Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2005 08:24:40 -0800 (PST)
From: lbinoc22@yahoo.com
Subject: "The Dunes" Chapter 1: Nobody Knows Me

This story is a work of pure fiction taken from the authors? feelings,
thoughts, and at times his own experiences. There maybe some sexual
encounters between guys as the story goes on so if this offends you please
stop reading. Also if you are too young or it could be considered that you
illegal to be reading this story stop now, you shouldn?t be reading
this. This is also the authors work and may not be used without his
permission. And now most importantly? Enjoy!

** This is my first story I?ve written so if at times it seems dodgy please
bare with me. **

				 The Dunes
			Chapter 1: Nobody Knows Me

	Life on your own is pretty interesting, let alone when you?re in
college sharing an apartment with someone you just met. My freshman year
here at Grand Perrier State University was turning out to be really
interesting. Aside from living on my own I was basically still at home. I
live about a half hour away from campus but choose to live on campus
because driving a half hour everyday would get annoying to be a bit
much. But I get to come home whenever I want so I still get the feeling of
being independent and being in my safety bubble. You could say that I
wasn?t ready to leave and to be totally honest, I don?t know if I am.

	The great thing is that almost all of my closest friends went to
Grand Perrier too. We kind of decided to stay around the area for our first
year of college because we were having too much fun together the past 3
years. However no matter how close I was to my friends, there was something
that I hid from my friends. I hid the fact that I was gay and the fact that
I have had a boyfriend for the past 6 months. The only people who know are
my family and they?ve promised to keep it quiet until I was ready.

	I almost forgot my name is Tristan and I live in what my friends
and I have affectionately come to call, ?The Dunes? short for the city we
lived in. It?s a nice city and right on the coast of Lake Michigan. Growing
up in ?The Dunes? has had its share of good times in bad. I have learned a
lot and seen a lot. I got to say without pumping myself up too much my
parents did a good job.

	A little more about myself, like I said my name is Tristan. I?m 19
5?11 about 175 and pretty well built, I keep my hair buzzed right now, but
its brown and have brown eyes too. I?m pretty tan for living in the Midwest
but that has to do with being at the beach as much as possible during the
summer, I don?t fake bake, it looks gross when you?re a copper color... not
attractive. I was on varsity soccer and basketball since I?ve moved to ?The
Dunes.? I?m straight acting, yea it sounds so stereotypical but I just
don?t flaunt my sexuality. I have a lot of friends and we?re all pretty
much spending this year together too.  Only thing is I live on campus with
my roommate Kenny and they all live in the area too, I just wanted to get
my own apartment. My roommate Kenny is one of the coolest people that I
know. We?ve lived together since August and it?s been a trip since
then. Then there?s Ryan, he?s my boyfriend, we?ve been together for 6
months and it has easily been on of the hardest, happiest, stressful,
loving 6 months of my life. He?s away at school right now so we don?t see
each other as much which makes it a little easier trying to our
relationship secret from my friends. My best friends consist of Lauren,
Steve, and Talan. We?ve been best friends since our sophomore year when I
moved here.

	I am pretty well off financially. My dad Jordan is an architect who
owns his own firm. My mom Rita is a partner in a Real Estate Company. I
have two sisters and a brother. My sisters are both older than me and my
brother is a year younger. My sisters Mel and Alex both live in Chicago. My
brother Jason is a senior now and is like one of my best friends. We tell
each other everything and I miss seeing him everyday. I miss my house, but
I felt like living on campus in one of the apartments was the right thing
to do? even if it meant roughing it a bit. My parents did a good job, just
sometimes are hard to get, when I moved out they gave me a 06 Mustang GT as
my going away gift... It?s a bit funny. I work in a coffee shop which is
between my house and campus so I?ll be keeping my job there, I didn?t have
to work, but I like to.

	The stress of living by myself has recently put a stain on mine and
Ryan?s relationship. That and the fact that he?s 2 years older then me,
goes away to college, and that my friends know him as my friend from the
coffee shop. I don?t know what?s holding me back from telling them but I?ve
got to get over it. I love Ryan and he says he loves me too but there seems
to be like a wall growing between us and I don?t want to lose him
either. He?s actually on his way over right now because he came in for the
weekend since Kenny is gone for the weekend.

	I decided I would lie down while I waited for him get here. He
couldn?t do much besides park since they are pretty anal about people
walking around who don?t live in the apartments. I must have fallen asleep
because when I woke up to my phone ringing it was already 4 and the sun was
setting. Checked my caller ID and it said Ryan I picked it up.

	?Hey babe, you here, I?ve been waiting for you.? I tried to sound
not too excited but we definitely needed this weekend for us. I couldn?t
wait to see him again, last time he left we didn?t exactly leave on the
greatest terms due to his bitch of a boss while at a bar that he worked at.
She wasn?t too happy when we came in for drinks one night because she knew
I was under age and all and Ryan had the night off and they were very
busy. So he decided to help her out for an hour and I started talking to
another bar tender and Ryan got a little jealous.

	?Yea can you come down and get me, it?s pretty cold out. What were
you doing, I?ve been trying to call you for bout twenty minuets now. I
stopped by the coffee shop and picked us up something to drink.? He always
knew how to put a smile on my face. For the couple of bad times we have
had, the good times definitely out weigh them.

	I ran down the stairs not wanting to wait for the elevator to come
to the 6th floor. I got to the front door and noticed the snow and forgot
to grab a jacket so I waited for him to come to the door. He looked so cute
in his beanie, hoodie, and jeans. I have to say I love the boy. He had this
big grin on him like he knew he was the shit.

	?Hey Ry! I missed you so much, hurry lets go upstairs, I?m freezing
my ass off.? I gave him a hug and kissed him, no one was around and I
really didn?t care what the people who lived the apartments thought. He
hugged me close and looked at me with them blue eyes that reminded me of
what made me fall for him in the first place.

	We took the elevator back up to my apartment and exchanged in the
small talk. I hadn?t talked to him in 2 days because both had been very
busy. I don?t know why but whenever I am around him I just can?t stop
smiling.

	?Aw look at you, I can tell you missed me without even saying a
word.? It was true I did miss him a lot; he?s been my crutch for days when
I just wanted to give up this semester. I kissed him again right before we
walked into my apartment. We kicked off our shoes and walked to the couch
in front of the T.V.

	I took a drink from my coffee, ?Just how I like it, I?m guessing
you talked Jess into letting you make it huh?? Jess is the shops manager
and Ryan?s sister?s best friend.

	?Yea, I tried to order but she was like get your ass back here and
make it yourself. You know Jess, never the subtle one even in front of
customers.? I laughed because that was just like Jess.

	?Yea but I still make a better cup then you, who was the one who
spilled the iced latte all over my dad when he came in to bring me my keys
that I forgot!? Ryan had to be nervous he never had met my dad before that
and we had been dating for about two weeks before that. My dad came to the
shop to drop off my keys and Ryan never seeing my dad before took his order
and then came and told me that someone was there to see me. I was in back
with Jess making the schedule for the next week. So Ryan was making my dad
his latte, well my mom?s when I told my dad I wanted him to meet Ryan and
as I said that Ryan had passed the latte over the counter hitting my dads
hand who extended it to shake his had and it went all over my dads
jeans. We had a good laugh about it, but Ryan was VERY embarrassed. He
wouldn?t come into my house if he knew my dad was there and up for about a
month after that.

	?Hey! Don?t remind me! That was so not funny, you caught me off
guard, and I didn?t know what to say. What did you want me to say? Hi I?m
Ryan and I?m banging your son? Oh and by the way I?m 21 too.? He smirked at
me and pulled me under his arm.

	?Well at the time there was NONE of that going on so why would you
even say such a thing? And 21 big whoop, my sister and Jose are 2 years
difference too.? I said matter of fact like while I got up to pop in a DVD
that I had just gotten for my birthday a few days earlier. I figured we?d
watch it and just spend some time together in each others presence first.

	Ryan sometimes makes a thing about him being older; I don?t listen
to him when he goes on those rants because it?s the same time and time
again. The movie was good and I was spending time with Ryan who I didn?t
get too much since school had started up.

	?Trist.. Tristan? Tristan!? I must have fallen asleep because Ry
was lying under me and the movie was about to end.

	?I thought I would wake you up since the movies done; that and the
fact that my arm went numb under you too.? I turned off the TV and sat up;
I must have been tired because I felt refreshed when I sat up.

	?Sorry Ry, you like the movie? Since you didn?t come and see it
with me the night I asked you to come out with me and Lauren.? Ryan is cute
because he?s shy around new people and we had just decided to be each
others boyfriends and hadn?t met any of my friends yet.

	?So what do you want to do then? We can go do dinner, walk the
beach?? The beach, what was I thinking, it?s freezing outside with snow on
the ground. I guess Ryan had thought the same too because he gave me this
crazy look too.

	?So the beach huh? really?? Man I thought the look was an are you
crazy one but I guess it was a look of oh, that sounds good.
	?We could do the beach, and then stop by your house; I wanted to
tell your dad thanks for giving you my birthday present since I couldn?t
make it that night.? He had brought me 2 pairs of jeans, 3 t-shirts and a
jacket which I love. I felt a little bad about him spending so much money
on me because Ryan works his ass of for everything he has, his parents
while they support him, they?ve taken the more we?ll pay for school you pay
for everything else approach for him. I guess that?s okay since he?s old
enough but I didn?t want to burden him.

	?I guess...? I tried not to sound too enthused at the idea once I
realized that it was going to be pretty cold.

	?Yea let?s go, put on some warmer clothes and we?ll go sit by the
lake like we did in the summer.? I got up to go grab a hoodie that was his
to put on grabbed a pair of gloves and my beanie. I almost forgot a covers
to sit on but Ry reminded me before we left. Turns out it had warmed up a
bit so it wasn?t that cold out.

	The drive up to the spot on the beach we go to was a familiar
one. I?ve driven up and down the road so many times and had many
memories. I held Ryan?s hand and he gave mine a squeeze. Its things like
that, which makes me happy that I have him in my life. He leaned over when
we were at a stop sign and gave me a kiss. When I?m with him there?s no one
else that I think about. He was my first real relationship so its times
like this that I?m happy I have him. He puts up with my crap and for that
I?m happy. He could easily get any guy he wants. Ryan?s very cute, and has
a great personality. There are times when I just can?t believe how lucky I
am even if as of late our relationship hasn?t been the greatest.

	We pulled up to this spot rite on the edge off a cliff that looked
down into the lake. I turned off the car and grabbed one of the blankets
and Ryan grabbed the other. I laid the cover in front of my car and sat
down next to Ryan. We sat there for a few minutes in silence just listening
to the waves crashing against the rocks below.

	?There?s nowhere I would rather be right now Trist. Just being here
with you after what we?ve been through has made it worth it.? I looked up
at him and his face was beautiful in the moonlight.

	?I know Ry. But we need to take this time to talk about what we
each want from this relationship. I can?t keep getting into arguments with
you. I love you and I just need your reassurance that this is what you
want, if not that fine, if you want to walk it?s going to hurt a lot but I
can allow it.? I can?t believe I am saying this; it?s like word vomit
because I may have thought that it?s not what I wanted to be saying at this
moment.

	Ryan sat there for a second, took a hit of his cigarette and looked
at me. ?

	You know Trist, I don?t know where this all came from. I thought
this weekend was going to just be about the both of us and spending time
together, but now that I think about it this was bound to come up sooner or
later. I?d be lying to you if I said I wasn?t thinking about the same thing
but I?ve always come to the conclusion that you were the one for me right
now. So if you?re asking if I still want to be with you the answer is
yes. But there are some things we have got to work on, compromise from each
of us.?

	I was glad he was thinking the same and still wanted to be together
but was interested in seeing in what he had to tell me.

	?So what is it, that do we need to do?? I asked him wondering what
he had on his mind.

	?Okay, well I?ve been thinking, it?s been six months and your
friends still consider me your friend and I feel like it?s become somewhat
of a cop out for you. Tristan your in college now, these people are you
friends and will accept you for who you are.? He took another hit of his
cigarette and looked out at the lake seemingly looking for what he was
going to say next.

	?I?ve been able to hide it while we were together during the summer
but now I want to be able to tell people who I?ve known all my life that
you?re my boyfriend. You don?t know how much this is taking a toll on me
and how it?s starting to hurt our relationship rather you want to admit it
or not.?

	The truth is, I did realize that these secretes are hurting our
relationship. As much as I hate to admit, unless something happens I can?t
let this go on because it?s hurting Ryan too much. I can see it in his eyes
because they?re starting to get watery and he?s not the type to cry.

	?Ry? look at me? He looked over at me I was scared at what was
going to come out next because I didn?t even know what I was going to say.

	?I always told myself that I would wait to come out until I was
ready. I never thought that would include having a boyfriend to factor into
the situation. I feel like I?m putting you through hell by having to lie to
your friends and mine. But I can?t let that affect how I do things??

	He turned away from me and I gave him a squeeze. He was shivering
and being the vulnerable one for once.

	?But I now know I have all the support I need and that I will start
telling my friends about us. I don?t want to live a lie anymore and don?t
want to continue hurting you anymore.?

	Ryan looked at me for a second; I couldn?t believe what just
happened. I thought he was going to say something but instead he leaned
over and began to kiss me under the moonlight. Like many times before we
made out under the moonlight just enjoying being in each others
presence. It was around 1030 and I told him we should leave if he still
wanted to talk to my dad.

	We got into my car and Ryan lit another cigarette and off we
went. Leaving the cliff I had a feeling everything was going to be fine. I
took Ry?s square and took a couple of hits.

	?You know, thanks for making me realize everything Ry.?  He gave my
hand a squeeze and looked at me.

	?Not a problem Trist, you had me scared for a second though. I
didn?t know what you were thinking at first.? I gave him a kiss on his
cheek feeling his stubble from not shaving today. As we drove to my house
we exchanged in more small talk even though nothing really had to be
said. I had a guy I was crazy about and he had me. I just knew this was
going to work out, and that this weekend is going to be a crazy one with me
starting to tell my friends about everything. But I had Ryan with me and
that?s all I needed.

To Be Continued!

Alright so what did everyone think of this first chapter? Any feed back
would be considered great. I?d like to hear what you though about life in
?The Dunes.?

This story is planned to be around 10-12 chapters. I have a map of where I
plan on taking the story but it could change at anytime. I try to stick to
a basic outline and go from there. I write the stories with no prewriting
other then a VERY rough idea of where I plan on going. There was supposed
to be a lot more to chapter one but I thought it was getting a little long
so that?s why I cut it off where I did so there is already going to be one
extra chapter I didn?t plan on writing.

Please send feedback to: lbinoc22@yahoo.com