Date: Sat, 08 Sep 2007 05:50:15 +0000 From: Chris Salter Subject: How I Met Jake: Chapter 18 If you're under the legal age, or it's against the law in your country/state/principality/SAR/region..etc to read anything involving 2 men, then please leave. If you're in any way offended by such acts, also please leave. Disclaimer: I don't know Jake. I don't wish to imply his sexual preference in this work of FICTION. What Jakeyboy does in his private life is his own business. Anyway, onward we go y'all. Chapter 18: Chris felt fabulous. Once again, he woke up being cuddled by the man he loved. As his body clock was still set to Los Angeles time, he ended up waking up fairly late in the morning. Slowly he began to move under the soft white sheets, however, he was pulled back closer to the warm and hairy chest belonging to Jake. Feeling a wet pair of lips surrounded by stubble kissing the nape his neck, Chris smiled, "Good morning." Skillfully flipping Chris over, Jake brought his lips to meet Chris'. "Wakey wakey." Jake whispered as he stared into Chris' eyes and smiled. "You're such a dork." Chris replied as he kissed Jake once more. "How long have you been awake?" Jake began to play with the patch of hair on Chris' chest, "A while. I didn't want to get up." "What time did you have to go to that press thing?" Chris asked in between ticklish giggles. "About noon I think. Will you meet me in Central Park at about 2?" Chris leaned in to kiss Jake once more before getting up, "Sure, I'll find something to do in the meantime." *** *** *** *** *** Chris was absolutely lost. He'd climbed the stairs out of what he had though was the right subway station, however, when he looked around all he could see was townhouses. He looked down at his watch. It was just before 12. Not knowing which way to go, he quickly hailed a cab and provided the driver with the destination. Several minutes later, the taxi pulled up outside what appeared to be a more suitable building to contain an office. It was an older style building; however, it was kept in immaculate condition. Walking inside the lobby, he looked at a sign listing the locations of the various offices. He quickly found the one he was looking for before heading to the elevator. He pressed the button and waited for the door to close. Once at the correct floor, Chris stepped out and followed the gold plated signs. He then finally found the front desk of Danny's office. He approached the man sitting behind the desk, "Hi I'm here to see Daniel." The main slipped his headset off for a moment, "Name please?" "Chris," he replied as he readjusted his black polo shirt so it wasn't riding up at the back. "One moment." The man replied as he dialed a number. He was silent for a few moments before speaking into the phone, "There's a Chris here to see you. Okay, I'll tell him." He then pressed the button to end the call and looked back at Chris, "You can go right in." Chris turned towards the office and made his way to the door; he slowly turned the handle and pushed it open. "Hey Chris." Danny said as he jumped up from his desk. He quickly bounced over to Chris and kissed him on the cheek. Chris hugged Danny tight, "You smell great. You look great, and I look like crap." "You can barely see it," Danny replied as he looked at Chris' hairline. "You ready to go?" "Sure." Chris said as he hugged Danny once more. *** *** *** *** *** Jake looked over at Peter, who was sitting on the opposite side of the back seat. He was being uncharacteristically quiet. It was confounding Jake. Finally, he decided to enquire, "What's up man?" Peter took his eyes from the view out the window to look at Jake, "Oh it's nothing I guess." "Don't do this Pete," Jake pleaded, "What the hell is wrong?" Peter sighed, "I hate being the bearer of bad news." He then looked over at Jake who was giving him a concerned look, "It's about Chris." Making sure the partition between them and the driver was up; Jake leaned towards his friend, "What about him?" Wanting to get straight to the point, Peter suddenly blurted out, "He's cheating on you, I think." "Huh?" Jake replied, completely in shock from the comment. "What do you mean?" He wasn't really letting himself fall for speculation. "You know when he went to the bathroom at the restaurant last night?" Peter said in a serious tone. "Yeah?" "Well," Peter explained, "He was making plans to see some guy today." "Oh," Jake replied softly. "There was something else," Peter replied as he put his hand on his friends' shoulder, "He told this person he loved them." Feeling sick once more, Jake stared blankly out the window, "I'm seeing him today, I'll ask him about it." *** *** *** **** "Why a tea house?" Chris asked as he seat down on the white leather seat opposite Danny. He was looking as adorable as usual, dressed in a light blue business shirt teamed with a brown pair of pants with a faint check pattern. Danny handed Chris a menu before replying, "I've been coming here ever since I opened the office. They're good and friendly." "Okay then," Chris replied as he surveyed the various menu items. Finding something that immediately appealed to him, he closed the menu, rested his elbow on the table and held his hands to his mouth. "Why did you want to see me today?" "Well, to be honest I wanted to tell you something." Danny said as he took folded the menu. Chris was about to enquire just as the waitress walked up. "Hey guys, what can I get you?" She asked as she pulled the pad from her back pocket. "Can I get a cinnamon and orange tea and a garden salad." Danny replied as he handed the menu back to the woman. "Excellent, and for you sir?" "Herbal sunshine thing sounds okay, I feel like little miss fucking sunshine today." Chris said as he looked over at Danny, "Yeah, can I get that and the salad too." "Sure not a problem." The waitress replied with a smile on her face from Chris' statement. Once she was out of earshot, Chris leaned towards Danny, "What did you want to tell me and why couldn't it wait till tomorrow? I feel bad keeping this a secret from Jake." "Sorry," Danny apologized, "I wanted to talk to you on your own. Something told me you two were inseparable lately." Chris blushed, "Something like that. What is it? Just tell me." "I met someone," Danny replied. "His name is Alex, he's really nice." "That's great!" Chris squealed as he jumped out of his seat and kissed Danny on the cheek. "What does he do? How did you meet? When do I get to meet him?" Danny chuckled at Chris' enthusiasm. "He's a doctor," he replied sheepishly. "A Jewish doctor?" Chris asked. Laughing once more, Danny nodded, "Yeah, he is actually." Chris smiled, "Well, your mum will be happy about that. How did you meet?" "I suppose she will. She still loves you to death though." Danny continued, "We met at Starbucks actually. So I guess having a coffee addiction helps sometimes." He then looked over to see Chris smiling stupidly at him, "I was sitting there at the table one day when it was busy. He asked if he could sit down, and things went from there." "That's so cute," Chris commented as he noticed how happy Danny seemed. "When can I meet him?" "How about at dinner tomorrow?" Danny replied, he then continued, "We can introduce each others boyfriends." "Sounds good," Chris said as the waitress returned with the tea. "How is Jake?" Danny asked. Pouring himself a cup from the glass teapot, Chris looked up, "He's good, I'm seeing him after this. How the hell do you get to that big fountain thing in Central Park anyway?" *** *** *** *** *** Jake was both fuming and desperate to see Chris. He'd been waiting at the large fountain for about half an hour. He'd been spotted a few times, and had even had to fake a smile in photographs with various tourists before they all disappeared back into their own existences. Finally, he noticed a black polo shirted figure wandering up the steps. Standing up, Jake readjusted his backpack before heading towards Chris. Chris smiled warmly and waved at Jake, "Hey you. You been waiting long?" "A while," Jake replied as he stepped closer to his man. "Let's take a walk." Chris followed Jake down the stairs and along the large pathway he had just walked down. "What did you get up to today?" Jake asked, hoping Chris would tell the truth. "This and that," Chris replied, "I ended up getting lost." Turning down a small garden path, Jake asked, "Is that all?" He really felt like Chris was completely lying to him. "I suppose," Chris replied in a suspicious tone. "Why?" Refusing to walk with Chris' lying soul any longer, Jake froze, "What about your boyfriend?" Chris turned around quickly, "What are you talking about?" "Peter heard you last night on the phone." Jake replied quietly as he pulled his hands out of his pockets. "What are you talking about Jake? You're my boyfriend." Chris defended. Reaching out to his sides, Jake got slightly more emotional, "Who was it then? You tell someone you love them but they're not your boyfriend? I guess it was wrong to introduce you to Maggie so soon." Chris felt tears beginning to well up. He started crying as his heart was torn in two. "Why are you acting like this Jake?" He cried while trying to maintain some composure. "I haven't done anything Jake. I love you." "Well, who was it?" Jake asked. He was getting frustrated. He really wanted to get the information out of Chris, but at the same time, he was also hurting. "Fine, Jake." Chris squeaked between tears and gasps for breath. "It was Danny." Again, the name caused his heart to break in two, instead of making a dramatic scene; Jake shrugged his shoulders and turned away, "Goodbye Chris. I'll leave your shit with the doorman." He then walked away quickly, hiding his tears with his sunglasses. "Jake!" Chris yelled, not giving a shit about the people around. Chris thought for a few minutes whether or not to make a completely overdramatic scene in front of the city. He finally decided he would, and sprinted after Jake, all the while screaming his name. Jake sped up his pace, not wanting to run, but at the same time, not wanting to Chris to catch up. His battle was lost when he heard loud footsteps approaching him from behind. "I really don't want to hear it Chris. I'm sick of getting hurt." "Jake," Chris replied, still balling with tears, "Talk to me Jake." Finally, Jake turned around; he couldn't take anymore of Chris' pleading, "What? You're going to tell me the same story, where he you love him and always will, but you're over? I don't think I can handle you lying anymore." "I've never lied to you Jake," Chris motioned to put his hand on Jakes shoulder, however was quickly swatted away. "Don't do this Jake. I love you. Danny wanted to tell me he's found a man. He wanted to introduce us tomorrow, but I guess that's not going to happen." He then wiped more tears away from his reddening eyes. Jake felt like a complete idiot, he knew he should have trusted Chris, as they were slightly out of sight from the rest of the park, Jake moved in closer to Chris to hug him. However, he was immediately pushed away. "I guess you don't trust me," Chris replied. "I'll get my stuff out of Maggie's place now and go home I guess. Goodbye Jake." He then turned and tearfully made his way to the street to find a taxi willing to take him to Brooklyn. *** *** *** **** "I'm sorry; all the flights to Los Angeles are fully booked until Sunday." The nasal voice said down the phone line. "Crap, okay. Thankyou." Chris replied as he ended the call and zipped up the rest of his bags. He then stacked the smaller one on top of the larger case and headed out of the bedroom, forgetting his shirt that was hanging behind the door. "Chris, don't go. Please" Maggie and Peter pleaded as they watched him shuffle his way to the door. Wiping the tears away from his eyes once more, Chris looked up at them, "I have to. Jake doesn't trust me around my ex. I can't live like that sorry. I love Jake with all my heart, and I love you guys, but it hurts me that I can't be trusted." "Where are you going to go?" Maggie asked as she tried to help Chris clumsily make his way out of the apartment. There was obviously no reasoning with him, so the least she could do was help. Making his way through the door completely, Chris propped the bag up before hugging Maggie. "I guess I will go to a hotel, or stay with Danny. I can always rent a car and fly from Boston I guess." After releasing Maggie, he mournfully waved goodbye before sadly heading towards the elevator. *** *** *** *** *** *** It was dark by the time Jake got back to the apartment. A glutton for punishment, he didn't want to subject himself to the stares from taxi drivers or subway and bus passengers. Instead, he walked the entire distance from Central Park back to Brooklyn stifling his tears behind his sunglasses. He knew Chris would be gone by the time he got back, but part of him wanted to catch Chris still packing his bags up. As he unlocked the apartment door he found Maggie snuggled up to Peter on the couch. He looked over at them and solemnly acknowledged his presence, "Hey guys...." Maggie stood up from her position and waddled her way over to her baby brother. It looked like he had been holding in his emotions all day. She quietly placed her arms around his strong body before she noticed he was shaking. Tilted her head back, she saw tears coming pouring out of Jake's eyes. "What have I done?" Jake wailed as he continued to drench his sister's shirt with tears. "I miss him so much." He then sniffed his nose before breaking free of Maggie's grip. He collapsed on the black armchair and pulled his knees up to his chin. "I'm a fucking retard. I just let the best thing in my life disappear because of my own insecurities." "I'm really sorry," Peter apologized, feeling entirely responsible for the day's actions. Jake glanced over at Peter, "It's okay, you were just looking out for me." He then looked over at Maggie, "Did he say where he was going?" "I think he was going to get a hotel room, he mentioned something about driving." Maggie replied. Jake stood up from the chair, "I'm going to go to bed I think." He said with a croaky voice. "I hope he doesn't try and drive." Heading into his bedroom, Jake immediately collapsed on the bed and began to howl with tears. He hadn't cried this much in years. Heart completely broken, Jake grabbed the pillow Chris had been using. He curled up on the bed and brought the pillow into a tight hug. It was then he spotted Chris' shirt hanging behind the door. Continuing to hug Chris' pillow, Jake stood up and pulled the shirt off the hanger. It smelled of Chris' cologne mixed with fabric softener. Collapsing on the bed once more, Jake brought the alluring scent up to his face and cried himself to sleep. --- Oh noes! Chapter 19 soonish --- Does anyone actually read this thing at the bottom? Just curious is all. Well, wasn't that a miserable chapter? Stay tuned for find out what happens next. It's pretty heartbreaking stuff! For those not playing the Home Game. I've been uploading the chapters onto my groups server a day or so before sending them into Nifty, so if you want to check the next chapter, come pay our little gaggle a visit. http://groups.msn.com/HowIMetJakeCafe I do love hearing from you guys, even the questions and the occasional oddball email. And I see I've managed to convert yet another to the wonderousness of Roger Cicero! I can be reached over MSN email (in theory) at chezmoi_ou_cheztoi@msn.com but it's still being a bitch! If I don't reply, its more than likely that I haven't even received the message -- URGH death to Microsucks! Anyway, back to watching The Silvia Night Show. Most random and entertaining TV Show I have seen in a while! Chris.