Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2003 22:51:54 -0400 (EDT) From: Brad Subject: College with Mark A Note to the Reader: This is my first attempt at writing a story. It is a fictional work drawn completely from my overactive imagination. In other words, the characters in this story do not really exist. This is also a fictional story that contains no sex. While I tried not to leave the reader hanging, I may continue the story if I have enough people who like it. If I do continue, the second part will have some sex in it. Again, I have never displayed any story which I have written for the general public, and so I really would like feedback both positive and negative about it. I will do my best to respond to emails, but I don't always check email every single day. Also if you are under 18 (21 in some places) or it is illegal for you to read or posess adult material (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) you should stop reading now, and not come back to this site until you are old enough or move somewhere it is legal, whichever the case may be. Ok, I have rambled enough, please enjoy the story. Chapter 1 Mark rolled over in his bed and looked at the digital clock beside his bed. The red numbers on it read 9:00. "I don't really have any reason to get up this morning," Mark thought to himself, as he rolled back over to sleep some more. He finally did get up at 11:00, just in time to get ready and mooch a free lunch off his parents. As he stood in the shower letting the water wash over his taut 20 year old body, he thought about his situation. He had taken the summer off from classes. He was bored and he was horny. As he got out of the shower, he toweled off and threw on some cargo shorts and a T-shirt out of his dresser drawer. He looked in the mirror and decided he could get away without shaving today, though his mom would have a different opinion. Mark threw on some sandals and a baseball cap and jumped into his 4x4 Chevrolet. As he walked in the front door of the small town Jewelry store that his parents owned, he saw his mom wrapping a wedding present for Mrs. Jon es, his former fourth grade teacher. Brad, the high school student working in the store shouted, "Hey Mark!" when he saw him. "What's up Brad?" Mark said, as he thought back to all the high school kids that had worked in the store. They all loved it, and it wasn't a really hard job. His parents were always happy to support the work program at the local high school. They had hired Brad last year, when he was a junior in high school, and he had stuck around through his senior year. Mark was glad he had stayed on. He was about 5'9" dark brown hair, blue eyes, and a killer smile. "Not much here Brad, how about you?" "Just sitting here working. You know these people are slave drivers up here!" Brad just grinned and looked at Mark's dad who started laughing. "Yeah, I'm an awful boss." "Well, are you ready to go to lunch Dad? I think I am going to ride back up to my apartment tonight and stay through the weekend." "Why do you need to go up there?" his dad asked in a tone that told Mark right quick he would prefer him not go. "I just want to go check on things. I haven't been up there in a week." "Isn't Ryan up there taking summer classes?" Mark's dad asked in reference to Mark's roommate who was a couple years older than Mark. "No, they haven't started yet." "Have you figured out what you are going to do this fall?" "No, that's something I can work on while I am up there." "Well, we are not going to pay for you to live without your roommate next year so you better be finding one to take his place after he graduates," Mark's mom chimed in after Mrs. Jones left the store. "Aw come on yall, you know I'm doing the best I can. Are we going to go to lunch or not?" "Actually, why don't you take Brad with you to lunch? I have a dentist appointment this afternoon and your mom is supposed to get her hair cut, so we are going to need Brad to stay and keep the store open for us this afternoon, and since Susie is on vacation until tomorrow, and Iris is sick today, we were hoping you could stay here with him until one of us gets back and help wait on customers." "Well, I was going to go back this afternoon." "Son, we don't ask that much of you but let me remind you how we pay for your adventures in Athens. I assume you still need money to live up there unless you have won the lottery and I don't know about it. Remember, the money that sends you up there comes from this store, and if you don't help out we'd have to close the store this afternoon. We just can't run a business when we close because you want to take a trip to...." "OK Dad, I don't need a lecture, I won't leave until in the morning. You ready to go Brad, it looks like we are going to be partners for the afternoon, whether we want to or not," Mark scowled at his Dad. "You know you have to help us out sometimes son. Are you going to go and eat up at Sarah's?" "I guess." "Well tell her I am sorry we missed her, but I'll pay her for both of your lunches tomorrow when I come to lunch." "Ok, come on Brad before he wants us to do something else." It wasn't that Mark minded helping. He worked there the whole time he was in high school so he knew what he was doing, but it just pissed him off that he was always called on to do things like this while his younger brother wasn't. Of course he really didn't mind working with Brad, who was very good at his job, not to mention not too bad on the eyes. Mark had finally come to the realization that he preferred men over women while he was away at college, but he still dated women and kept his feelings hidden from the world. "You want to go in mine or yours?" Brad asked as they walked out into the parking lot behind the store. "I don't care. I can drive or you can." "I'll drive," Brad said. He was always happy to drive his truck. Mark had to admit it was a lot nicer than what he got when he was in high school. As they climbed into the truck, Mark said, "Um Brad, I'm sorry about all that, I didn't mean to act like I didn't want to work with you, I just didn't want to work at all. Well that didn't come out right, Mark laughed." "Aw, don't worry about it. I appreciate the lunch your dad is treating me to, I'll just try to work hard enough you don't have to do anything," Brad said helpfully. "Nah, I have to pull my own weight I guess," Mark laughed. They just listened to the radio blaring as they drove across the small South Georgia town to the restaurant that Mark's parents' friend Sarah and her husband owned. When they were waiting on their food Brad began to ask Mark all kinds of questions about the college. "I got accepted, so that's where I want to go!" "It is a great school. You will have to come up sometime and I can show you around." "Really? That would be great!" Brad's eyes lit up as Mark said that. "Well that's if your old slave driving boss will let you off. Actually, isn't everybody supposed to be back at work tomorrow?" "Yeah, I think so." "Well, if you want to, I'll see if I can talk my dad into letting you ride up there with me tomorrow and stay through the weekend." "Cool!" Brad beamed. "Well I think I can handle Dad if your folks will let you go." "If your diplomacy this afternoon is any indication then maybe I won't ever have time off again," Brad laughed. "Valid point, but I think he likes you better than me, so if I'm on your side then I doubt I'll have any trouble." "Call your mom while mine are gone this afternoon and I'll see about arranging your work schedule." "I will, and Mark, I really appreciate it, I'm looking forward to college but I'm really nervous about moving up there. I will feel a lot better about going up there after I have seen what it's like I think. "Aw you're gonna fucking love it! Athens is a great town." Marks parents were much more agreeable to the both of them going up to the apartment than they were to Mark going up and wasting time alone. This seemed like a good reason to go for them. Brad's mom thought it was a great idea too, and was more than happy for them to go. She knew Mark and his family from Brad's job, and had no reservations letting him go. Friday morning they piled into Marks pickup and they were on their way. It was a three hour drive, but they chatted the whole way. Brad was very impressed with Mark's apartment. They left their things and went downtown for lunch and then Mark started showing Brad the campus and the city. They were gone most of the afternoon. They had walked all over Athens and were dead tired. When they got to the apartment, Mark was surprised when he opened the front door and saw a dark figure moving across the living room. "SHIT!" he yelled as Brad jumped back. Just then the figure in black let out a laugh about the time Mark r ecognized that this was his roommate Ryan dressed in what looked like black pajamas. "What the hell are you doing here?" Mark asked. "I live here remember? What are you doing here?" "I just couldn't stay away. You know Brad here, you remember? He works for my dad up at the store. He is starting college this fall and I'm showing him around. I thought you were home until summer school starts." "It starts on Monday." "Ok well that explains that, but it doesn't explain exactly what you are doing wearing black pajamas at 3pm." "Well," laughed Ryan, "You know I will finish up this summer, and I have two real classes left, but I am short of an elective, so I am taking martial arts." "You just have an answer to everything. You do present a problem for us though." "What's that?" "Well, I was planning on Brad here sleeping in your bed since you weren't going to be here." "I would suggest that since you have a full bed and I have a twin and the couch is not at all comfortable, that he sleep in your bed with you." "But what if I find a girl to hook up with tonight?" Ryan walked over to the front door and opened it and looked around the parking lot for a minute, then turned around, and reported "That won't be a problem." "What was that all about?" Mark asked. "I was looking out the door to see if it was snowing in Georgia in June, and since it isn't, it appears that your only company tonight is going to be Brad here." Ryan said grinning. "One of these days I'm going to kick your ass. You know that?" "You better do it before Monday, `cause I'm going to be a lean mean fighting machine when I start taking martial arts!" Ryan then stood in the center of the room and attempted to move his hands and stand on one leg." "Just what is that supposed to be? You look like a fuckin' chicken scratching in the dirt for corn." "You guys are cracking me up. I hope I have as much fun as you two when I move up here." All three of them had a great weekend, but Sunday afternoon came and Mark and Brad had to head home. They said their goodbye's to Ryan and got in the truck. They listened to the radio and talked like old friends. About an hour into the trip, Mark said, "You never did say what you were doing about living arrangements for next year." "Well, I'm on the waiting list at the dorms. I guess that I'm just going to live wherever they put me." "I was thinking. I need a roommate for next year. If you were to not get in at the dorms, or just wanted to, you could live there with me. I have two more years up there." "Mark, that would be awesome," Brad said as he smiled that killer smile of his. Chapter 2 After they got back, Mark and Brad told their parents that they had solved Mark's problem about a roommate. Both Mark's parent's and Brad's mom and Step-dad were very happy to hear about it and all the arrangements were made of move in. The summer wore on, and both boys were excited about the new living arrangement and became great friends getting everything together and moving things. Since Mark was already living in the apartment Brad could just drive up there and move things little by little rather than having one big moving day. They got moved in and settled down in classes. Mark tried to keep a check on him and help him when he could. They settled into a pattern of class and school, and of course the weekend (and some weeknight) parties that young college guys always find. Brad walked into the apartment after class to find Mark sitting on the sofa in his boxers watching television. Brad walked into the room, set down his bag and sat down on the sofa next to Mark. "Hey buddy, how was class?" Mark asked. "It was terrible." "That bad, huh? Maybe this will help." With that Mark placed his hand around Brad's body and pulled him into a tight embrace. His tongue explored Brad's willing mouth, and Brad's hands explored Mark's body. "Brad, I love you. I have wanted to do this for a long time, and I want you to know I will love you as long as I live" "Mark, I have waited so long to hear those words, but was so scared to say them to you. I love you." Mark sank to his knees and began to pleasure Brad's hard cock. Brad pulled away and he and Mark lied down so that each had the other's cock in front of him. It was the most mind blowing orgasm he had ever had, and then suddenly he was no longer in the living room of his apartment. He was in his bedroom in the early morning light. Dammit. He woke up and felt that his boxers were wet. "Wow, what a dream. Damn, I can't believe I just dreamed about my roommate. What is this? Fuck it, I can't go back to sleep so let me get cleaned up and get some breakfast." With that he wiped off his cock took a piss and put on a clean pair of boxers. When Mark opened the door to his bedroom, he was greeted by Brad dressed only in his boxers as they both came out of their rooms at the exact same time. "Morning Brad," Mark said. "Morning," Brad said though not too excitedly which was not unusual for a Monday morning. "I couldn't sleep, so I decided to go ahead and get up." "Yeah, me too." Mark and Brad ate cereal together and watched television. Neither of them had a lot to say. The week wore on and Mark could feel a wall forming between himself and Brad. It was like Brad and he suddenly had nothing to talk about, and no longer seemed to enjoy one another's company. That Friday, Mark got home from class early and found Brad in his room, crying. "Brad! What's wrong? Are you ok?" "Yeah, I'm fine." Mark walked over to him and put his arm around him and said "Brad, you don't look fine. What's wrong?" "Nothing. Can you buy me some liquor?" "Brad, you are a great friend and I care about you, and I know you are not sitting here crying because you want a bottle of tequila." "I just can't do it, I'm a failure. I need to just go home. I can just go and live with my dad. We can stay drunk and when he beats me, I won't feel it. That's the best I can do." Brad bawled. Mark was stunned and scared because he knew that Brad's father had a severe drinking problem and had a history of being violent when he was drunk. Brad seldom mentioned the man who beat his mother and then him as a child. His mom allowed herself to be beaten but he only hit Brad once. She saw him do it and grabbed a pot from the kitchen and knocked the drunken man across the room with it. They divorced immediately. "Brad, what can't you do?" "I miss home, I can't do my schoolwork. It's just too hard. I don't know anybody but you in this place." "Brad, it is okay. We all go through this. My first semester up here, I was ready to get in my pickup and drive home never looking back." "But you didn't." "But I didn't, and I am not going to let you either. I am going to sit here and hold you as long as it takes to make you feel better ok. You just remember you are not in this alone. You have your trusty roommate, who is older and wiser." "Older yeah, but wiser, I don't know about," Brad grinned through the tears. "You are going to be just fine. Now get yourself together and we will have some lunch, play a couple games of pool at the apartment office, and then I'm going to take your ass up to the library and teach you some study habits." "OK" Later that afternoon, just before they went to the library, Mark grabbed Brad and said, "Sit down before we go. I need to talk to you about something." "What's up? You sound upset with me." "Not upset, just worried about you." "What do you mean?" "I mean when you were having a crisis this afternoon you reached for the bottle for help rather than me." "Oh." "I don't want to sound like your mom or something, and yes I do drink, but not as a solution to my problems. That can only make the problem worse. Remember my number one rule. NEVER DRINK ALONE. I know I risk making you hate me for saying this, but please remember it is said with the sincerest love and support of you. You know your dad has a problem, and I do not want to see you develop it. I know you are in college and you are going to drink and that's ok, but I just needed to say something about it." "I'm not like that fucker. He is an abusive drunk asshole." Mark had never seen anger like this in Brad. "He is also your father." "He isn't a father he's a fuckin' sperm donor." "Brad." "What the hell do you know? You have the perfect family and you have no problems with anything. Do you know how jealous I have been of you forever? I mean my step dad is great but my dad is a fucking embarrassment. My dad was drunk and fell on the football field at my high school graduation. At the homecoming game my senior year, I was escorting Sally Taylor for the court and he got into a fucking fight and got arrested in the stadium while I was out there watching. You don't know how embarrassing that is. I AM NOT LIKE THAT SONOFABITCH!!!! I would never do that. Ever!! You stupid asshole." Just then he raised his hand and started to hit Mark. Mark grabbed his hand and said, "You just did." "No! I! You! DAMMIT I HATE HIM SO BAD!!" Brad shouted and burst into tears. "Brad, it is really ok. You are right that I don't know what its like to be in that situation, but I do know it is there. I know you have to accept it and learn to deal with it. That's the way that life is. Things happen and you have to just roll with them and work through them as best you can, but ignoring them does not usually work. I don't know what its like, but I do know I am here to help you through your problems. My parents almost consider you their son too, so you have them as well." Brad sat there silently staring at the wall for five minutes. Mark did not dare move. Suddenly, Brad burst into tears. Mark did his best to console him. He was almost sorry he had brought it up. They talked until eleven o'clock that night. Brad seemed to work through his problems and feel much better after that. Mark worked with him throughout the semester to help him get through the homesickness and the transition from high school work to college work. Brad appreciated it beyond belief. By Christmas, Brad was very comfortable at school, and was very comfortable living in Athens. There was one thing that was eating at him though. Chapter 3 Mark got back to the apartment first. He called his mom to let her know he had made it safely and started to unpack his things. He had a couple days before the new semester started. He liked to get there early to get his schedule together and hit the bookstores ahead of everybody else so he could catch some used books and save himself some money. He got his books and ate some lunch at his favorite restaurant. They were glad to see him there. It made him feel good to think at least somebody in this damn town noticed him. He played around Athens for a while and got back to the apartment about 3:30. He started calling some of his friends. He realized nobody was back yet. He just decided to sit back have a few drinks and watch television. The longer he sat there the drunker he got. He ran out of beer and decided he needed more so he walked to the grocery store next door and proudly showed his drivers license now that he really was of age. He took the beer back to his house and started drinking. He felt so lonely. He got to thinking about his situation. He couldn't love women, just couldn't do it. He also couldn't accept who he had fallen in love with. He was sure that he would be barking up the wrong tree. He was so frustrated. He decided he needed some dick. He got on the computer and couldn't get the internet to work. He was so pissed. He just shouted at the computer "I'm gonna fucking kill you!" he shouted at the computer. He threw the empty beer can at the monitor, but missed and hit the wall. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?" Came a voice from behind him. He spun around to see Brad standing in the doorway frowning at him. "I'm gonna beat the shit out of this damn piece of shit computer that won't work and if you get in my way I am going to beat the shit out of you too." Brad was scared. He had never seen this side of Mark. "Please Mark, get a hold of yourself. What is wrong?" "My computer won't work." "You are drunk Mark, how much beer have you had?" "Just a few." "Well, why don't you not drink any more? I can't believe you are this fucked up at 7pm." "It's not any later than that?" "No. Mark, something is wrong, you never drink like this. Is there something I can do?" "No, but it might be best if I move out this semester." "This bothers me, but I don't think its bad enough you need to move out." "Yeah, but...." "Mark, whatever it is, I want to help you through it as best I can. As much as you have helped me through, I really want to help you through whatever it is, but you need to remember your own advice. Beer is not the answer." "I just ... but... Brad." Mark was drifting in and out of reality now. He was about to pass out. "Come on buddy; let's sit over here on your bed." Brad said to Mark, who was passed out and couldn't hear him. Brad felt Mark's warm hard body as he helped him over to the bed. "He doesn't realize just how hot he is." Brad thought to himself as he looked at his roommate who had passed out as soon as Brad got him on the bed. Brad was worried about him so he decided to sleep in the bed with him to make sure he was ok. When Mark woke up, he saw Brad's smiling face looking down at him. "Well, it's about time sleeping beauty woke up." "Yeah, uh I how did I get in my bed? What time is it?" "Its 1:15 Friday afternoon. You have been passed out since about 7:30 last night. I was worried about you." "Damn, I have a headache." "I'm not surprised," Brad said disapprovingly. "Mark, when you get moving, we need to talk. Do you want anything to eat?" "Nah, let me take a shower and then we can talk." After Mark got out of the shower, he threw on some boxers and walked into the living room. "Ok, so what is this talk all about?" Mark asked. "That's what I want to know. I came back from the holiday last night to find you drunk beyond belief and mumbling something about having to move out and I want to know what all this is about. I know you and this is not right. Your number one rule is never drink alone." "So I was bored and nobody else was here, I broke the rule, big deal," Mark lied. Brad could tell he was lying. His face changed. Mark, we need to talk, and we need to be honest here. Something is bothering you, and as much as you have helped me through, I want to help you through this. " "Brad, I think I need to move out. I can't remain here with you, and I can't tell you about it. I'll find you a new roommate and just go." "Mark, I don't want a new roommate or any of this other nonsense you are talking about. I want to know what is wrong." "Let me pack my bags first." "Mark, tell me now." Brad put his arm around Mark and said, "Mark there is nothing you cannot tell me." "Brad, I have never told anybody this, and I am more scared of telling you this than I have been scared of anything in my life, but here it goes. Brad, I am gay." Brad just sat there dumbfounded for a minute then said, "Mark, its ok, you are still my best friend." "There is more. I think I am in love with you. There, you happy? Please give me a couple weeks to get out, ok." With that, Mark jumped up, ran to his room, and laid on the bed and cried into the pillow. "Mark, I am not through with you." "Please just leave me alone, I know you hate me and want me to get the fuck out now. Haven't I suffered enough for you?" Brad came over to the bed and grabbed the smaller man by the shoulder and turned him over on the bed so he was facing Brad. "Would you at least give me the courtesy of allowing me to respond to you?" "You are going to tell me anyway what you think of me, just get it over with." "You are right there," Brad said as he got on the bed and held the terrified Mark down with his body weight. He then bent down and kissed Mark on the lips with the most passionate kiss either man had ever experienced. When he pulled back, Brad said, "Now, will you let me talk? I love you. I have loved you since we moved in together. I was terrified to tell you because you are also my best friend and that was more valuable to me than the risk in telling you and you hating me for it. I love you with all of my heart. If it weren't for you, I would be dead right now." "What?" "The day you came into your parents store and talked to me. You saved me. I had gotten a whole bunch of sleeping pills and some liquor. I was unhappy because I was gay, didn't know what to do about it and I was about to leave home. I didn't know what a dorm was like or what kind of roommate I was going to have. I was too big a chicken to even use a gun. I was ready to die, but we had such a good time at lunch, and then you talked so great about Athens, and invited me up that I decided to wait until after the trip, then you made me so excited about coming up here to school. We started making plans to move in, and I began to realize you were my friend. If it had not been for you that afternoon I would have gone home and taken them that night. Instead of riding in your truck to Athens the next day, I would have been riding in a hearse to the funeral home." "I had no idea. You just never know what kinds of things others are going through do you?" Mark said and then just sat there dumbfounded. "I know. If you had known, it wouldn't have had the same effect. No matter how sincere you were about it I could never have believed that you were sincere. I still have those sleeping pills. I brought them up here just in case. They are in my room. Come on." "Where are we going?" "We are going into my room to get rid of those pills. I know if I have your love, then I will never need them again." "You didn't need them to begin with," Mark pointed out. "You are right. I just thought I did." "That was a permanent solution to a temporary problem." "I realize that now." "Brad, I love you. Please don't ever consider something like that again. Over the past few months I have really grown to love you, and I don't know what I would do without you." "I feel the same way, and you don't pull a stunt like you did last night again." "Ok, I promise you that as long as you are there, I will never do that again," Mark vowed. "Mark, even if something was to happen to me and I was no longer able to be here, you still do not need to do that." "Ok, I promise I won't do that ever. Because I love you so much, I cannot even begin to express it to you." "Mark, I promise that I will dispose of those pills and never to consider that answer as long as I live, because the love you feel is shared to a degree that makes it unnecessary for you to attempt to express it to me." "I love you, Brad." "I love you too, Mark." "I have so many questions, so many things to say to you. I just don't know how or where to begin." "Well, how about starting by asking me a question?" Mark beamed. "Ok, well, Mark, how long have you known you are gay?" "Well, I have kind of known it all along, but I was never completely sure until I got to know you. I guess the moment I knew I was in love with you was, well it's kind of stupid, never mind." "No Mark, I really want to hear." "Well, I had a dream back last semester in which you came home from class pissed off and we both made each other feel a lot better." "We had sex right there in the living room." Brad said without thinking. "Yeah, wait what the hell?" "Shit! That was a dream wasn't it because I had the same one?" "It was the best dream I ever had. When I got cleaned up and went to eat breakfast you were coming out of your room too. You gave me the most fucked up look when you came out, and we barely spoke for a week after that," Mark said. "That's why I gave you that fucked up look and why I told you I wanted to go and drink with my dad. That is what that breakdown was about. I was totally in love with you and knew I couldn't have you. I came really close to using the pills again that day." "I can't believe this is happening. I have wanted to tell you how much I love you so bad for so long." "Thanks Mark. I love you with all my heart and always will." "Brad, I know you are meant to be a part of my life as long as I live." They just laid there on Mark's bed which eventually became their bed and held one another and cried, laughed and loved the rest of the afternoon.