That we cut classes today and you get some
rest.  You didn't get much sleep last night."

     "You didn't either," Dan said as he stood up and grabbed
Terry, sweeping him off his feet.  "I think we both ought to get
right to bed now before this swelling gets worse."

     "Does you eye hurt?" Terry asked in concern.

     "It's not the swelling in my eye that I'm talking about,"
Dan replied, then carried Terry to the bedroom.

     "I just love newlyweds," Wayne sighed.

                            *   *   *

     "Terry," Dan said as they headed for the stage door, "try
not to let your dick get hard while you're doing my makeup.  If
it doesn't go down you're gonna look like a fucking circus tent
when we carry you in."

     "It's your fault," the blond replied with a grin.

     When they reached the dressing room there was a big sign on
the door announcing a cast meeting at 7:40 in the green room.
Terry felt self conscious and was sure it was about the two of
them.  The other jocks and Jeff had no doubt told Dr. Baker they
were gay.  He was probably wanting to throw them out of his
theatre.  Dan told him to relax and reasoned that if they were
being canned it wouldn't be twenty minutes before curtain when
they were already in costume.

     In the dressing room the temperature was radically
fluctuating.  Three of the jocks were warm and friendly.  They
seemed to think Jeff got what he deserved.  They knew Wayne was a
flit, but he was a nice flit, and lots of fun at a party.  They
seemed almost as angry as Dan had been that this asshole would
screw Wayne and then beat him up in his own apartment while
everyone else was having a good time in the next room.  The fact
that Jeff used Wayne for sex seemed to make Jeff no better than
Wayne.  On the other hand, the three remaining men were as cold
as ice to Dan.  They seemed neutral to Terry, assuming he had no
part in their grudge.  They couldn't believe Dan would beat up
his own roommate, and for what?  A faggot.  It made no sense to
them.

     Terry helped Dan with his makeup and costume, then checked
out the others before they all assembled in the green room.  When
they did, Dr. Baker came in to address the company.  "We've had a
little trouble as most of you have already heard," he began.
"The phys. ed. department and Frank Noble in particular have
worked with us to find our palace guards, many of whom have had
little contact with our programs and we're especially glad
they're here."  The assembled cast applauded to express their
gratitude to the P.E. majors.  "However, we've lost our house
manager because of a difference of opinion with one of our cast.
And now we've lost Jeff Jones out of the cast in apparent
retaliation by Mr. Beaumont here over the fight with our house
manager."  Everyone turned to stare at Dan.  "Now I appreciate
Mr. Beaumont's code of ethics in standing up for a friend, but I
just want to remind everyone, and in particular our newcomers,
that we are doing 'Antigone,' not 'Romeo and Juliet.'  I'm not
going to have gang warfare in my theater, even if it means I cut
the whole funeral scene."  Groans and protests rose from everyone
in the room.  "Tonight Stanley will replace Jeff as shield
bearer.  We'll see if Jeff returns to the show tomorrow.
Tonight, Mike, adjust by leading in the middle of the ranks.
Enough said.  Break a leg, folks."

     "Ten minutes," the stage manager called as everyone relaxed.

     Terry wandered back to the dressing room to slip out of his
clothes and into his robe.  As he began to undress a heavy hand
gripped his shoulder and turned him around.  He was standing face
to chest with Stanley, dressed in his guard costume.  "Are you a
faggot too like that fucking fruit you've got for a roommate?" he
asked angrily.  Terry was stunned and didn't know what to say,
but apparently Stanley wasn't finished with his comments.  "Dan
got kicked out of the dorm and will probably lose his athletic
scholarship because of that damned fairy.  Now he says he's
moving in with you.  What did you do, let him fuck your ass?"

     "We're friends," Terry said defiantly.  "He needed a place
to stay so I let him use my couch."

     "Yeah, well if I find out you and that queer boy you live
with are messing with Dan and trying to convert him, we'll be
carrying a real dead body in this show.  I ain't bluffing."

     Before Terry could speak, Stanley was spun around.  The
actors playing Creon, Haemon and the narrator had entered quietly
behind him and now ringed him.  Chet, who played Creon, was every
bit as big as the guard.  "I'm going to be keeping my eye on you,
Stan old buddy.  If I see you even getting close to Terry or any
other theatre major again, I personally will rip your arm out of
its socket and use it to beat you to a bloody pulp.  Now get back
to the green room with the other guards and keep your big mouth
shut.  None of us want to hear any more out of you."

     Stanley pushed his way roughly past Chet and the man playing
Haemon.  "You okay, Terry?" Chet asked.  "I heard part of what he
said."

     Terry nodded as he tried to calm himself while he sucked in
deep lungfuls of air.  "Michaelson, aren't you ready yet?" Dan
asked as he stepped into the dressing room.  "Hey guys, what's
going on?"

     "Not a thing," Chet answered cheerily as if the recent
confrontation never occurred.

     "Places," the stage manager called.

     "Shit, not again," Terry cursed and began pulling off his
clothes while Dan grabbed the robe and Chet snagged his shroud.

                            *   *   *

     The rest of the week was uneventful.  Jeff never returned to
the show which didn't seem to upset anyone but Stanley.
Gradually the other two hostile jocks seemed to relax and forget
all about the conflicts.  Meanwhile, Terry was in heaven enjoying
his new relationship with Dan.  Dan on the other hand, was having
serious problems.  He was called into the dean's office to be
informed that his scholarship was being revoked for "conduct
unbecoming of a JSU student."  Without the scholarship money and
the free room and board at the jock dorms he wasn't sure how he
was going to survive the semester.  Terry assured Dan that room
and board would be no problem, but that didn't really solve
anything.

     "You don't understand," Dan argued.  "I can't afford to stay
in school without that money."

     "What do you need money for?  To live on?  You've got that
here.  You've got a place to stay and I can afford to pay for
food and stuff."

     "Okay," the big man finally said as he sat down at the
kitchen table.  "Aside from the fact that Wayne might not be too
happy with me moving in here on a permanent basis and not paying
for my share, and forgetting all about my hurt pride at being a
kept man, what about summer and next year?"

     "What about them?" Terry asked, trying not to think that far
into the future.

     "Are you just going to move home this summer?  Are you going
to stay here?  How will we pay the rent?  How do I pay for
tuition and books next fall?"

     "Can't we just enjoy what we have now?" Terry asked.

     "Yeah, I guess so," Dan agreed reluctantly as he stood up to
embrace his lover.  "You know, people might sooner or later
figure us out.  Then what do we do?"

     Terry refused to think about any problems.  He insisted on
living only in the present, in the here and now.  Dan seemed to
capitulate, but he still worried silently.  After all, Terry
wasn't the one losing a scholarship or being kicked out of a
dorm.  And Dan wondered what he could tell his parents.  They
were sure to find out, and probably sooner than later.  He had
insisted on paying his own way through school without their help,
although they could easily afford it.

     Saturday arrived with a light dusting of snow and Terry got
up early to clean the apartment.  Paula and her boyfriend were
due to arrive around ten in the morning.  He wanted her to be
impressed with his place.  He had cautioned Wayne not to be too
flamboyant in front of his heterosexual friends, and he and Dan
agreed they would be just roommates.  There was no sense in
scaring the new boyfriend, although Terry was fairly sure Paula
would understand.

     At precisely 10:00 a.m. the Camaro pulled up outside.
"That's her," Terry said as he watched out the window.  "I'll be
right back."  He ran out the door and down the steps.

     Wayne and Dan exchanged glances.  "Are you ready for this?"
Dan asked nervously.  From the way Terry had talked about his old
friend Dan wasn't sure what to expect.  He only felt that he
needed Paula's stamp of approval or their new relationship would
end as quickly as it began.

     Wayne stood up, scratching his balls and said in an
artificially deep voice.  "Hot damn, I'm ready.  Bring on the
white woman."  Dan laughed and poked him in the ribs.

     The door opened and a petite young woman with short cropped,
auburn hair entered.  She was dressed in slacks and a man's red
flannel shirt.  Dan jumped to his feet and smiled.  He stepped
forward to extend his hand.  "You must be Paula.  I'm Terry's
roommate, Dan."

     "Hi," the girl said with a smile.  "I'm Melanie."  Another
person entered the room.  At first Dan thought it was a guy and
then he realized it was an incredibly masculine looking girl
dressed in flair bottom jeans and a loose sweat shirt that hid
her boobs.  The short, boyish haircut also seemed to give a male
impression.  "This is Paula," Melanie said as the other girl
stepped out of the way to let Terry re-enter the apartment.

     Wayne and Dan looked from the girls to Terry, then to each
other.  Wayne fell onto the couch in a fit of laughter as Dan
tried to think of something polite to say.