Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:44:12 -0700 (PDT) From: Christian Garcia Subject: The Gyllenhaal Encounter - Part Sixteen Disclaimer: The following story is fictional, purely made up. I do not know Jake Gyllenhaal personally and don't mean to imply that I know of his personal life or sexual preference so there. If you don't like Man/Man relatioships or if you're younger than 18 years old then don't go any further. Now that the legal stuff is out of the way, sit back, grab a snack and enjoy! +++ One more day. One more day remained until everyone went back to their lives and jobs away from the paradise they had become accustomed to and love. The home they borrowed would soon be returned to it's rightful owner as they took that step out of the beach house and onto the white sand outside. On the day before it was time to depart, the six friends got up early to start the day the best they could. All except for Christian who still lay in bed thirty minutes after everyone else had already woken up. "Christian." Ashley whispered, leaning over the bed where Christian lay on his back, his chest rising and falling as he inhaled deeply and exhaled; allowing his lungs to dissimulate and rest. His right hand behind his head and his left resting on top his bare stomach, half covered by the thin white sheets Christian used to block out the cool air seeping through the small open space of the window that was carelessly left open during the night. "Chris." Ashley nudged Christian's arm. He stirred a bit and slowly came to open his eyes to see who it was bringing him out of his slumber. "Hmm?" Christian turned to Ashley, eyes still half shut. "Come on. Get up." She whispered again. "Time to meet the world." "I'll meet it later." Christian mumbled, closing his eyes and looking away. Ashley nudged his arm again but this time he took her in his hand and pulled her down on the bed with him. Christian forced Ashley to wrap her arm around him and press her body against the back of his. "Go back to sleep." He told her, holding Ashley in place. She struggled a bit but gave up when feeling how comfortable the bed mattress actually was. Christian pulled Ashley's hand up and held it close to his chest; making sure she wouldn't try to get up and in return try to awaken him again. Ashley pressed her cheek against Christian's and sighed, feeling the warmth of his body transfer through the sheets and onto her. "How are you doing?" She asked, her finger grazing the bottom of Christian's chin, feeling stubby hair beginning to grow out from his skin. "Good." Christian replied, his words almost lost on the way to her ear. "What about---you know who." "Mmm, I give up, who?" Christian turned his head slightly, trying to look at Ashley laying behind him. "Jake" "Fine, I guess." "Yeah, just fine? Figured out what you're going to do about Jake and Randy yet?" Christian stayed quiet. "Are you staying with Randy? Is Jake coming into the picture again?" It was if Ashley was talking to herself. Christian didn't move a muscle, only lay in front of her motionless. "Okay, I get it. But you know you have to make a decision between the two." Christian finally moved; turning to Ashley, giving her a stern look. "I'm not making any decision anytime soon. This thing with Jake probably wont even make it when we get back to Los Angeles. We'll probably go back to our own lives again." Christian explained. "Alright, what ever you say, babe. I'm going downstairs, you should put some clothes on and come down with me." Ashley took her arm back and sat on the edge of the bed, looking down on her friend. "I'll be down in a minute." Christian yawned while Ashley walked to the bedroom door. As she stepped out, Randy came into view and stood besides her. "What's going on?" Randy asked, curious. "Just trying to get your lazy boyfriend out of bed. Maybe you can do a better job." The two looked at Christian laying down. He looked back at them with a smart-alec grin on his face. Ashley disappeared around the wall while Randy stepped closer, the left side of his mouth up in a smile. He stood besides the large bed with his arms crossed and peered down at Christian, his eyes scanning every inch of his face. "Why don't you want to get up?" Randy asked. "I'm feeling really lazy today." "It's our last day here. You should be up and about, getting ready to go out with us." Christian shrugged and moved the hair covering his forehead to the right. "Move over." Randy sat down and lay besides Christian on the soft white mattress, pulling the sheets over his body and bringing Chris into a warm embrace. "Where are you all going anyways?" Christian asked, placing his hand on Randy's arm wrapped around his waist. "We're going to spend the entire day out and about. Hanging out and what not before we go back home tonight." "Everyone's going?" "Everyone." Christian sighed. "Why don't we just stay here all day? Empty house, we don't have to lock the doors." Christian turned himself around to face Randy while still being covered by the smooth arms holding him tightly. He then reached down with his right hand, gliding it down Randy's shirt and crept his fist underneath the thin shirt fabric to take hold of the skin keeping Randy's insides safe from any outer danger. "Tempting." Randy trembled in Christian's hands. "But it's better if we go. Don't want to miss a whole day in the sun do you?" Christian sighed and took his hand away from Randy then placed his bare feet on top the cold hard wooden floor, feeling the crisp and cool floor nipping at his soles. Randy was surprised and happy to see Christian walk across the room and dig through the luggage filled with clothing wearing only a thin pair of boxers covering his lower half. Randy got up and followed behind, wrapping his arms around Christian's torso and kissing the back of his neck lovingly as Christian held one of his shirts up in front of him. Their show of emotion was interrupted by a gentle knock on the doors wooden frame. The two men looked over and saw Jake standing still at the doorway. Christian shifted a bit and slid on a new shirt causing Randy to drop the hold he gained on him. "We're all ready and waiting downstairs." Jake mumbled, turning his head away from the two. "Alright, we'll be down in a minute." Christian replied. "I'll see you in the car." Randy whispered into Christian's ear and walked to where Jake was standing. He moved passed him with out giving Jake a single glance or nod. Christian got dressed and stepped out from inside the house, closing and locking the door behind him and proceed into the auto where his friends sat waiting. Miguel started the car and waited for the engine to warm then slowly backed out of the corner driveway, entering the paved street and rolling down the block. The sun outside wrapped half of humanity in it's warm blanket, nurturing and illuminating the world with it's rays of light. The sky was clear and blue with minor cloud coverage, birds of all kind flew over the tall buildings and dipped back down to ground to pick up scraps of food dropped by those eating outside of expensive restaurants. Tourists and residents filled the sidewalks as they walked in groups of two and three passed shops and establishments made for eating in. The chaos of outside didn't compare to the calm atmosphere in the car as the soft humming from the engine emanated through the caravans bones and into the passengers ears. For the most part, the ride was quiet except for the other cars quickly passing by and the thick stream of air pushing in through a cracked window on the passenger side that blew Ashley's hair back with fierce force. Christian looked out from his window and noticed a miniature red convertible pull up to the side of the road while at a red light, two young girls ride inside. They were dressed in a similar way from the pink trucker hats on their straight blonde hair to the matching pink sandals on their feet. Christian watched them from his window as the woman on the passenger seat reached forward and placed her small index finger on the radio dial; flipping through the stations and stopping on a past paced dance song. The two girls began to dance in their seats and lip-synch the words to the song before driving away at a fast speed and disappearing around the left hand corner. Christian turned around again, his eyes moving from the back of everyone's head and finally out the windshield. They continued to drive around for several minutes, looking for the perfect place to go and get breakfast before heading on their adventure around the Malibu streets. Not being able to find anywhere fast, Miguel drove everyone into a dark parking garage available to the public so that they could leave the car and walk around on foot. When they poured out of the Dodge Caravan and out of the cave like garage, the group began to move a few feet before stopping for a quick huddle. "What time is it?" Christian asked. "It's going to be eleven in twenty-three minutes so we better find a place to get breakfast soon." Ashley replied, looking down at her small wristwatch in frustration. "There's a sea food place around the corner." Maggie stepped in. "I've been there a few times before, it's really nice." "Is it far from here?" "No, it's maybe about three---four minutes away." "Let's get going then." Miguel added. The group walked down the street to a large building with a oversize picture of a man standing proudly on top a surfboard; riding a wave and smiling coyly, the words "Duke's Malibu" painted underneath. There was a small line to get inside when they arrived but decided that it was the closest place available and waited outside with everyone else. Surprisingly, it only took three minutes to be assisted and let into the establishment. The waitress they followed led them through the restaurant while everyone in the group looked around at the different size painting hanging on the walls, paintings of surfers and ten feet waves frozen in time. The people already inside ate happily while gazing out of the enormous windows lining the entire back wall looking out at the sparkling ocean, the rolling waves placing everyone into a calming state of mind. Upon exiting the main building and out to the patio behind the restaurant, the sound of water hitting the rocks below overwhelmed their senses. The sight and sound of the ocean sloshing around could be experienced ten times more when outside. The only thing keeping the customers from falling over into the waves was a wall of glass protruding from the wooden floors at their feet. The six all sat around a big wooden table decorated simply with a violet Lotus flower sitting comfortably on a green lily pad inside a clear bowl of water. When they took their seat, Melissa, their waiter, handed everyone a tall menu wrapped in a plastic cover to browse through. "Can I start you all off with something to drink?" Melissa asked, taking her order pad from her waist apron and pencil from behind her right ear and bringing them together; ready to take orders. "What do you guys want?" Ashley asked, looking through the menu foldout. "Can I have a glass of mineral water?" Jake asked, peering over the menu in his hands. "Sure." The waiter wrote down his order. "What do you want Maggie?" Jake looked at his sister by his side. She looked at him and then focused on Melissa. "I'll take a glass of orange juice." She said. After everyone gave them food and drink orders, Melissa took back the menus and head back inside. "Do you guys realize that it's our last day here?" Asked Ashley, looking at all the faces sitting around her. "After today we go back to our own lives. It's so sad." "I'm heartbroken, I don't know what to do with myself." Randy sarcastically replied. "I think I'm going to miss the house." Christian added. "It's so beautiful and not at all like my little shit hole apartment. I'll miss the big room and the big comfortable bed and the sand and... I don't know, everything, pretty much." "Well I just want to say that I really appreciate being able to have the opportunity to come down here with all of you guys." Jake said, showing how he felt with his hands. "I don't know about Maggie but for me it's been really, really incredible and I want to thank you all for being so welcoming and just so embracing." Christian watched Jake intensely, stealing glances and exchanging laughs. "Aren't you two used to being in places like this?" Miguel asked Jake and Maggie. "I bet your house is a castle compared to the one we're staying in." "Our house isn't that big, actually." Maggie explained. "We do have our space but it's not what some people might think. At least, it's not anything like the enormous places some other people live in." Jake nodded in agreement. "I, personally, haven't been to many beach homes so this was my real beach front experience and it's just really nice to be around people who are uplifting and fun, you know? If you're going to be with a group of people for a week then you have to make sure they are exciting and genial rather than uptight and insensitive because then your trip is ruined. I think Jake and I were just happy to be treated as one of the group and not Jake and Maggie Gyllenhaal, the actors, but more Jake and Maggie the people." "I've been to hundreds of beach houses before so---no, I'm just kidding. Um, but Maggie is completely right. I mean, I've had a blast here and I'm sad that time is almost up." "Bullshit." Randy coughed and covered his mouth, striving to make his foul language unheard. The table laughed and settled when the waitress came out with a tray full of glasses filled with different substances. She set them on the table carefully, slowly passing them around to their owners and placing the now empty tray under her arm. "I'll be right back with your food." She said then disappeared into the building. "I think this is the perfect moment to make a toast to friends and a wonderful week." Miguel lifted his glass in the air. Everyone else followed in his example and knocked glasses together. +++ After finally having breakfast, they stayed in their seats for several minutes and waited for the food to digest as they all felt stuffed from the incredibly appetizing breakfast they had just devoured. Amidst the feeling of a full stomach and plentiful harvesting, Jake drew a small zip lock bag from deep inside his pocket that was lightly filled with small green pills at the bottom. He opened it up and reached in, pulled out two capsules with his index and middle fingers then placed them on the table before closing the bag and placing it inside his pants again. "What are those?" Christian wondered. "Herbal vitamins to help me get the nutrients I don't get from other regular foods." Jake said, picking up the two pills and glass of water then swallowing the capsules, taking gulp after gulp from the clear liquid in his cup. "Got any vicodin in there?" Randy smiled jokingly. "I hear that stuff makes you feel light as a feather." "Sorry." Jake smiled. "I keep the vicodin in my secret stash." After paying the bill, Maggie Jake, Randy, Ashley, Miguel and Christian got up and left the restaurant. The streets were now swarming with people walking in all directions like bees creating honey for their queen. It was almost impossible to walk along the sidewalk together as people constantly bumped into each other, sending them off balance and a foot to the side. The six reached a part of the city where the human traffic eased, this place happened to be the Paradise Cove pier in Malibu. The sand was sparsely covered by people laying on their towels, soaking up sun rays in hope of achieving that L.A. tan. The woman to man ration was overwhelming but it didn't matter since most of the men were out on the water; either surfing or laying on a small boogie-board that the waves carried around carelessly. "The surf looks incredible." Jake looked into the distance, watching water roll onto shore and back out to join the ocean bed again. The white and black seagulls dipping into the water to try and catch unsuspecting fish from under the water. "Do you surf?" Ashley asked as she and the others walked along the outer rim where sand slowly turned to rock then into gravel. "If I have time I try to go and get out there." "Are you any good?" "Um, not exactly." Jake giggled, the small wrinkles on the corner of his eyes showing. "But I know the basics and that's good enough for me." The rest of the day was spent by the group walking around and doing a little sight seeing. As everyone walked along the beach soreline, admiring the clear sky calm sound of waves rolling in, Jake noticed Christian and Randy up front, holding hands and talking cheerfully. He then realized that that was what Christian wanted all along; someone who wouldn't be afraid of showing his emotions towards him in public whether it was holding hands or small kisses on the lips. Jake knew he couldn't do those things with Christian and it upset him greatly, sending him into a downward depression. Maggie looked to her brother and noticed his sudden shyness. "Are you alright?" She asked, nugding Jake's arm with her elbow. "Hmm?" Jake lifted his head to look into Maggie's big blue eyes. "Are you okay?" "Oh, yeah." Jake nod his head, turning back to Randy and Christian's tangled fingers. Maggie looked in the direction her borthers eyes looked in and realized that Jake wasn't the way he said he was. She wondered how Jake felt watching the person he enjoyed holding on to another man. "It's rude to stare." Maggie whispered, smiling. "I'm not." Jake tried to defend himself but came clean as Maggie stared deep into his eyes. "It's hard, you know?" Maggie nod in agreement. She wrapped her arm around Jake's shoulders and pulled him in close, trying to comfort his damaged spirit. They returned to the parking garage where they had parked earlier and got inside when the sun began to hide behind the ocean floor. They only had several hours left before they had to be on their way back to Los Angeles and to their normal, mediocre lives. By the time they arrived at the house, the sun had completely disappeared from it's place in the sky and was now replaced by a full moon glowing brightly, illuminating the clouds surrounding it. The car came to a halt and everyone stepped out into the cool night, hearing the waves behind the house and crickets chirping in the bushes, they made their way along the sand floor and into the great house. Christian slid his gray sweatshirt off and held it in his hands as he dropped himself onto one of the two large couches inside the living room. He sighed and placed his sweater over his face, breathing in the smell of the laundry soap and feeling the hot spot created by him exhaling air into the fabric. Next he felt a hand press onto his right shoulder from behind and begin to squeeze gently. The sweater over his face peeled away and a pair of lips covered his mouth. He figured Randy was just giving him a quick kiss before heading upstairs to begin packing, the sound of lips smacking together filled his head but were drowned it out for a moment so that Christian could focusing on the sounds in the background. It was quiet except for the slight sound of his lips pulling away from the other pair. Christian opened his eyes and looked up; expecting to see Randy over him but was surprised when seeing Jake smiling down. "Jesus Christ!" Christian sighed. "I thought you were Randy." "Sorry to disappoint you." Jake leaned over the couch's back, his arms stiff under him; holding onto the spine for support. "You didn't. Come here." Christian reached behind his head and took Jake's wrist in his hand; he pulled Jake around the couch and to his side. Once Jake was seated besides Christian, he was taken captive by Chris' hands and was greeted with another kiss. Jake pulled away briefly and looked at Christian dead in the eyes. "Aren't you worried someone might come in?" "Who, Ashley? She already knows. Plus, another reason why I'm so fond of this house is because the floor boards squeak every time someone is coming this way." Jake scoffed and thought back to what Christian had just said. "Wait, did you say she knows?" "Um hmm." Christian leaned forward and pressed his lips against Jake's neck. "You told her?" "No, she figure it out on her own. She's actually known for a little while now. I mean, she doesn't know we're sneaking around again but she knows about before." Christian moved his mouth to the other side of Jake's jaw, kissing every inch of skin stretched around his strong bone structure. "Oh, well Maggie knows too." Jake said, Christian pulling away from him fast and sat up straight with questioning eyes. "She does?!" Jake nodded. "She actually heard us talking in the guest house the other day." "What did she say?" "She was actually really great about the whole thing. She said that she loved me and was behind me in any decision I decided to take in life. I always knew she was but having her assure me of it makes the entire thing a lot more comforting." "So you're official?" Christian smiled a laced in surprise and excitement. Jake nodded again. " I guess so." That crooked, childish smile of his graced his face, eyebrows raised high. "That's great! How does it feel?" "It feels..." Jake sighed. "It feels really good, actually." Jake's eyes beamed with happiness as he talked. The blue in his pupils showing brighter than usual. "Yeah? Let's have a quick celebration." Christian shot up from his seat on the couch and disappeared behind the kitchen wall. Jake sat in the living room, listening as Christian rustled through drawers and open then closed the refrigerator door. He stood up and walked into the bright kitchen in time to see Christian popping the cork off a half empty bottle of vodka, filling two small shot glass' to the brim. "What are you doing?" Jake asked smiling. "Where did you get that?" "It was in the refrigerator." "You can't just take it." "Come on, like they're really going to miss one bottle of Van Gogh Vodka." Christian slid one of the glass' over to Jake as he held the other one between his fingers. Jake had never seen this side of Christian; the side that made him come off as more daring. This turned Jake on immensely. "You're not supposed to be drinking." "What's one drink? Plus, it's not like I've never had a drink of alcohol. I haven't been under a rock all my life." Christian replied, brining the glass to his lips and gulping down the clear liquid. Jake watched intensely and smiled then drank back the alcohol, slamming the glass back onto the counter top. The floor boards squeaked and in walked Maggie holding one of her bags by her side. "Jake, come get your things ready." She looked around at the two men standing still as if they had just done something their mother forbid them to do. "What's going on?" "Do you want a shot?" Christian asked, refilling his shot glass. "No thanks. Have you already packed, Christian?" "Nope. I'm about to go right now." Christian drank the liquid quickly and washed his and Jake's shots glass in the sink then placed the tall clear bottle inside the cool refrigerator. He moved out of the kitchen and went upstairs to his and Randy's shared bedroom to begin and place his clothes inside his luggage. +++ Everyone sat inside the car as they made their way back to Los Angeles. Christian sat with Randy in the back seat again, Sargent sleeping by his feet. Christian leaned his head against the window where the lights from oncoming cars and street lamps shun inside, illuminating the dark spots of the auto for a split second. Christian tried to close his eyes to grab some sleep but couldn't manage to keep them shut long enough to actually drift into sleep. Any little sound of movement caused Christian to open his eyes: the sound of the radio music, the clinging sound of small pebbles hitting the underside of the car, the wind howling menacingly through an open window. The streets quickly became familiar to Christian. He realized he was back in his neighborhood and not very far from his apartment building. Sadness suddenly overwhelmed him, taking him prisoner when realizing he would have to step off the car keeping him and his friends together as one. The white caravan pulled up to the curb and Ashley got out form inside to open the sliding door and allow Christian to jump out. Sargent slowly came to and lazily jumped down from the cars platform and waited for his owner to follow behind. Randy came out later to bid farewell to his close friend, opening the back of the van and slid out Christian's large bag. "Are you guys being dropped off at your house?" Christian asked Jake and Maggie. "I'm not sure." Maggie replied, looking over at Jake. He shrugged and looked at Christian. "We can get off here and call Peter to come pick us up." "Do you want to?" "Yeah, I mean, it's easier don't you think? That way it'll be a shorter trip for the others." "Alright." Maggie stepped out of the car followed by Jake carrying her small bag. Jake walked to the back of the car and pulled out his and Maggie's things then rolled them to the complex front doors where Randy finished dropping Christian's bag. "Alright, hun. I'll talk to you later." Ashley hung out of the passenger window, extending her hand out at Christian. He took it and hugged her through the open space. "Okay, see you." Christian was about to back away but Ashley kept her grip tight on him. "What's the news on you and Jake?" She whispered. "Everything is good, nothing to worry about." "Everything?" "Trust me." Christian winked. Ashley smiled wide and let go of her friend. "You better be careful!" "I will." Christian yelled as he walked over to Miguel behind the steering wheel. After saying good bye and sharing a kiss with Randy, Christian moved out of the vans way and watched as it began to drive out of the parking lot. The lights outside illuminated the black floor where Jake and Maggie glowed as the bright building lights shun down on their shoulders. Maggie held a phone to her ear, talking softly while Jake leaned down, his elbows pressing onto his knees and face in his palms. Christian moved over to Jake and gripped the back of his neck, squeezing playfully. "What's the matter?" Christian asked, looking down at Jake. "Tired?" "Yeah." Jake yawned while nodding his head up and down, cupping his hands over his mouth; keeping the air coming out from his mouth close by. Christian's fingers massaged Jake's neck and shoulders; trying to comfort him and keeping him awake until their ride arrived. Jake sat upright this time, enjoying the feeling of having his neck rubbed on by Christian. He closed his eyes and sighed, falling victim to Christian's hold as his muscles loosened and his body gave into the temptation of sleep. Jake took Christian's hand off of his neck and pulled him down to his eye level so that he could grace Jake's lips with a loving kiss. Maggie pressed the "END" button on her phone causing the screen to go from a picture of a satellite antenna sending out signal to the normal picture of family set as her screensaver. She placed the phone into her purse and turned to Jake to tell him the news. Maggie felt shivers run through her body when her eyes looked upon her brother kissing another man square on the lips the same way she had seen him kiss other women before. She was suddenly shoved onto a roller coaster of reality the more she watched Jake and Christian continue on their moment of passionate emotion. She wondered how Christian could go from hugging and kissing Randy goodbye then all of a sudden turn around and do the same with Jake. She didn't understand but wasn't about to bring it up. "Uh---" Maggie started. "Peter said he'll be down here in a little bit." Christian pulled away from Jake and sat on the ground, calling Sargent over and running a hand over the animals spine. "Was he already sleeping?" Jake asked, slipping his right hand into the left sleeve of his shirt and scratch the back of his shoulder. "Yeah, he sounded tired. I felt really bad about waking him up." Maggie turned her body to Jake, burying her thin hands into the pockets of the brown wool knitted sweater she wore over her back to deflect the cold air. "He's probably going to come down here mad because he has to drive at night." "Let him. Teach that son-of-a-bitch some discipline." Jake teased, Maggie's face showing the shock of his playful comment. "Don't say that!" She slapped Jake's arm softly with the back of her hand. "What?" Jake giggled. " He knows I'm kidding." Peter arrived several minutes later. He drove up besides the waiting threesome and got out of the car, leaving the engine still on. Christian looked at Peter and wondered if he was freezing since he only wore a thin white t-shirt, jeans and flip-flops that smacked the sole of his feet with every step taken forward. "Welcome back." Said Peter, moving over to Maggie and giving her a warm hug then going to Jake and, again, giving off another hug. He then looked at Christian getting up from the floor and waved then placed his hands on his hips. "Is everybody ready?" "Yes." Maggie replied, lifting off of her suit case. She began to lift her bag but was caught off guard when Peter took it instead. He and Jake began to load the car while Maggie stood besides the black car. Christian walked over with Sargent at his side at the same time the trunk of the car was pushed shut by Peter. "Okay, bye Christian." Maggie smiled sweetly and went to hug Chris. "Thank you so much for letting Jake and I come along with you guys." "Oh, no. It's not problem at all. I can't imagine it now with out you two there." Christian said as he backed away. "Do you need help with your stuff?" Jake asked. "No, no. It's okay. It's just my backpack and suit case, I got it." "Okay." Jake stood silent for a brief period. "I guess I'll talk to you later." Christian nod and smiled. Jake and Maggie got into the car and braced themselves for the long ride back home. Peter opened the driver side door and looked in Christian's direction and said, "Bye Christian." Christian waved and watched as Peter disappeared into the car. Christian watched the car drive away and gave one last wave goodbye before walking to his things and taking Sargent up to the apartment so they could both get a good night's sleep. +++ Part Sixteen, ther it is. Hope you liked it. Part Seventeen is done and will posted later on but if you want you can go to the MSN group and read a preview of the upcoming part. As always, thanks for reading The Gyllenhaal Encounter and don't stop sending in those email. I really like reading what everyone thinks and what I can do better to spice things up in the story. I think Nicole Richie put it best when she said: "Love you, Bitches!" Bye! Group - http://groups.msn.com/TheGyllenhaalEncounter/_whatsnew.msnw -Christian