Date: Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:10:26 -0600 From: Oliver R Subject: american in canada-chapter 5...again This story is fiction. Any similarities with peoples living or dead are purely coincidence. Meaning that is not an autobiographical story. We just seem to have the same name lol. Please navigate away from this page if it is against the law in your country to view this material. Moreover do not read if you are under the age of majority in you country, state or province. Please do not copy without permission. Hey guys! First I'd like to thank Clinton for helping me edit this chapter. So once again this chapter is going to have some music as a mood setting if you want to listen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQCWPcYD5nQ here's the link. I want to have a sort of soundtrack to the story when it's done. I took a little longer writing this chapter, even though it's probably not the best. I want to take my time writing so that I can give you guys a fulfilling read. Also, my house is in complete disarray because my basement is getting fixed and because I'll be moving into a bigger room into my house. It's because my parents love me lol. Anyways on with the story! We got out of the restaurant with me trying my hardest to keep my emotions in check. Having a good cry on Colby's shoulder lessened the pressure to cry so I was winning the battle. God I was such an emotional basket case. "Here you go." he said opening the car for me. "God, you're not helping." I said more to myself than to him. "Sorry? What did you say?" oh crap. I think I said that too loud. "Oh nothing." I said trying to pull off some nonchalance. He gave me a questioning look. "Okay, if you say so." he said obviously not convinced. The mood in the car was a little tense. Colby seemed a little annoyed with my silence. I know he sensed something was a wry, and we obviously knew each other quite well. We pulled out of the parking lot and headed down York to Main St. We turned right and headed back to my house. "Are you sure everything is ok?" This was the first time I'd ever sensed any negative feelings from him. He asked this almost curtly at a red light, but his hard, grey eyes softened when he saw the expression on my face. If you saw my face it would have been a mix of melancholiness and worry. "Look, I'm sorry," he said taking my hand in his "It's just that the closer you and I become, the more you're mood affects mine. When you're sad like this, I just want to comfort you and make everything better. I'm your best friend now, you're stuck with me forever. So now that you know that I'll always be here, tell me what's making you feel sad." he said as the light turned green and he released the brake and sped off. "I don't know. I'm really sorry I'm putting a damper on your mood. I guess it's just that I'm friggin 18 now. Like, wow...I honestly don't know what is going on with me. One moment I don't feel any older or any different, and the next I feel I'm no longer a kid and that everything is different!" I added a sigh for effect. Man, I really should be an actor because I honestly think he believed me. "Hey c'mon, once we get to your house, we'll slowly get some drinks into our systems and you'll be having a blast with your friends and I. Man, it's your eighteenth birthday! Live it up! The novelty will ware off pretty fast, tomorrow it'll be nothing more than a distant memory." he said smiling. Even in my silent reverie, Colby still knew how to make me smile. "Now that's what I want to see! Your wonderful smile." he said as he squeezed my knee. We drove on for another fifteen minutes before we got to my house. "You sure you're okay? I mean, I can just tell everyone that you're tired and that you're just going to go to bed." he said. He's always looking out for me. "Nah, it's okay. I'm fine. And besides, I want to have fun. Like you said, I'll definitely loosen up once I get a few drinks into my system." "Good." he said brightening up. "Because I'm planning to get drunk. If I went to school in the States, I wouldn't be able to drink like I'm going to tonight." he said with an evil smile. We got out of his car and went in. "Hey boys." my mom said as we walked into the kitchen. She and my sister had everything finished. The egg rolls and pansit were cooked. My sister was finishing up cutting the rest of the fruits. "How was dinner?" "It was great mom. Colby took me to Lobby. Man the food there is definitely top notch." "Oooh, you lucky boy." my sister chimed in. "That place is excellent! You must really have tricked Colby into thinking you're someone special." she joked. "Ha ha, I could say the same thing about you and Kevin." "You two are too funny." Colby giggled at our bickering. "Anyways, I'm going to go change into something more drinking appropriate." I said as I turned around. "Oh Colby, come with me." "Okay." We went up to my room. Colby sat on my bed as I started to change my clothes. I hadn't even realized that I was changing in front of Colby. I was only in my underwear when I turned around to see him staring at me. I was suddenly self conscious about him seeing me in skivvies. "Uh...I'm sorry. I don't know how it slipped my mind that I invited you up and that I was going to be changing." I said. It was almost as if I broke him out of a trance. "Oh. No it's ok. It's not like I haven't seen other boys in their underwear before. The locker rooms are always filled with half naked boys." he said, nervously laughing. "I can go downstairs if you're not comfortable." "Um...no it's okay, as long as your comfortable." He just nodded. I quickly put on a teal Lacoste shirt and tucked it into a pair of tight, white jeans. "Did you bring anything comfortable to wear? I mean do you want to be wearing those nice clothes to drink in?" I asked. "Oh yeah! I totally forgot. It's in my car. Oh and I brought some clothes to sleep in too. I hope you don't mind. I was planning on drinking tonight so I thought maybe I could stay the night. I could always call a cab or something and pick up my car tomorrow morning." "No no, of course you're welcome to stay here." I thought about the situation more. A few of my friends and cousins were also going to be staying the night. I was going to sleep in my parents bed because they were going to leave for the cottage tonight. I realized that there was no where for him to stay. I had completely forgotten about asking him about it. Crap, he was going to have to share a bed with me. I had to think of something fast. "Um, I'm not too sure where exactly you're going to sleep though." "I can always stay on the couch." he said. "No. I can stay on the couch, you can have my parents bed." "Well how big is your parents bed?" "It's a queen like mine." "Well that's plenty of room. We can share it." "It's okay, you take it, I'll take the couch." "Come on. You won't let me take the couch, and I for sure am not going to let you take the couch on your birthday so sharing the bed is the only solution." he said feigning seriousness. "Please." he said softening his eyes while putting on a pout. How could I say no to that? "Fine." I knew this was a recipe for something bad but I agreed anyways. "Good. I'm gonna go get my clothes and get changed." "Okay. I'll be downstairs when you're done." We left my bedroom and he went to his car. He returned with his duffel bag and headed back up stairs. I took a seat at one of the stools in the kitchen. "So what time are your friends going to be here?" my mom asked. "Your father and I are going to leave soon. What about you and Kevin?" she asked turning to Stef. "I don't know. We'll probably go hang out with Ari and her fiance." Ari is my cousin. She's the same age as Stef so they're really close. "Are they gonna drop by before you guys go out?" I asked taking a grape from the platter. The juices enveloped my mouth in sweetness. "Yeah, they're coming here first. We'll probably go see a movie after." "Okay Oliver, if you don't need anything else, tell your dad to go get ready to leave." "Okay." I said turning around. "Dad!!! Mom said to get ready to leave!!!" I yelled. "Tell her I'm already ready!!!" he yelled back. "hmpf. I could have done that myself." my mom scoffed. "Anyways you have a good time tonight and make sure anybody who drove here doesn't drive back if they drank anything. Okay?" "Yes mom." "And are you drinking tonight?" she shifted her gaze to someone behind. I turned to see Colby wearing a fitted v-neck with a nice pair of black jeans. Damn. "Yes ma'am. I brought my stuff in anticipation of that. I'm not the kind of person to drink and drive." he said as he came up beside me. He gently squeezed my shoulder. "Good! I'm happy Oliver has a responsible friend like you. And make sure you two don't drink too much. I don't want any of you going to the hospital with alcohol poisoning." "Okay, I'll make sure I take care of Oliver here." he said rubbing my head. "Yeah right, Mr. American here is going to be taking advantage of his new found Canadian freedom. I'll be the one watching him." I quipped as I punched him on the arm. "Well you two watch out for each other then. We're gonna leave now okay. Be safe!" she said walking out of the kitchen. "So you guys want some drinks yet?" Kevin said walking into the kitchen beside Stef. "Yeah. Make me something good. A martini or something." "Well follow me guys." he said. The three of us followed him into the family room and he went behind the wet bar. "First, I'm gonna make you a birthday drink. When I was your age, my pops had a bar in the house too. My brothers made a rule that the two of them and my best friend each got to make me shot that I had to drink on my eighteenth birthday. So," he said pouring stuff into a shot glass, topping it off with a dollop of whipped cream and finishing off with a strategically placed maraschino cherry "this one is called an 'Angel's tit'." he said handing it to me. "Here Colby, find him a good one and make it." I took the shot glass from his hand and tossed it back. It was nice and sweet. I liked it. "Mmm that was good." I was liking this, it was fun. It definitely took my mind off my infatuation. "Okay I got one." Colby said, taking Kevin's spot behind the bar. "This one," he continued, pouring some Bailey's and then some Kahlua topped with even more whipped cream "is called a blowjob." he said evilly while handing the glass to me. "Ha ha ha, I never guessed in a million years that a straight boy like you would be giving me a blowjob." I said laughing heartily. It really was quite funny. "Oh Oliver, I'd give you a blowjob any day!" he responded. Well it was obviously a joke as the other two were laughing. I on the other hand failed to catch the joke and stood there shocked. "It was a joke Oliver." he added. "Uh...yeah I knew that." I said taking the shot and tossing that back too. I recuperated from his joke, so I joked right back. "Mmm, that was the best blowjob ever." "You better believe it! Call me anytime." He was good. "Okay you flirts, flirt on your own time." she said taking Colby's place. He was visibly blushing but laughed anyways. "So this is the first shot that Ari made for me when I turned 18. This one is called Fahrenheit 5000." she said with an evil chuckle. She poured in Absolut Peppar vodka (vodka flavoured with roasted jalape¤os, green tomatoes and various herbs) Firewater and Tabasco sauce. "Here. Enjoy little brother." she said handing me the shot. I tossed that one back and damn did it burn. "Hoooooo, that is spicy! I'm gonna be yakking because of you sis. That's not gonna sit well with the whipped cream in my stomach." I managed to say before I had to get a drink of water. "Here, use this, that way you are filling up on booze instead of water. Ha ha ha just make sure you eat food throughout the night. We don't want you to just have alcohol in your stomach." Kevin said handing me a bottle of Harp. I took a sip which helped but not a lot. "Now can you make me a nice martini. I need something fancy to sip on." I said handing back the bottle. "You want one too?" he asked Colby. "Yeah sure, I'll have whatever you're making for Oliver." "Alright two gin martinis it is." he said putting together our drinks. Kevin was a bartender while he went to school to become an architect. "Here you go." Over the next few hours, my guests started to arrive. Kevin bartended a bit before he and my sister left with Ari and her boyfriend. After that everyone just helped themselves behind the bar when they needed a drink. Colby, who had met my cousins that were here yesterday fitted in fine with them and my friends. He mingled and joked with them. "Happy birthday bro. So, that is Colby. He's a nice guy." Stephen, my friend whispered into my ear. I would have been startled but by that time I had a good 7 drinks and was getting to the point of perfect intoxication. "He is isn't he." I said turning around. He was with Lauren. The two were probably my closest friends after Colby. Even though they weren't my best friends, we were pretty much siblings and being that, they knew me pretty well. "Happy birthday Oli." Lauren said hugging me. "You like him don't you?" "Hah, I wish I just 'liked' him. It would be so much easier." I had told the two previously that I was crushing on a guy at school. I never told them that it wasn't just a crush. Okay so I haven't talked much about my friends, but you'll get to know them soon enough. "It goes so much deeper than a crush. It's not easy because I know he's not gay." "Well I don't know about that. I don't know if gay guys do this too, but you can tell when someone is in love. When you introduced him to us earlier, the way you looked at him told us everything we needed to know." Stephen said rubbing my arm. "And when we were talking to him moments earlier, all he could talk about was you." "And the way his eyes would light up or the way he would glance over at you. There is this almost longing look in his eyes. That's a guy in love Oli." "I know we haven't been around very often in the past few months but that's gonna change." Stephen said. "What do you mean?" "Well, Lauren and I aren't liking the U of W very much." "So we are thinking of going to the U of M for the next semester." "Really?! That's great! You'll get to know Colby better. I think you guys will get along great." "I hope so. I want to make sure he's good enough for you." Lauren said. "That'll never happen guys. He's straight and nothing is going to happen no matter how much I want it to." "Okay then." she said back. "Come. Let's sit down. We need to catch up a bit." We took a seat on the couch, me in between the two, with a direct view of where Colby was standing talking to my cousins. He and I made eye contact and he smiled which caused me to blush. "Hey I have an idea." Lauren said mischievously. She was always coming up with these crazy ideas, but the strange thing is they always turned out. The two of them leaned over me and started whispering. I couldn't make out any of the words but the little giggles they emitted were easily discernible. They sat back and could barely contain there laughter. After a while of suppressing the funnies, Stephen leaned over and whispered in my ear. "So Lauren and I came up with a plan. I am going to pretend to flirt with you and you are going to play along. Lauren will watch Colby to see if this evokes a reaction in him. Hopefully something along the lines of jealousy and anger. Lauren is a good face reader, as you can tell. You can watch along with her okay." he said as Colby turned to face us again. The smile that was usually plastered on his face contorted to one of confusion, which turned to anger. "So what does his expression say?" he asked leaning back into my ear. "He looks angry." I said. "Good, now laugh like I just told you the funniest joke." I did as I was told. I even pounded Stephen's knee for effect. "Oww." I guess I pounded too hard. "Okay now turn to me and pretend you're whispering something in my ear." I did that as well. He slowly stroked my neck as I did. I turned around to gauge Colby's reaction. What I saw was no longer a face of anger but one more of hurt. I was happy that he was hurt because it meant that he did feel something for me, but at the same time I didn't feel good for hurting him. He noticed me looking at him and turned away. He said something to my cousins and left to another room. I wanted to go after him, but Lauren and Stephen held me down. "Okay Oliver, so now that we have the data, we have to decipher it into something understandable." Lauren said as if we had just performed a major experiment. "To my understanding, any straight guy who is best friends with another guy who is gay, aka you, would see what you and Stephen were doing and be happy for him. Right?" "Right." "So then we can agree that his reaction is unusual. Right?" "Right" "Now considering his reaction was completely opposite of a straight guy in a platonic friendship with a gay guy, we can come to two conclusions. First, either he isn't really okay with you being gay and was disgusted by my flirting," Stephen said, then paused "or he is a closeted homosexual who is in love with you and was extremely jealous that another guy was walking on his territory." Damn these two were good. No wonder they're gonna major in psychology. "I completely agree with those two conclusions. But I think it leans to one side more than the other. Factoring in Colby's eye expressions when looking at Oliver, I would say that the scale tips more to the 'Colby's in love' side rather than the 'Colby is disgusted side.'" Lauren piped in. "I don't know guys. I have a hard time believing he has feelings for me. I mean who in their right mind would have feelings for me, even if they were gay." "Well that's a whole other issue there Oli. You're only paying us to deal with one thing." Stephen joked. "But seriously. You need to get over your self-esteem issues. You need to let yourself accept that you are worthy of people liking you, or in this theoretical case, falling for you. You need to see the Oliver that Lauren and I see. You are a smart, handsome and witty boy and that Colby would be the luckiest man on Earth to have you." Stephen really was a sweet guy. "Why can't you and I be together?" I asked Stephen jokingly. "Trust me, if I were gay, I probably would have fallen for you a long time ago." "Thanks." The rest of the night passed by quickly, I had a few more drinks just to get me nice and toasty. I wasn't an incoherent drunk, I seemed to be more coherent if that is possible. It was 1 pm before I knew it and most of the people had left taking cabs or getting rides from DD's. I showed the people who were staying to their rooms and then did as much cleaning as possible in my toasty state. I didn't notice that I hadn't seen Colby since Lauren and Stephen's little experiment. I quickly went to the closet. His jacket and shoes were still there. God I hope he didn't drive home with nothing on. I opened the front door and saw that his car was still there. I sighed in relief. Hmmm, I wonder where he is. I went upstairs and headed to my parents bedroom. I figured he was there because he wasn't in any of the rooms. I walked in and saw him looking out the window. He was nursing a bottle of beer looking miserable. "Hey you." I said quietly. He turned to look at me but said nothing, then turned back to the window. Okay...that was weird. "I didn't see you for most the night. Were you here?" he just nodded not looking my way. "Well we should get ready for bed." "Is he your boyfriend?" he asked kind of curtly. "You know, I thought we were best friends. You know you could have told me." "Colby," I said walking up to him and putting my hand on his shoulder and turned him around to face me "Stephen is not my boyfriend. He's straight. And besides, he's not my type. I would never hide something that important from you, you know that." "Well you two sure looked like you were boyfriends." he said, anger raging in his eye. "Oh come on Colby. Even if we were boyfriends, does it really matter that I didn't tell you? I mean if I found out you had a girlfriend I'd be happy for you." well not really, but I was trying to make a point "I would think that as my best friend you'd be happy that I found someone." I said looking him in the eye. He was visibly less angry, but still angry nonetheless. "I know that I've only known you for two months, but I feel like I've known you forever. And if I'm right, I know that there is something more to this than you're letting on. You know you can tell me." I was doing my best to coax him. I was hoping he was going to tell me he loved me, but something inside told me that wasn't going to happen...not tonight anyways. Silence quickly followed but our eyes were still on each others. His expression softened as he took a few moments to think things over before he spoke. "I want to tell you, but I'm scared Oliver. If I tell you then everything will change. Everything. The whole dynamic of...of...of our friendship. I just need time. You need to give me time. When I'm ready, I promise you will be the first I tell okay. You have to be the first I tell. Because this everything to do with you...with us. Just don't drift away because I need you more than you will ever know." I've never seen him so sad. I wanted so bad to just hug him, so did. I held him in my arms and swear, I've never felt anything so good. In his arms was where I was meant to be. I knew now more than ever that I was meant to love him. I was born to love him. And even more than knowing this, I knew that he loved me, he just wasn't ready to admit it. He needed time, and he needed me to be there when he was ready. And that's what I was going to do. I just didn't know if he'd ever be ready. "Come on, Let's get ready for bed." I said letting him go. I turned place my ipod on the dock and turned it on. I always listened to songs when I had to sleep in bed that wasn't mine. It helped put me to sleep. "You don't mind the music do you?" I asked as he changed "it helps put me to sleep." "Not at all." he sorta smiled at me. He finished changing and got into bed as I started changing. One of my favourite songs came on. It was 'Somebody Loved' by The Weepies. They were one of my favourite bands. Their music pretty much had to do with every facet of life. I slowly got into bed. "Thanks for being my friend." I said. "Your welcome. Thank *you* for being *my* friend. I love you." he said groggily. His words pulled at my heart strings. I was going to give him time. I just didn't know how long I could give him. I would give him all the time I could before I finally broke. "I love you too." I said back shakily. "Goodnight." "Goodnight" <> So I hope you enjoyed this chapter. So this is how long I want to take between chapter in order to make the chapters the best I can. I hope you guys don't mind me making you guys listen to songs in order to set the mood. I find that music is essential to do this. Grey's Anatomy (best show ever!) is a prime example of this. Anyways let me know if you don't like this and I won't do it even if I really want to. And I just want to mention this story is not autobiographical. Oh and I have picture of what the characters look like, if you want to see, let me know and I'll send them. And to those who have the first nine characters, I have three more. Lauren, Stephen and Ari, even though I haven't written much about Ari. So let me know! Till next time! Much Love, Oliver