Date: Thu, 20 Jul 2000 13:32:39 EDT From: Pierce Phillips Subject: Pierce Straight to the Heart / 2 / boy-bands This story is a complete work of fiction, and is not meant to imply anything about anyone. While some of the characters may be loosely based on real people that I know, none are meant to actually represent anyone, particularly any of the members of the Backstreet Boys. As usual, if you are offended or made uncomfortable by material concerning sexual relations between consenting adult men, lighten up or go somewhere else. Also, if it is in any way illegal for you to be reading this type of thing, please don't. Or do, just don't get caught. e-mail = good Drop me a line at pierce_phillips@hotmail.com to tell me how much you love my story. (Or if you must crush me with well intentioned criticism.) Chapter Two Pierce picked up the card that Kevin had given him off the dresser. He had been in LA for two weeks. He had started filming the movie. He was giving a powerful breakthrough performance. It was inevitable that he would be thrust into stardom. His appearance was right for a Hollywood leading man. He had charm, intelligence and powerful family. Interview requests were lready stacking up. A corporate heir apparent turns down a position arguably more powerful than the President of the United States to act in movies. He was the main story in several tabloids. To add insult to injury, the tabloids got prints of some sexy photos that were to be released with the movie. Pierce was already considered a celebrity and it wasn't based on any talent. It was his worst nightmare. He picked up the phone and dialed Kevin's cell phone. "Hello." He recognized Kevin voice. "Hi, Kevin. This is Pierce Phillips. I don't know if you remember me from the flight to Boston." Pierce explained. "Yes, Pierce. I'm glad you called. I'm free tomorrow night for dinner, if your still up for it." "I have to film until 6:00 tomorrow. If it could be a late dinner, say 8:00, I could swing it." "Sounds good. Why don't you meet me in the lobby of the downtown Hyatt and we can decide where we're going from there. I'm sorry to cut this short but I am late for a meeting." "Sure Kevin. I'll talk to you tomorrow night then." Pierce hung up the phone and felt better than he had in days. It was nice to hear a friendly voice. He paid the taxi driver and entered the hotel. Kevin was sitting in one of the couches that surrounded the fireplace. He had a hat and sunglasses on. Pierce chuckled to himself how conspicuous Kevin looked trying to blend. They took a taxi to the restaurant that Kevin suggested. They were seated Immediately at a private table overlooking the ocean. Since it was late the restaurant was lighted mostly with candles. Pierce amused himself by thinking this seemed like a date. After they were seated a girl in her late teens came up to the table with a tabloid in hand. She laid the tabloid on the table and asked for an autograph. Kevin and Pierce were both surprised to find out that it was Pierce's autograph she sought and not Kevin's. As Pierce signed his name over the scantily clad picture on the cover, he noticed Kevin's picture with a pretty woman the words Backstreet honeymoon over the picture. He smiled at the girl and she walked away happy. "I can't believe I am being recognized from all this tabloid publicity. No one has seen me act yet and I get all these interview requests. Even when I refuse to talk about anything remotely related to my family, they still want me on the viewer's expectation that I will talk about that. If this part wasn't so good, I would quit and just act on Broadway. The studio is pressuring me to talk about my family in interviews. I'm starting to suspect that they found out who's son I was and are trying to cash in." Pierce said. "I wouldn't put it past them. If it will line their pockets, they are willing. How did it go with your parents?" "I couldn't imagine it any worse. I tried to request their support in the choice that I had made for my life and they were totally against it. They didn't seem to think I had the right to choose. When my father saw that I had already decided he played the trump card. He said, 'If I choose acting over taking over the company then I will disinherit you.' I just laughed and said I didn't want the money anyway. He was so angry I stole his thunder. I told them if they wanted to accept the decisions that I have made, I wanted them in my life but if they couldn't let me live my own life then don't bother getting in touch with me. Then, I left." "Woe. I'm so sorry. You such a great guy, I can't believe they wouldn't want to be a part of your life. Are you OK?" Kevin asked. The concern he showed was touching. "I had years to prepare for this. I knew how they would react. I tried my best to avoid it but there was nothing I could do short of handing over the reigns of my life to them. They refuse to comment on my acting career which just adds fuel to the whole tabloid story. I wish my life were not such a soap opera. " "I heard that!!" Kevin said as he grinned. "So I guess congratulations are in order.." "For what?" Kevin looked confused. "Oh you mean the tabloids got it wrong and you didn't get married?" Pierce said. Kevin looked very sad all of a sudden. "No, they got it right. I did get married." There was no enthusiasm in his voice. He did not sound like a bridegroom. "I guess it's none of my business." "No, it's not that....it's just complicated." "We don't have to talk about this." Kevin looked very upset. He looked down at the table. "I can only say is that it is not a traditional marriage." "That's more than you needed to tell me." They finished dinner and Pierce asked Kevin if he would walk on the beach. They left our shoes at the restaurant and walked along the beach with their pants rolled up. It was a beautiful night. It must have been around low tide because the waves were gently crashing on the beach. Kevin and Pierce comfortably talked of less stressful times in their lives. They shared anecdotes of childhood stories and laughed. Then they fell into a comfortable silence. They were walking close together. They both enjoyed the occasional brush of their shoulders together. They had not known each other long but there was an intimacy that neither one of them had ever known before. It was both strange and familiar all at once. They had walked several miles along the beach enjoying the night. When they arrived back at the restaurant, they continued talking in their own little world. Kevin studied Pierce's muscular chest and shoulders that his tight ribbed black cotton shirt showed off. Pierce had worn black pants though were not tight displayed his bubble butt and muscular thighs to their advantage. Pierce wore his naturally curly hair high and tight. It was died platinum blond. It was contrasted with his dark eyebrows and five o'clock shadow. He usually trimmed his beard to a weeks worth of growth unless the part the he was currently playing required a different look. The California sun had bronzed his skin. Kevin imagined with his height and classic good looks he could probably make a fortune in high fashion. Pierce invited Kevin to come to his shoot one day. Pierce was surprised when Kevin said that he could rearrange his schedule for the following day. It was decided that Pierce would inform the gatehouse to expect Kevin. They took a taxi back to Kevin's hotel after retrieving their shoes from the restaurant. It was about 2 AM. Pierce reluctantly said goodnight and thanked Kevin for the first pleasant evening that he had had since arriving in LA. Pierce lay naked between the sheets. Although he was exhausted he felt the heat that eminated from his body and was amazed that he was not glowing in the dark. He was unable to remove his smile. He replayed the evening over in his mind. He analyzed every conversation. He tried to remember every detail of Kevin's body in his mind. He wondered what it would be like to run his finger along that strong jaw line...to cup his hands on the high cheekbones and draw his hand back slowly, caressing Kevin's cheeks with his fingertips. 'He is a married man. What am I letting myself in for? What is a non-traditional marriage? Is Kevin having these same thoughts about him?' Pierce remembered those green eyes that he had gazed in for most of the evening. They were not the eyes of a cruel game player. There was tendernous and generousity. There was humor and mischief. There was character and intelligence. In his mind he enters his bedroom after a long night shoot and their waiting on the bed is Kevin. He's laying on the bed naked face down. His thick arms are his pillow. His muscled back and thin waist look tight and hard. His butt crying to be caressed. Kevin arrived around 10 AM the next day and as planned the guards at the gatehouse knew to let him in. They directed him to the set where Pierce was working at. They were in the middle of a scene and Kevin quietly sat with the spectators. When Pierce began to deliver his lines, Kevin was taken aback. He couldn't reconcile the man he spent so much time with the night before with this intense character before him. There was nothing similar. Not facial expression. Not the tone of his voice. His mannerism were all different. Kevin had to stop himself from rushing over to calm this guy down. The intensity continued for about 30 minutes without interruption. Finally the director yelled, "Cut. We'll take a lunch break now and be back at the next set at 1:00." Several people were gathered around Pierce for another 15 minutes. Finally, the crowd dispersed and Pierce saw Kevin. He smiled and tried not to look in his direction for fear of being transparent to the people around him. He casually motioned to Kevin that he saw him and that he would make his way to him. As discreetly as he could, Pierce ended the conversation that he was having with the director and slowly made his way to the where Kevin stood. As he passed Kevin, he quietly asked him to follow him to his trailer. Inside the trailer, Pierce was beaming. "I'm so glad you could come. How much of the scene did you see? What did you think?" He continued excitedly. Kevin was taken aback. The man he knew resurfaced, instantly putting him at ease. "Man! That was freaky how you changed your whole personality. I was thinking you had some sort of multiple personality thing going on there.... That was awesome! You were fantastic! I saw about 30 minutes or so but I can't wait to see the whole thing. This is a great part for you." "Thanks Kevin. I've never invited anyone to watch me work before. This is too weird. I can't believe one person out there. I think they all alterior motives. Hollywood is making me so paranoid, dude." He suddenly was laughing. "Man, I am so glad you are here!!!" "You said that already." Kevin grinned. "I'm really glad I'm here, too." Kevin walked up to Pierce and looked him in the eye. "Do you think that I could kiss you?" 'I don't have much experience at this but I don't think it's a good idea to let a married guy kiss you.' Pierce thought. "Yes." He closed his eyes and brushed his lips to Kevin's. It was a gentle kiss. "I've been wanting to do that since the moment I met you." "Yes. Me too." He had a euphoric smile on his face. "Can I kiss you again?" "Definitely!" As they were about to kiss again, there was a knock at the door. The door suddenly opened and Kevin and Pierce stepped back from each other noticeably embarrassed. The director's assistant handed Pierce a few pages of a script. "Rick wanted me to give you this." He didn't appear to notice anything unusual. "Maybe we should go to lunch." Pierce said with a smile. "Next time we should lock the door." As Pierce opened the door. "Sometime if you could explain to me what an untraditional marriage is like." He said quietly as he walked toward his car.