Brandis Redemption 10:
Pleasure and Pain

By: Scoop
Warning: This is a fictional story, describing erotic relations between consenting adult men. If this makes you uncomfortable, or if it is illegal for you to read something like this, then go find something else to do.

The following story is entirely a work of fiction, and is not intended to imply anything about any real people. All of the characters in the story are fictional, and must not be confused with any real people. The characters in this story may have the same names as some real people, but the characters are in no way supposed to actually represent any real people.


A word from Scoop: Straight to it this time. Catch you on the flip.

Scoop
AIM: The Skoop
ICQ: 27497085


Jared kicked the apartment door closed and dropped his two suitcases. His flight had been long and delayed at every stop. There had been a kid sitting in front of him from take off at Halifax to landing in LAX that just would not shut up. His head was pounding, his back was aching and he was starving (no way was he eating airline food!). Plus he was so fed up with all the stares that he had been getting. Everyone was constantly staring at him, then looking away and whispering something to the person next to them, so they could both stare.

"I fucking hate traveling," said Jared before collapsing onto the sofa. He looked around his apartment. Everything was in boxes. Jared groaned loudly as he remembered that first thing tomorrow morning he was moving. His body was just not up for that.

His mind however became immediately refreshed at the thought of going to live with the person he loved. Jon and he were going to be living together!

They would have moved in together earlier of course, but Jon wanted to get a different house first. He told Jared that he didn't want to live in his house, he wanted to live in their house. And Jared agreed.

And of course there was Christmas. Neither of them saw the point in moving over the holidays so it was decided to wait until the middle of January.

Jared wanted to go home for Christmas as well. But his boss wouldn't give him the time he needed to fly up, enjoy the holidays, and fly back. Even though Jared was owed the time off, his boss claimed that he couldn't let everyone go at the same time or it could spell ruin for the company. Of course Jared knew his real reason. When he went to work the day after getting back together with Jon, his boss had completely changed. They couldn't talk anymore and it seemed that Jared and Rob were getting fewer deliveries, and the ones they did get were small or a long distance from the store. Jared's boss was a phobe (Jared's term for a homophobic). Jon wanted him to quit, but Jared had never quit anything before, and he certainly wasn't going to do so now because of some short bald man's closed minded attitude. So what if he couldn't go home for Christmas. At least he got to spend it with Jon.

Not that he would be missing much that is. The lines of communication with his parents (especially his mother) had broken down after the whole television coming out. He got the impression that they didn't want him to come home, even if he could. Plus he had stopped getting e-mail from his 'friends' back in his home town. Jared knew his parents still loved him: his father was calling more now than he ever did. But he also knew that going home would not be a relaxing time in his life. So, maybe his boss had actually done him a bit of a favor.

But after the accident, his boss had very little choice but give him the time off.

No, not now thought Jared. I don't want to start thinking about that again.

Ring! Ring!

"Who's calling me already? Jon!" Jared jumped up quickly and ran to the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi babe. I was hoping you'd be there. What time did you get home?"

"I just walked in through the door not 10 minutes ago. I missed you so much when I was gone."

"Awww, I missed you to gorgeous. How was the funeral?"

"Well... as good as a funeral can be I guess."

"True. I don't know why I asked that question. Guess what I really wanted to ask was... how was being home for the first time since... since, Leno?"

Jared sighed loudly and went silent. Jon waited for him to respond. He realized that even though things had been going great for him since, Jared didn't have that fortune. It made Jon feel very guilty.

The silence was getting to him and he was about to say something when Jared finally spoke.

"Much worse than my father's funeral."

"I'm sorry Jared. Maybe we shouldn't talk about that."

"Yeah."

Jon struggled to come up with a new topic.

"So what are we going to do on my first night back in town?"

"I'm not sure. I guess that's up to what you feel like."

"I feel like partying. I need a break from the stresses of hometown life, heheheh."

"OK, sounds good. Well... Leo is having a party at his place. We could always go there."

"I don't know. Last party we went to at his place he tried to get us into a threesome remember?"

"Yeah, that's true. How about Matt's house? He's throwing this big bash tonight too I do believe."

"Who's going to be there?"

"Hehehehe, you're turning into the real Hollywood snob, you know that?"

"Yeah yeah. Who's going to be there?"

"Well, Ben for sure. That's a given. I think Freddie Prinze has been invited, James VanDerBeek and that cast, Ryan and his wife... I don't know everyone that's going to be there, but it should be a good time. It'll make Leo's look tame."

"If it can make Leo's parties look tame, we need to go. What time we going to make our appearance? It's 7:30 now."

"I don't now... 10ish?"

"OK sounds good."

"OK, cool. I'll meet you at your place. We'll take the limo."

"The limo? To a party?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Aren't you getting a bit too into the whole, 'new movie, big celeb' role?"

"Ummm, yeah?"

"OK, cool. Just don't make me have to deflate your ego."

Jon giggled. "When I'm around you, there's no such thing as being deflated. I'm always-"

"Yeah, OK, I get it, heheh. Now go get ready and come over here. I want a little time together before we go out."

"Hmmm, sounds good to me. Be there in about half an hour."

"OK, bye."

"Bye babe. And Jared?"

"Yeah?"

"It is so good to have you back here again. I missed you so much."

Jared smiled so big that Jon could almost hear it in his voice. "I missed you to baby."


Jared stumbled to the door and opened it. On the other side stood Jon, smiling and looking drop dead gorgeous. Jared's sleep coated eyes popped open at the sight of his boyfriend in a tuxedo.

"A tux?"

Jon's smile disolved into a look of disbelief. "Did I forget to tell you that this was a formal party?"

"Uh, yeah!"

"Oh, I'm sorry." He gave his best puppydog look. Jared smiled, showing Jon the success he had been looking for. "Oh well. Just get your tux out of one of whatever box or suitcase you have it tucked into and that'll be that."

"But I don't have a tuxedo."

"Oh."

"Great. I guess we won't be going to this party. Might as well go to Leo's now." Jared turned around and walked back into his living room area.

"I'm sorry Jared. If I had known, I would have had some brought over for you to try on. You're not mad at me are you?"

Jared stopped and turned around to look at Jon. "No I'm not ma-" He stopped in mid sentence as behind Jon was a rack of tuxedo's. Behind the rack was a tall, thin elder gentleman with a measuring tape around his neck smiling at him, obviously there to take his measurements and make any necessary adjustments.

"Jon... you never cease to amaze me, you know that?"

"I hope I never do." He walked in and straight over to Jared as the rack was wheeled in by the other gentleman. Jared opened his arms and took Jon into a long, tight hug. Neither of them wanted to let go, but out of courtesy for the person standing behind them by the tuxedo rack continuously smiling they did.

"Jared, I'd like you to meet Mr. Paul. He's been making all my tuxedos and suits for the last 5 years, and he's done a perfect job on each one. And as you can see, he does house calls."

Jared extended his hand and shook Mr. Paul's. "How do you do?"

"Hello Jared," replied Mr. Paul in his thick French accent. "Shall we get started? I understand you have a party to attend in 2 hours, oui?"


Only 30 minutes later, Jared was looking at himself in the full length mirror on his bathroom door, admiring the new tuxedo that fit to a 'T'. He had to admit, Mr. Paul did amazing work, and he was fast as well. Jared nodded his head at what he saw and walked back out to the makeshift tailor's shop in his apartment.

"Well?" asked Jon and Mr. Paul at the same time.

Jared smiled back at them for a few seconds before finally saying, "Perfect!"

"Great! Mr. Paul, add that one to my bill. Thank you so much for coming here tonight, you've been a great - "

"Whoa, Jon, I can't let you - "

"Jared, I don't want to hear it. This is a gift from me to you. You can thank me later. Right now, I think you should take that off and go shower so we can get going. It's almost nine now."

"OK. Thanks Jon."

"My pleasure gorgeous." They smiled widely at each other. The look seemed to last forever. It went on for so long in fact that Mr. Paul was getting uncomfortable. He cleared his throat loudly, snapping them back into reality. Jared blushed and headed for the bathroom to shower while Jon settled up with Mr. Paul and helped him get all of his things collected.


"Hi guys, glad to see you could make it." Matt opened the door and let his newly arrived party guests into his house.

"Thanks Matt," replied Jon. "What are you doing opening the door at your own formal party anyway? Shouldn't someone else be doing that?"

"Come on Jon, you know why it is that I made this party formal. I want everyone to act like they are rich pampered celebrities yet have to do everything for themselves. I mean, hell, I just made Matthew Broderick go to the basement and get his own bottle of wine. I have no one here working tonight."

"That's cool man, I like that idea."

"Thank you Jared." Matt leaned in to whisper in his ear. "Plus it's a hell of a lot cheaper this way too, heh heh." Jared started laughing and Matt joined in, leaving Jon to wonder what was going on.


As the night progressed, Jared and Jon made their way around the room several times, talking to everyone about practically everything. They were having a great time, and Jon was relieved to see that Jared was showing no signs of the stress he had faced at home. Even though Jared hadn't actually told him any of the details of what had happened, despite several requests that he do so, Jon knew that Jared had not had an easy trip home. He wanted very badly for Jared to tell him what happened so that he could understand even more what it was he faced and be able to offer him stronger moral support. Jon realized his decision to publicily out the two of them on an international talk show would have a few drastic repercussion, but, Jared losing his family, friends, and his home town was not one he had considered, nor did he really want to at that time. He was now seeing how selfish he had been, and it was tearing him up inside.


It was 3:30 in the morning. The party had quieted down and the only ones left now were Matt, Ben, Freddie, James, and Jon and Jared. They were sat around, just talking and joking. Each of them had a beer, except Jon who was drinking pepsi. They had a few laughs about who was seeing who, a lot of the jokes being aimed at "the married couple" Jared and Jon, but it was all in good fun.

"That was a big step you took Jon, going after Jared on national TV like that. I mean, Jared, what was going through your mind when he did that."

Jared looked at Jon, then back to Ben. "I was thinking... this guy is fucking nuts!" They all laughed together, even Jon. "But then, I realized what it was he was trying to do and... I fell in love with him all over again. How could I say no?"

"You see," said Freddie, "that's what I call love. Risking it all for that special someone. I hope I can meet a girl that I feel that way about and that feels the same way about me."

Jon took a drink of his pepsi and giggled. When all of the other guys looked at him he smiled and said, "Geez Freddie, why wait for that special lady when James is just sitting there looking so damned cute?"

Everyone started laughing again, especially Matt who by now was feeling no pain whatsoever. "Now that was a good one Jon."

"Hey, fuck that man, I'm not queer. Oh god! I'm so sorry guys, I didn't mean to say that! I was just... I uh, I - "

"James, it's OK. We know what you mean."

"Thanks Jard." Everyone giggled to themselves at how drunk James was. He hadn't consumed quite as much alcohol as most people had that night, but his lack of drinking experience was easily showing through.

"So what do your parents think of their son being a media sensation all of a sudden Jared?"

Jon turned to look at him, trying to read the expression on his boyfriend's face. However there wasn't one. Jared sat there, seemingly unphased. Jon knew Jared too well to think he wasn't bothered by Matt's question. He just hoped that Jared wouldn't get too upset.

"Um, it was no big thing. It didn't get all that much attention when I went home actually."

Thank god, thought Jon. I was afraid he would get pissed and freak on Matt. I guess he has changed a little. But, just to be on the safe side: "Did anyone see that Kings game the other night. There were some great shots in the third period. Especially the one - "

"'Didn't get that much attention'? Hell I know if I weren't famous already, my parents would go crazy. Seeing their 'little boy' on practically every TV station. Dad would be so fucknig proud man, and mom... mom wouldn't stop talking about it. She'd be bragging to all her friends."

"Heh, nope. That didn't happen." Jared took another sip of his beer followed by a deep breath. Jon could see the look in his eyes, silently saying that he wanted to end the conversation or leave.

"Christ man, you're parents don't have a clue do they? They should be telling everyone they know that their son is a big news make, no matter what the reason. I know mom and dad would if it was me. Actually when - "

"You want to know what my parents thought? You really want to fucking now?" Jon stood up quickly, splashing his beer over his tuxedo pants. Jon looked down at the floor, knowing what was coming. "My father died, according to my mother from a broken heart, and my mother never wants to even hear tale of me again."

Jon looked up, surprised. That wasn't what he was expecting at all.Sure he knew Jared's father had died, but of a broken heart? And his mother? What have I done to him, thought Jon.

Everyone in the room looked down at the floor, as if following a director's cue. Everyone except Jon who looked at Jared, his eyes full of compassion and shame, and Matt, who didn't know where to look at this point.

"So as you can see, yeah, my parents thought about it a lot. And they decided to forget it, and me." Jared placed his beer on the coffee table. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to be going. Matt... it was a lovely party. Good night."

Jared walked out of the rec room. His footsteps could be heard as he walked through the house until he opened the door and closed it again quietly. The remaining party guests looked at each other, their gazes eventually falling on Jon.

"Shouldn't... shouldn't you go after him," asked Freddie.

"Right now, I think I'm probably the last person he wants to see."


Jared sobbed heavily, struggling to regain his breath. Everything was going good until Matt had asked that stupid question. Then everything came flooding back. He had lost everything: his father, his mother, his friends, hell he had lost his home town. No one there save a few people even acknowledged him when he was there. What did he have left? An apartment full of boxes... and Jon.

Jon... the person that he gave it all up - lost it all - for. In Jared's mind, the question remained: he had lost everything else, did he really want to keep Jon?


I am Scoop, hear me type. This story is starting to get a little too realistic for me now. I have to end this chapter before the tears get to heavy. Look for the conclusion to this story line (and possible end) in chapter 11. I thank all of you that are still reading.

Peace!