Date: Fri, 04 Jan 2002 23:08:39 +1100 From: James Raen Subject: Only when I Sleep Chapter 1 This is my first attempt at writing a story for the Nifty archives. Wish me luck!!!! :) Josh inhaled deeply. It had been a very long time since he had felt so comfortable. He gazed lovingly down at the man of his dreams. He fingered the ring on his left hand. Patrick lay there next to him, half-naked & exhausted. Josh watched as his chest rose & fell with each deep breath he took. Patrick looked as if he was dreaming. Josh snuggled into Patrick's arms. Patrick instinctively wrapped them around Josh. It felt like they had known each other for eons when it had only been the best part of three weeks. Josh closed his eyes and thanked every Supreme Being he could think of, "I have everything..." FOUR WEEKS EARLIER... "You have got to get yourself a boyfriend!" Pete exclaimed. Pete had been Josh's best friend and confidant since High School. Pete was as straight as an arrow, although admittedly it had been touch-and-go for a few years back then. Pete was the first person Josh told of his sexuality. "What? You think I like being alone?" Josh semi-screeched. "Well probably not..." "Yeah well I'm trying OK?" "I know that Seb hurt you but that was like, two years ago!" Pete recalled. "I don't want to talk about him." Josh said defensively. "But Josh, you're sexy, smart & romantic... not to mention hilarious when you're drunk..." Pete explained. Pete wasn't wrong either. Josh always attracted looks from both men & women. Josh was basically your average 31-year-old spunk. He was 6'4'' with brown hair and green eyes. He had a swimmer's build. He had a fair amount of hair on his body that he never shaved. Josh looked out over the Plaza. It was full of all of your usual people: teenage girls shopping and gossiping; teenage boys in silly clothes trying to impress and intimidate; pregnant mothers & uninterested fathers. "Hello?" Pete asked. "Yes...Wha`? Oh sorry what were you saying?" Josh asked. "Look...I know this guy through work..." Josh's eyes rolled. Pete had been trying to set him up for the past two years. Ever since Seb left. "Do you think that there is one person out there for everyone?" Josh asked. "That's a hard question Josh. I don't know. I hope so otherwise I wouldn't be married with twins on the way...You want another coffee?" Pete asked. "Nah mate. I'm OK." Josh answered. "K then. Eve will call you later, she wants to go shopping with you later OK?" Pete asked "Sure." Josh answered. He glanced across at their waiter who was smiling back at him. The waiter was spunk. He had a nice muscly torso that was covered by a very tight black tee shirt. Josh stood up, said bye to Pete and walked away. He couldn't stop thinking about Seb. Their relationship had been great while it lasted. Josh really felt in his heart that he had finally found "the one". The man that would make the rest of his dreams come true. They would be in love; build a family, have pet cats or dogs or both and live in a spacious house with French windows and a huge bedroom. Josh and Seb were perfect for each other...well, at first they were. Sebastian was then promoted in his job, a particularly well paying one. He started spending more time at the office and interstate. Their fantastic sex life diminished to a mutual chore that they did it more out of guilt than love & passion. I was months later that Josh smelt another mans aftershave in their bed & all over Seb. From then their relationship deteriorated unlike anything anyone around them had seen before. Josh strode into the lobby of his apartment building. The security guard tipped his hat. Josh nodded in acknowledgment. He slid into the elevator, swiped his security card and pushed the button for the 16th floor. His eyes followed the indicator as it went from G-16. The doors opened. He walked out into the corridor and kept walking `till he got to 16B. He unlocked the door, walked through it, and closed it behind him as he began to sob in his loneliness... Constructive Criticism is most welcome, as are e-mails of encouragement. Flames however, will most certainly be ignored. :) Coments or Questions to raen_j@hotmail.com By: J Raen