Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2003 13:39:31 EST From: DefJamMariah85@aol.com Subject: When Souls Fly Free chpt 1 *NOTE TO READERS* This story involves an interracial issues if this topic offends you, you shouldnt be here :). This story was meant to inspire people I hope you like this story. Marcus Grenier hopped into his 4 door Sedan and turned on the ignition. His average sized frame of a body deftly loaded the vehicle with 2 weeks of clothing from his New york studio apartment. His work as an assistant editor/photographer had lead him to many wonderful places around the world, but his hometown of Shelby Alabama was the only place on his mind as he was in dire need of a break from the stress of plane rides, deadlines and attitude from his co-workers. He thought about the good, down home southern cooking that awaited him at his parents house. He ran one hand through his soft, short brown hair while cruising down the highway with a softening sunset to the south of his rear view mirror. Marcus had lived in New York for about 2 years now but it was time to come home and re-coup for a while. He had always been a southern boy at heart but he had always wanted to travel and see the world outside of Alabama which only jaded him to find out that the real world is harsh and un-relentless. Sadly to say, his dating life had suffered becuase of it, always on assignment and always on the go, no time for a relationship. But that was all about to change...in a way he never expected. Marcus had driven for days until at last he pulled into the driveway lined with honeysuckle flowers of the Grenier home. A screen door opened to find Mr. Grenier smiling brightly as he greeted his son. " Hi there son!" he shouted in a noticable creole/southern accent. "Hey dad!" Marcus replied as he shut the door to his car and walked over and gave his father a hug. "I missed you!...hows mom?" " Oh she's out in her garden as usual" Mr Grenier said as he pointed to their backyard. Marcus could see the tip of his mothers gardening hat bobbing up and down between her rose bushes. Marcus cut across their front porch and over to the garden as he approached his mother. "Got any room for me in there? Marcus said with a tired but mischievous smile. Startled, Mrs. Grenier looked up suddenly to much delight to see her son finally back home. " Well my lordy honey you just about scared the leaves right off my bushes! welcome home son!" Mrs Grenier laughed as she stepped over a garden rake to hug her son affectionatly. "These roses are lookin mighty pretty again as usual" Marcus complimented as he knew of his mothers love of nature. " Well of course boy, you know I raise the prettiest roses this side of Alabama" Mrs Grenier joked as she headed for the house to get Marcus settled in, he followed. The Grenier clan all gathered around the kitchen table with Mrs Grenier nearby taking off her gloves and washing her hands before dinner. The Grenier house had always been filled with "happy-but-not-picture-perfect" memories". Marcus's parents had been open and loving with him, they accept him for who he is. Mr Grenier was an expert on the fine art of filet-minon cooking, which was to be served on the antique heirloom 19th century table in the middle of the room. As the light clinking of spoons and forks and down home southern chatting filled the room. Marcus couldnt help but notice something out of the corner of his eye. He notices a U-haul truck park in front of the house next door to him. "I see y'all are gettin some new neighbors next door" Marcus said, his southern drawl coming back to him. " I hope they're better than the last ones" Mr Grenier said. As Marcus focused his eyes out the kitchen window he noticed two people carrying boxes out of the truck. One was an older lady in her 40's the other an attractive young man about Marcus's age, they were both African-American. "Whoa what a cutie" Marcus thought to himself. Marcus of course African-American men were some of the most beautiful men on this Earth. "Hmm looks like we got company" Mrs. Grenier exclaimed, she noticed Marcus was almost finished with his fried green tomatoes. "Marcus why dont you go and see if they need some help". Southern hospitality was never lacking in the Grenier household. Marcus obediently obeyed his mother like a good southern boy and went outside. He passed by the front porch swing he used to sit in and sip pink lemonaide as a kid during the summer. He approached the two new neighbors. "Do y'all need any help?" Marcus asked with a kind smile. " Thank you but we'll be fine" the older lady said with a "get out of here" fake look upon her face. Any attempt at a polite decline was completely unsucessful on her part. The younger lad quickly interjected. "Well actually I could use some help with some of these boxes, theyre pretty heavy, got books in them" he said looking at Marcus with interested brown eyes. "Well I suppose it's alright" the older lady said disapointingly as she carried a cardboard box full of odds and ends. "My name is Marcus by the way, my parents live next door, I'm just visiting for the summer" Marcus smiled as he was all too eager to shake his attractive new neighbors hand. "I'm Terell, nice to meet you man" Terell said, little did Marcus know Terell was eyeing him too. "Well here let me help you with that" Marcus said. The two young men hopped into the back of the U-haul and each of them grasping the holes in the sides usually designed for fingers to slip into. Marcus noticed Terells nicely defined biceps as he griped the sides of the box he was carrying. Terell directed them down the hallway to his room on the left. "Let's set em down in the corner" Terell said as they both sat the boxes down. "Whew, that's a heavy one" Marcus wiped the sweat off his ivory complexioned forehead. "Hey would you like a lemonaide from our cooler?" Terell offered "Oh no it's ok" Marcus exclaimed. " Naw it's no trouble really, I'll be back" Terell exited the room with a slight sexy grin on his face. As Terell approached the portable cooler, his mother Alice looked on in disaproval. "Don't tell me you're offering HIM one of our drinks......" "Aw now come on mama, that boy was nice enough to help us and we did'nt even have to as" Terell exclaimed. Unfortunatly, Mrs Jackson(Alice) was not accepting of white people. Terell returned to his room and found Marcus waiting patiently. "Here ya go man, I appreciate the help" " I was raised to help out your fellow neighbor" Marcus smiled as he gulped a 7-up quenching his thirst. Terell couldnt help but be slightly turned on by the tiny drop of overflow running down Marcus's chin. "Hey listen, If you ever wanna hang out sometime, just come on over and maybe we can be friends" Terell said with interest. "I'm right next door so, sounds good man, you seem cool" said Marcus "Well I'd offer to help more but I gotta get back and help my folks clean up" "Alright man thanks again" Terell said flashing a sexy smile. "Alright well, I'll cath ya later" Marcus akwardly stated as he walked away with a few butterflies in his stomach. "It was nice meeting you Mrs Jackson!" he shouted, trying to make a good impression on her hard to convince self. Mrs Jackson just waved back but hardly smiled Evening was drawing near and Marcus was exhausted from the long drive. He opened the front door of his house and stepped inside. He found his parents at the table playing a game of scrabble finishing dinner. "So, how are the new neighbors?" his father asked not even looking up as he competitivly planned his next move. "Well, theyre last name is Jackson, a lady and her son. Her son is ... nice" Marcus explained, that pause was to hide the obvious "her son is a hottie" thought he wanted to say. "And what about Mrs Jackson?" Mrs Grenier asked as she watched her husband place his square completing a word on the board with a devilish smile. "Gotcha" he murmured under his breath "I dunno about her....she was pretty sour when she saw me offerin to help, I dunno what her problem is, well I'm off to bed.. It's good to be back home, goodnight". Marcus said quickly hugging and kissing his parents goodnight before heading upstairs. He laughed to himself as he heard the faint banter of his parents playing their game. "I won this game!" "We'll see about that mister" Marcus entered his bedroom and began to undo the button of his Levi's . He bent down to open his suitcase to get some boxers out, but when he stood back up he noticed that outside his window he could directly see Terell's bedroom across from his. As he slipped into his comfortable bed clothes he crept up to his window and peeped out to Terells window. He was surprised to see that Terell had his window open and the light on. Terell soon appeared into Marcus's sight which made Marcus duck with startling reaction. He then raised his eyes slowly up above the window sill, and happen to catch Terell removing his shirt by his bedside. He was a vision of astounding beauty to Marcus's eyes as he was inevitably drawn to him. He felt a light begin to spark inside him that night... something that told him his life was about to change forever......