Date: Wed, 31 May 2000 10:21:14 -0700 (PDT) From: Jay Chords Subject: Deceiving Secrets - 5 Chapter 5 "Her legs are fine." Jeremy let out a sigh of relief. "So she's not paralyzed?" "No, but her left ankle has a slight break that the doctor's had overlooked. She'll just have a cast for a few weeks which has already been put on." "Thank God," Jeremy sighed and rushed back into Mica's room. "Mikey, Mica," he shook her awake. "Hmm?" she moaned in her sleep. "Honey, wake up for a second." "What? Why?" she whimpered. "I have news." Her eyes flew open. "What? What is it? Is it about my legs?" He nodded. "You just have a broken ankle, that's all." Mica leaned her head against her pillow. "Thank you God." Jeremy helped Mica walk on her crutches as they left the hospital. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Would you stop it already? I'm not dying or anything. I'm just walking on crutches. Chill." Jeremy blushed. "Sorry." They climbed into a cab and rode to the hotel so Mica could say good-bye to her friends. They were waiting in the lobby when they arrived. "Mica!" Brian yelled and swung her into a hug. "Hey Bri Bri," she smiled and kissed his cheek. "Hey Knucklehead," Nick grinned. "Hey Nicky." "Hey Mikes." "Kev! I haven't seen you in ages!" "And what am I? Chopped Liver?" AJ laughed. "Hey Cutie! I didn't know you were here!" "We all stayed," Howie grinned. "Howie, Howie, Howie. Aw, it's so good to see you!" Jeremy just stood in the background, Daisy holding his hand. In all the confusion, Jeremy hadn't realized who exactly Mica's friends were. Looking at them all, he saw how comfortable they all were, how familiar they were with each other. "So this explains how you go those tickets, huh?" Jeremy put himself into the conversation. Six pairs of eyes moved to him. Mica nodded. "Yeah." "Why didn't you tell me?" She shrugged. "Nevermind," he sighed. She hobbled over to him. "Jay, listen, we both know that you would've freaked. I was gonna tell you but-" Brian entered the conversation. "We made her promise not to tell anyone, Jeremy. This whole fame thing, we don't like people flaunting the fact that they know us. Mica's probably been the truest friend to us in a long time." Jeremy just nodded. He did understand. "I just wish I could have found out on better circumstances than you two being hit by a drunk driver," he squeezed Daisy's hand. "I was gonna tell you backstage, at the concert but my plans didn't exactly go the way I wanted." "Don't worry, Aunt Mica, I won't tell Mom." Mica smiled and kissed the little girl on the head. "Thanks kiddo." Howie came up behind Daisy and slid her onto his back. "Come on, Princess. Let's leave the grown-ups to talk." She giggled. "Okay." They all smiled as Howie and Daisy left them. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Mica put her hand on his shoulder. "Nah, don't worry about it. I understand why you didn't tell me. It's cool." The conversation became more calm and easy going as they exchanged words as old friends. Jeremy found himself in a deep conversation with Kevin. Those piercing eyes. They seemed to bore deep inside of Jeremy, seeing everything that had happened in his life. "Where do you work?" Kevin was asking him. "For a Firm. I'm not a lawyer or anything. I just go over contracts." "What kind of contracts?" "Mostly record contracts. Nothing special. I just read over each one and look for any glitches or things that may be overlooked because of the way they're hidden." "You can catch that stuff?" Jeremy nodded. "I'm a writer at heart so I notice just about everything." "Than why are you working for a firm?" Kevin inquired. "I've got a work in progress, now. As soon as it gets published, I'm gonna quit." "Cool. What's it about?" "Honestly, I can't tell you. I don't even know yet." "Than how can it be in progress?" Jeremy tapped his head. "It's all in here." Kevin chuckled. "What if you forget any of it?" "I wont," he responded, simply. "Hey, guys," Mica got their attention. "We're heading upstairs for dinner, come on," they followed the group into the elevator and rode to the desired floor. "Okay, this has been bugging me forever." All eyes turned to Jeremy. "Nick called Mica Brian's girlfriend. Can this be cleared up for me?" Everyone's eyes shifted to Mica and Brian. Brian was busy looking at his hands and Mica was laughing. "Nah, Jay, just best friends. Just like how you and me are best friends." Jeremy caught on and joined her in her laughter. It felt good to laugh. How long had it been? The doors opened and the party left the confinement and entered Kevin's room. "Hey, Jeremy, can I-uh-talk to you for a second?" Kevin asked. "Sure man," Kevin beckoned for him to followed Kevin into the hallway. "We'll be right back," Kevin informed them as he shut the door, grabbed Jeremy by the arm and pulled him into another room. "So, what's up?" "I think I'm falling in love." "With?" "You." Jeremy fell into the nearest chair. "Excuse me?" "I knew it! I knew you weren't gay or bi. Damnit, I did it again!" Kevin chastised himself. "Dude, dude. Calm down. I'm gay. Just, it took me by surprise. I've only known you for," he checked his watch. "Maybe, thirty minutes?" "I know, I know. It's just, you're so, so you." Jeremy laughed at him. "So me? You don't know me!" "I know, but I want to. Jeremy, I want to know everything there is to know about you. I want to be the one holding you at night, kissing you, loving you." Jeremy was taken aback by these man's words. 'This is to quick! This is to quick!' his brain screamed. Jeremy's heart ignored it. "Alright." This was his chance. His chance to be loved by this magnificent man. This man that he had secret fantasies about so many times. How many times had he dreamed about making passionate love to this man? They were almost uncountable. Kevin's face was aglow with his grin. "Honestly?" Jeremy nodded. "Truly." "Oh Jeremy!" Kevin exclaimed and hugged the youth to his chest. Kissing his lips tenderly. Jeremy allowed the older man's tongue to invade his mouth and swirl around his own tongue. How familiar this all seemed yet almost different. Kevin placed his hands on Jeremy's arms. Running his fingers along his skin, getting deathly close to his shoulders. Jeremy decided that was as good a time as any to break the kiss before his secret was revealed. Not now. Now was not the time to let himself be known. Not when someone was willing to love him again. "We should get back to the others," he made an excuse. Kevin nodded in agreement. "Would it be okay, if we-um-didn't tell them about us?" "They don't know you're gay?" Kevin shook his head. "No, they don't. I'm not ready to tell them, yet. But don't worry, I will." "Can I at least tell Mica?" Kevin pondered the thought for a second and smiled. "Sure." Jeremy smiled and kissed Kevin softly on the lips, almost in a teasing manor before opening the door and walking in to join everyone else. "What movie do you all wanna watch?" Nick asked flipped through the pay-per-view channels. "I gotta get going, guys. It's late and I've got a long drive ahead of me," Jeremy told them, getting up and stretching. "No, stay," Nick pouted. "Yeah, I'm sure one of us can give up a bed for you, Mica, and Daisy," Brian suggested. "Can I room with Howie?" Daisy asked. The two had created a firm bond with each other. "It would be my pleasure, Princess," Howie grinned at the little girl. Jeremy couldn't help but smile as he saw how Daisy grinned and hugged Howie. He didn't even notice that Kevin had offered his spare bed to him and Brian had seized Mica. "Yay, we get the cool one," Nick laughed. "Aw you know it. I am the bomb," Mica laughed as she gave Nick a noogie. "Hey, hey, watch the hair! Watch the hair!" This brought a round of laughter to the group. "So, this still doesn't solve the problem of which movie to watch," AJ reminded them. "American Beauty." "American Pie." "American Bad Ass." They all looked at Jeremy who blushed. "Sorry," more laughter swallowed their souls as they decided on the movie and settled into a long night. Jeremy was softly snoring when the movie had ended. Kevin smiled lovingly at his new lover and picked him up into his arms. "'Night guys," he whispered and carried Jeremy to the bed. "Goodnight Kev," AJ answered. The others nodded their own good-bye and left the two alone. Kevin slowly undressed Jeremy. Taking in the feel of his skin. So soft and smooth under his touch. He opted to take off his shirt but thought against it. He didn't want to run the risk of embarrassing this man who lay helpless in front of his towering figure. Kevin undressed himself and Jeremy until they were in t-shirts and boxer shorts. He cuddled up behind Jeremy, his arms wrapped around his muscular stomach. "Good night, love," Kevin grinned and kissed his neck before falling into a deep sleep. Aww. I left it on a nice, sweet, happy note. :D Hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you think. My e-mails always open : chords4@yahoo.com