Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2003 21:48:17 +0100 From: Charlie Smith Subject: An American Dream 11 An American Dream. Chapter 11. In Memoriam. Disclaimer: The following story is a work of fiction depicting a sexual relationship between two teen boys. If you are under the age of 18 or do not approve of gay sex, or the subject matter in not legal in the area you reside, please do not read further. The author welcomes constructive criticisms. As usual all flames will be ignored...Please direct your comments to: charliesmith31@hotmail.com Copyright Notice: This is the copyright by the author. You may distribute or copy this story however you like. PRIVIDED that this copyright notice remains intact. A special thank you goes out to my good friend Kelly, for his help without whom this story would be a lot harder and less pleasurable read. Warning: This chapter is a sad one. Do not read it if you're feeling depressed. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: As soon as we picked our suitcases up we got a cab to 'The Plaza' yet again. There were the same guys to help with our cases and take them into the lobby that helped us last time. It was also the same lady behind the counter that gave us the keys to our rooms. Our room was next to my Mum and Dad this time like we had been on board the ship and in London. It was the same fucking lifts that we went up in but we were on a different floor this time. But all Jordan and I wanted to do was to go and see how Will was, and to see if he'd heard anything of Steve. We threw our cases on one of the two big beds, they were like the one's we call double bed's back in England. We unpacked some of our clothes and put them away, we didn't unpack them all because Mum said we weren't staying here long this time. When we had finished that we then went and knocked on Mum and Dad's door. "What do you want boys? You look like you've lost a pound and found a penny." My Mum said. "We're going to go and see Will, and see if he's had any news of Steve." "Oh yes, David, sorry that was so insensitive of me, you go, and take as long as you like, we've got your mobile numbers if we need to get hold of you." Mum said as she kissed Jordan and me on the cheek. Shit she even kissed Jordan on the cheek too. As we were going down in the lift I said to J. "Do you have any idea where Will lives? Because I haven't a fucking clue." This old dear in the lift gave me a nasty look when I said that and I gave her one back, I was in no mood to play Mr nice boy. "Yeah it's somewhere in Manhattan." "Oh well that tells me a fucking lot that does!" "Dave calm down, being like this isn't going to help anyone." "Yeah sorry J, it's just that I'm worried that's all." I said as we stepped out of the lift, I got and gave another dirty look from that old biddy. "So am I." J said. As we were walking down the lobby I stopped one of the waiters. "Has Will been in or do you know how Steve went on?" "Sorry sir, we've not seen him for two or three weeks, since the attack." "Do you know how Steve went on as he worked in one of the towers?" "No I don't sir sorry, we don't get that much time off." "Ok thanks anyhow." We went out side and I asked the guy in the uniform to call us a cab. We asked the cab driver if he knew an Italian restaurant that was in Manhattan. "There are lots of them boys, where a bouts is it? Lower Manhattan?" "I don't fucking know, that's why we're asking you!" "Ok son we'll have less of that king of talk or you can just get your self another cab." J threw me a stern look. "Sorry, I think one of our friends was killed in the 'World Trade Centre' his apartment was near an Italian restaurant." "Ok, jump in and we'll go look for it." After about an hour we all managed to find it. We got out and paid him, "shit that was a lot of fucking money J." He just looked at me without saying anything. I was getting more and more up tight. As soon as we stepped out of the cab there was an acrid smell, quite like a smell you get from burning plastic. We walked round the corner and there it was. Will and Steve's apartment. In daylight it reminded me of that apartment in the film, 'Ghost' with that hunk 'Patrick Swayzy' god I could fuck him all day. Shit, what a thing to think of at a time like this, I thought in disgust. I rang the bell. Nothing. I rang it again, then twice more. Still nothing. I then rang it again but keeping my finger on the buzzer. Still nothing. The door opened and out stepped a young lady of about twenty-three. "Excuse me, have you seen Will?" "Who's Will?" "Him." I said pointing to the name of Will and Steve on the bell push. "Oh him, no I've not seen him for quite a some time now, I think he lost his boy friend in the attack on the 'World Trade Centre'." "Oh god no," I said as I looked over at J. "Would you please let us in, we have to see if he's alright, we won't rob any flats honest." I said to her putting my best puppy dog look on. "You're English aren't you?" "Yeah I am, we're staying at 'The Plaza' you can get in touch with my Mum and Dad if you like." I said getting my phone out and offering it to her. "No that's quite alright, you don't need to do that. His apartment is on the third floor." "Thank you ever so much, we can't thank you enough." As she came out we went in. We ran up the stairs almost three at a time. When we got to the door of his apartment we knock on it like mad. No answer. I then started banging. After a while we heard movement behind the door. I carried on banging. "Alright, alright, shut the fuck up." He said as he opened the door. "Fuck, Will you're hard to get hold of." I said. The look on his face was priceless. "What the fuck you two doing here?" "Are you going to let us in or are you going to keep us on the doorstep all fucking day?" I replied. "Oh shit guys come on in sorry, I'm really sorry." As we walked in it was so dark, his curtains were still closed. There was also a stale smell, like it hadn't been cleaned in a while. I walked over and opened the curtains. With the light form the windows it was then apparent that Will was in just as bad a shape as his flat, he looked like he'd not washed or shaved in awhile. "How's Steve, Will, did he survive?" "No he didn't, and I don't want to talk about it, ok?" "Shit, Will ok, if that's what you want. When was the last time you had a shower?" "Sorry guys, I know I must smell, I've no idea." "When was the last time you had anything to eat too Will?" J said. "I don't know that either." I looked at J, "ok Will you go and have a shower while we sort out some food and clean your flat up." "Fuck you, I don't want any fucking shower or any food either, I just want to die like Steve did." "How do you know he was killed?" I said. "He phoned me to say that he was helping people down the stairs of the north tower then it collapsed, and they've found no trace of him." "Oh shit Will," I said going over to him and giving him a big hug. He put his arms round me tentatively, then started to shake, till he was sobbing openly on my shoulder. "That's it Will let it all out." "Guys shouldn't cry Dave." "Fuck that." After about fifteen minutes he lifted his head off my shoulder. "Feel any better now Will?" "I feel a little bit better, but not much, I still miss Steve so fucking much." "It's going to be a long time before you're over that, Will. Ok you go and have a shower now while we go and make you a cup of coffee." "Ok, I could do with a shower couldn't I?" "Yeah you could say that. Get some clean clothes on too." I said as I let go of him. He walked into his bedroom, then came out with his clean clothes then went into the bathroom to shower. "Ok, J while he's in there what would you like to do, make some food and coffee or clean this shit up?" "I'll clean up while you do the cooking, cleaning I've done, we've always had a chef to do all our cooking and he wouldn't ever let me into the kitchen." "Ok, you go and look in the closet for the vacuum J while I look in the freezer and fridge to see what food he's got in." They were both quite well stocked. I started by washing a mountain of pots in the sink. "What the fuck you washing them by hand for Dave there's a dish washer?" "Oh shit, we don't have one of those back in England." He laughed. I put all the clean pots away then started the coffee percolator going. That too was foreign to me as we usually had instant coffee at home, but I managed. I then got three stakes out of the freezer and defrosted them in the microwave, I then looked if he had an electric fish fryer, and he did. I made us all some chips, or French-fries, as J likes to call them. I put three plates in the oven to warm. I was just dishing it all out as Will came into the kitchen in a dressing gown. "That smells damn good Dave, you shouldn't be doing this, I should be doing it for you." "Oh shut up and go and set the table, you do still remember how to set the table don't you?" I said with a wry grin. He turned round and went back, and said over his shoulder, "I've been setting tables for ten years now, or that's how long it seems anyhow." Five minutes later he was back saying that the table was now set. I took the plates in one at a time to the table. The room looked much better now that J had cleaned it up. "Is that all you can carry Dave?" Will said with a small smile. "Well I'm not a waiter am I?" We all tucked in to the food. "Mm, you'll make someone a good husband some day." Will said. "He's already my husband." J said with another small smile. "Oh yeah so he is, and you're his husband too aint ya!" Will said with small tears starting to fall down his cheeks. "Now come on Will don't let all my cooking go to waste." "Yeah sorry guys, this isn't anyway to act after you've both been so good to me." I went into the kitchen for the coffee when we'd finished our meal, I poured us all a cup. "I didn't realise how hungry and dirty I was. I also didn't realise how dirty my apartment was either, I can't thank you guys enough." "That's ok Will, Dave and me are your friends ok?" "Yeah ok thanks." I had spotted a pile of mail on a table as we came in through the door. "I see you've a lot of mail Will, would you like Jordan and me to go through it with you?" "Oh guys would you please? Steve always dealt with all that kind of stuff and I did all the cleaning and cooking." "Yeah course we will," I said going over and bringing back the pile to the table. "Would you like to help us back into the kitchen with all these pots, Will?" "Yeah sure." When we'd done that, we sorted out all the junk mail from the rest. We then started to open one letter at a time, it turned out that most of them were bills. That left three letters, one of which was a letter from the insurance company that Steve worked for. Will put that to one side refusing to open it till later. That left just three letters. One of the letters was from a lawyer. "That's Steve's and my lawyer, we both made a will out about a year ago." "Come on then Will you'd better open it." "I'll open it later," he said putting it with the one from Steve's company. "That one's from Steve's Parents, I can tell from the post mark, 'Klamath Falls, Oregon' that's where they live." I took it off him and looked at the postmark. That too was a week old. "Shit Will this is a week old, do you have their phone number?" "Yes I do somewhere." "Well I think you should phone them up right now, they'll be worried about you, did get on with them?" "Yeah they're great people. I'll go and get the number and then phone them now, you'll stay with me while I do that won't you?" "Will, we're not going anywhere soon." J said. "Don't you think it would be better reading the letter first?" I said. "Oh yeah good idea, Dave." He then tore it open, then read it. He was oh my, oh shit. "What, what is it Will?" I said. "They're coming here, they say that I've got a letter from the Mayors Office, we get lots of letters from there, they're usually just asking for money, we must have put it with the junk mail. It seems there's gonna be a Memorial Service, they don't know when yet." We then went over to the pile of junk mail and found the one from Mayor's Press Office. It just repeated what Steve's Parents had said. No date was as yet set, but he would be notified later, and keep watching the press and the TV. Will found their phone numbers, picked up the phone and dial the number looking at Jordan and me. "Hello, yeah it's me, no I've not been very good, yeah I've got some friends here helping me out, yeah I know, sorry I took the phone off the hook. You're coming when? Oh right, I've only just opened your letter and the letter from the Mayor's Office too. Just a minute," he said making hand movements that he wanted a pen. We passed him one so that he could write something down. "Right, yeah I've got one now, when is it? Sunday October 27th at 2pm, yeah got that. Yeah I know. Oh Mary, I miss him so very much. Yes I'm sorry you couldn't get through. Ok, right, where are you staying, you know you're welcome to stay here with me? Well you can if you like, you know both you and Edwin are most welcome, ok that's ok if you'd rather do that. It's ok with me too. No I've not opened them yet, I've left them till the last. Yeah ok Mary, love you too, and send my love to Edwin. Yeah ok buy, see you in two weeks." "What did they say?" J said. "Well as you can see they've fixed a date for the Marmoreal Service, they say they would rather stay in a hotel as they don't want to put on me. They said that they couldn't get away from the farm so easily as they've got to get hired help, and that's not easy to get right now. They also said that I'd got to open the letters form his company and his lawyer." "Ok witch one do you want to open first?" He was just looking at the two of them. "I don't know!" "Ok then," I said as I picked them up, putting them behind my back and asked him to pick one. But before he did that I changed them round. He picked my right hand. It was the letter for his lawyer. I passed it to him, he took it off me just looking at it. "Well open it then Will." I said. He tore it open then started to read it. His hand then went to his mouth. "What is it Will, what does it say?" "It says I've got to go and see them at their office, and would I phone up to make an appointment!" I took it off him looking at the date that too was dated a week ago. "Shit Will this is a week old too, you'd better ring them now." "Yeah I'll do that." He picked the phone up once again. "Hello, it's Mr Lee, could I make an appointment to see Mr Baldwin please? Yes that would be fine, that's three pm this afternoon! Oh oh, right yes ok I'll be there, will it be alright if I bring a couple of friends with me, I really need them with me." He said looking at Jordan and me. We both looked back nodding our heads that it would be ok with us. He hung up the phone. "It's Steve's last will and testament, they want to read it to me, you will come with me then guys?" "Yeah course we will, Will! What about the letter from Steve's company?" "Oh yeah. He tore that open too. Then read it. "Well, Will, what does that one say?" "It says that Steve was insured for $5,000,000 with the company insurance scheme!" "Fucking hell, Will, that's a lot of money." "Yeah it is isn't it? I had no idea he was insured with them." "You'd better go and get ready, and put a suit on." Fifteen minutes later he was back looking all very smart and presentable. Ninety minutes after that we were in the waiting room of his lawyer. He came out of his office and shook Will's hand. "Good to see you William, but I wish it was under different circumstances, and who have we got here?" He said looking at Jordan and me. "I'm not going to say that I'm pleased to see you either Mr Baldwin. If Steve hadn't been killed I wouldn't be here. This is Jordan and this is David." I shot Will a look, "oh sorry, Dave." "Pleased to meet you boys. Glad you're looking after William. Yes I'm aware of that, sorry to hear about it all. Now if you would all like to take a seat I'll read Steven's will. But before I do that, I'd just like to give you his death certificate. We all sat down with Will in the middle of us. Mr Baldwin then started to read the will. It was all legal gobldy-gook. I think the jist of it was, that Steve was insured by a separate insurance company for a hell of a lot of money. It also turned out that the mortgage on their apartment was also paid. That alone was a Million Dollars. "Have you any questions William?" Will looked at Jordan and me. "What about you guys, have you any?" "This is your business, Will, It's got nothing to do with us." J said. Will then looked at me. "What about you Dave?" "Well I have a question if that's alright with Mr Baldwin!" "It's a little unusual but if that's what William would like then that's ok by me." "Ok then what's the bottom line, what has Will got in cash?" "He's got ten million dollars in cash, that's five million from his company and five million from New York Life, he's also got a safe deposit box in a Swiss Bank, plus of course the Porsche." "Fucking hell, oh sorry." I looked over at Will to see what his reaction would be. There were tears now falling down his cheeks again. I leaned over to give him a hug. He then put his head on my shoulder and sobbed. "I don't want any of that, I want Steve back." "Yeah I know you do Will, but he's not going to be coming back is he? And he's left you secure for the rest of your life, that just tells you just how much he loved you." I looked over at Mr Baldwin who was also looking very upset. "Come on, Will we'd better go now." "Take as long as you like gentlemen." Mr Baldwin said. After about fifteen minutes Will was a little more presentable. We all walked out after first thanking Mr Baldwin. We got a cab back to the apartment. As soon as we got in I asked Will if we could phone my Mum to tell her where we were. "Course you can, you both couldn't stay here with me tonight could you? I'll sleep on the couch." "Yeah sure we can, Will." J said to him. Looking at me for confirmation. I nodded my head back to say that it was. I then told my Mum we were still here and that we were staying the night. She was fine with that. The next day we went to meet Steve's Mum and Dad from JKF airport. They were really nice people. They said that we were nice people too, and Will was lucky to have such good friends. Over the next two weeks Will told us, all about his life before he met Steve, then how they met. We had to checkout of the 'Plaza'. My Mum and Dad went on to DC without us when we told them we were going to be staying with Will and that we were going to the Memorial service. J told his parents the same thing, or rather he told Rachel, his Dad's secretary. ...................................................................................................... ................................................................................................. I was always a loner, I was called William after my granddad. I was an only child, and when I was aged three my Mom and Dad were killed in a car wreck. Then over the next three years palmed out to varies families. When I was six I went to an older couple, they were wonderful. They were about forty-five years old. They were on the verge of adopting me when lightening struck for the second time, leaving me on my own once again. So now I'm ten, and very difficult to handle. What they called a problem child. Being gay didn't help maters. I had a number of crushes on boys my age and older in the orphanage. None of them ever came to anything. Some of the nuns were nice and sum of them were complete sadists that should never have been aloud to be anywhere near children let alone look after their needs and welfare. When I was aged seventeen I had the opportunity to go and work at 'The Plaza' starting as a cleaner. We didn't stay in the hotel, we stayed in a hostel owned by the hotel. It was there that I met my first love. A boy the same age as me, he was small as I was tall, he was on the dark side as I was blond. He seemed quiet, as I was loud. In fact we were complete opposites. He worked in the kitchen helping the chef, as I cleaned and tided the bedrooms and did odd jobs about the hotel. I worked the morning shift he worked the late shift. He was sometimes just going to bed after a night out as I was getting up. His name was Danny, five feet four, black hair, dark brown eyes, so dark they smouldered. He was quite simply, stunning. One night he came in really drunk, we shared a room. He was falling all over, he then fell onto the bed in a fit of giggles and started to try and get undress. I jumped out of bed in my boxers, and helped him to get his shirt and pants off. It was very difficult, he was still giggling. He then pointed to my boxers. "Shit Will, you have a cool cock, can I suck it?" "Fuck off Danny, and help me get your pants off." "Oh yeah, get my pants off and suck my cock." I pushed him back on the bed getting the rest of his clothes off, after first putting my cock back in my boxers. He then jumped up and rushed pass me to the sink and was violently sick. As he was doing that I folded his shirt up then his pants, and out of his pocket a small package fell onto the bed. I picked it up looking at it, I smelt it, it was wrapped in silver paper. He staggered back to the bed looking like death. "What's this Danny?" I said holding the package up. "It's dope, you dope." He said with a strained smile. "You idiot. You don't use that shit do you?" "Only cannabis, I'm not into anything any heavier." "Is that what you've been on to night?" "Yeah that and a some beer." "Where did you get it from?" "The less you know the better Will. And sorry for making a pass at you, I would never do that sober." "That's k, Danny, don't worry about it. I take it you're gay?" He hung his head, saying. "Yeah sorry Will, I'll see about moving out tomorrow and see if they can find me another room." "No, no, don't do that Danny, you see...erm...erm I'm gay too." "No shit Sinbad." He said with a big grin. "Danny, have you ever...you know?" "What, fucked? Nope never, drugs I've done but fucked? Never." He said as he pulled the bed covers open for me to get in. "Have you Will?" "Nope, never." "Well it's time we both did, don't you think, Will?" "Yeah, it is, but...I've not got any...you know!" "Condoms? I've got some, they're in my jacket pocket. Also a tube of KY lube." I got them out and went back to bed. To cut a long story short we made love till it was time for me to get up for work. I fucked him two or three times, he did the same to me. I was just basking in the after glow with Danny in my arms when my alarm went off. I jumped out of bed to stop it. I then grabbed my towel wrapped it round my waist and went for my morning shower. I left Danny sleeping as I went to work. When it was almost time for Danny to start work, he was nowhere to be seen, so I made a quick exit ran round the corner to the hostel. He was still fast asleep in bed. "Danny, Danny, wake up its time for you to get up and go to work." "Oh shit Will, get in with me and lets fuck all afternoon." I kissed him on the cheek and pulled the covers off of him. "If you get up now and have a shower you'll just about make it." "Ok, ok." I left him walking to the bathroom for a shower as I ran back. When I got back my supervisor tore into me, telling me my first duty was to the hotel that employed me and not my friends. Over the next six months Danny and me got closer and closer together. I was head over heals in love with him and he with me. We had sex when he came home from work at night and again before I went in the morning. His sexual appetite was amazing, I just couldn't keep up with him. One morning as we were lying in bed waiting for the alarm to go off, the door bust open. Three guys came in with guns drawn. "Hands on your heads and out of bed you pair of fags." They then pulled the bedclothes off of us. "My my, just look at that Jack." One of the cops said. "What's going on?" I said. "This is a drug bust son." "Drugs? We don't do drugs, do we Danny?" I said looking at Danny. Danny didn't answer me. "Danny, Danny, tell me you're not into that again?" He still didn't answer. "Well if you're not into drugs you won't mind us having a look round then will you?" One of the cops said. I could tell by the look on Danny's face that was not a good idea. We were now kneeling up by the side of the bed with our hands on our heads. "Well well well, what have we got here?" Cop one said, as he held a package in front of our faces as cop two and three found even more stuff. I looked over at Danny. He was looking down at the mattress, not wanting to make eye contact. It was then that I knew. That explained why his sexual appetite was so enormous. The alarm went off, making every one jump. "Ok boys, get some clothes on, you're coming down the precinct with us, you have some serous questions to answer." They booked him for possession and distribution of a class 'A' drug. Not only did he have cannabis, he also had coke and crack. They let me go as he told them I had nothing to do with it. The police told the hotel that I had nothing to do with it, I just happened to share a room with him. He was found guilty of possession and distribution. He got five years. That of course put my confidence in men out of joint. Over the next two years I threw myself into my work at the hotel. I rose to become one of the head room service waiters. I moved into the hotel. It was a small single room at the back, more like a broom closet than a room. But at least it had a bathroom with shower and air conditioning. And if you've ever been to 'New York' in the summer months then you'll know just how appreciative I was. Over that time both men and woman of all ages had propositioned me on more than a few occasions. Each time I just smiled and said I wasn't interested. Then 'he' came into my life. It was about six thirty in the evening when I got a call to take a fish supper for one up to room three six nine. I just could not keep my eyes off of him when he opened the door. His eyes were dark brown, as was his hair. His eyes were on a level with my chest. He looked very firm and fit from what I could see under his clothes. It seems I have a thing for small dark eyed young men. I made a complete hash of serving his supper. I saw him looking at my nametag. "Where do people go at night to have a good time William? I'm from Oregon; this is my first time in the 'Big Apple'. Can you suggest somewhere for a small country boy like me can go?" "Yeah it all depends on what you like though sir." "Oh please don't call me sir, my name's Steven, or Steve to my friends. I'd like you to call me Steve, if that's ok with you!" I looked into his eyes. We were all told on more than one occasion, under no circumstances must we socialise with the guests, on pain of the sack. I became aware that we were staring into each other's eyes. God he was so handsome. "I'm sorry...erm...Sir...we're not allowed to talk to guests about such things." "Oh my god, William, chill out. I'm not likely to snitch on you for telling me where to go to have a good time! It's not like I'm asking you to come out with me. Though I wouldn't mind..." He said with a smile. I then broke one of the hotel rules. "What do you like to do then Sir..erm...Steve? And I'm Will." God I felt so strange calling him that. "Mm, now let me see, do you know of any good gay bars Will?" I almost dropped the fish as I was putting it on his plate. "Sorry Will, did I touch a nerve there? I do hope not!" He said with a big smile. "No, no, you didn't." "Good, good, I'd hate to upset you." As I'm dishing out the rest of his dinner onto the plate I then realise that I'm being propositioned again. But this time I like it. "So, do you know any gay bars?" "No..Sir..erm Steve. I've never been to one. I don't get much time off." "Well what do you do when you do have time off?" "I go to the movies, or go to see the 'Yankees' if they have any tickets left." "What do you mean? Any tickets left." I then told him about one of the perks we have. "So, if I got two tickets for the next match would you like to show me where they play? It's been a long time since I went to a ball game." "Yeah...Si...Steve, that would be cool, I'd have to swap shifts though cos there's a game tomorrow." "Good, good, that's a date then." He said with a smile as he was eating his fish supper. My bleeper then went off, we have a rule that we help each other out, if any one of us is away to long we bleep them, that way we can then leave quite easily. "May I use your phone Sir..erm Steve please?" "Sure go ahead." It turned out to be Alan my understudy. A nice dude but a bit slow. That's how we met. We did go to the game, and a gay bar. It seems he was here for an interview for a job in insurance. He got the job. The company moved into the 'World Trade Centre' about twelve months ago. We became an item and bought our own apartment. He had much more money than I ever had, but he told me some things are more important than mere money. I went to his hometown of Klamath Falls In Oregon to meet his parents. They were so warm and friendly. They were also pleased that he had at last settled down. His Mom took me to one side while we were there to give me the once over. I told her about my life so far and that I had no money. She then took my hands in hers then said. "If Steven loves you then you must be special. I've only just met you and I can see what he means, you're a nice person William." I blushed beet red. Steve could see my predicament and came over to help me out. "What you saying to my Boyfriend Mom?" "Nothing that you don't already know, I like him Steven, you've chosen well." We went back to see them whenever we could. I met all his friends at work and he met all mine. Life was so blissful. We met the two of you at the ball game that night, and the rest you know. Jordan and me slept in Will's and Steve's bed while Will slept on the couch. We both felt quite guilty when we had our usual fuck, but what could we do, we were just two horny teenagers and no amount of guilt was gonna stop that. We woke up on the morning of the memorial service. It seemed that telling us his story help a lot, he was more like the Will that we knew. He'd go pretty quiet sometimes, especially when we were going to bed. I woke up to the smell of fresh coffee. Will was up and dressed. He was sat in the chair when I went into to the living room. He smiled. "Morning Dave, you sleep well as usual?" "Yeah I did Will, what time is it, how long have you been up?" "It's nine thirty, and I've been up since seven. It's the day we remember Steve. I couldn't sleep." We both smiled as Jordan came into the room scratching himself. His cock was plain to see through his boxers. "Jordan, go and put some clothes on." I said looking down at his bulge. "Oh, sorry guys." He said as he went into the bathroom for a shower. A few hours later we were all sat in our seats, we were told to arrive early to avoid the rush and to make sure we found our seats in good time. We had called and picked up Steve's parents from their hotel. I was sat on Will's right while Jordan sat on his left. Steve's rents were right behind us. The service was a blur. One thing I did notice though was a pair of trainers to my right scuffing the floor every time I looked down when ever anyone said a prayer. They looked to be a size eight, and well worn. The owner also had blue denims on, they too were also well worn. As we were listening to the head Rabbi say yet another prayer, this time in Hebrew, I followed the legs of the person up as far as I could go with out making it obvious that I was checking him out, that's if it was a him. We all stood up to sing a hymn when the Rabbi finished reading a passage from the Bible. I looked to my right to see who or what sex the person was. He was beautiful; he had blond hair cut in spiky look. We looked into each others blue eyes. He was my height and looked to be about sixteen. He gave me a shy smile. Of course I smiled back. His teeth gleamed. Showing up his red lips. God how the fuck could I be thinking these thoughts at a time like this! It seemed so disrespectful. He was really cute though. Eventually the service was over and people started to talk and mingle. It looked like the boy on my right was with his rents. "I'm glad that's over, who you remembering?" I said to the boy. "It was my uncle, he was on one of the planes. Yeah I'm glad it's over too" "Oh, sorry about that. My names David, Dave to my friends. What's yours?" I said holding out my hand. "Aaron, Aaron to my friends too." He said with a smile. "Hi, Aaron." "Hi Dave." We both said with a smile. "Are you from England?" "Yeah I am, I'm with my friends here." I said pointing to Will and Jordan. "Oh, right, who they lose?" "Will the tall one lost his boyfriend." "Boyfriend?" "Yeah that's right." "Oh, so that means he's...gay!" "Yeah he is, hope you don't have a problem with that Aaron!" "No that's cool, the other guy, who's he, Jordan did you say his name was? He's real cute." He said with a sparkle in his eyes. I looked at Aaron with my head on one side. "Does that mean what I think it means?" "Yeah it does, I'm gay too!" "That's my boyfriend, Jordan. Have you got one?" "Well I've got an on line bf, but we've never met." He said with a huge smile. "We going then Dave, who's this?" J said coming over to us. "Oh, right, this is Aaron, he's from...Where you from? You didn't say?" "New Jersey." They both shook hands smiling at each other as Aaron's rents came over to tell him they wanted to go. "Ok Mom I won't be long. Well I think I'd better go now guys, nice to have met you, sorry it was under such sad circumstances." "Yeah I know what you mean, Aaron, seezya later dude." I said. Then he dashed of with his parents. He dashed back, "have you got a pen? I'll give you my email address." We exchanged emails then he was off again. I looked over at Will; he was still sat down looking in a daze. "You ok Will?" I said. "No I'm not." He snapped back, very unlike Will. I looked over at J and we exchanged glances. It was going to be very difficult to leave him and go to DC with him in this state. "We should really be getting back to DC Will, I've already lost a week of school and Dave should be starting too." "Oh well don't let me fucking keep you, fuck off back then!" He snapped. I walked over to him, kneeling down on the floor. I took both his hands in mine. "Look Will, you've got to get on with your life, so have we, and snapping at us won't help anyone. Jordan's been away from home for quite a few weeks now; he's missing his parents. And my parents want me back too, it's not just about us." "Yeah I know Dave, please forgive me, you too J. You couldn't stay just a few more nights could you?" "Yeah ok, we'll stay till Wednesday Will, then we must get back to DC." He said looking over to me for my approval. I nodded my head yes. "Thanks guys I can't thank you enough. Those sleeping tablets I got from the Doctor help me sleep." Mary and Edwin came up to us. "Come on Will. They're right, you have to get on with your life, as hard as it may seem now it will get better." "Yeah I know Mary." He said. As he stood up she scooped him into her arms loving him like a child as he wept onto her shoulder. "We must be getting back too Will, we got cover for the farm and we really need to get back." She let him go then got her hankie chef out and wiped his eyes. "Yeah I'm sorry I'm behaving like a baby ain't I!" "No you're not, you've had a hell of a life Will, it's only natural to feel like this. But life goes on. And we'll always be there for you." Edwin said as he too took hold of him. "Do you want us to come to the airport with you?" I asked Mary and Edwin. "No, you two go and look after Will, he needs you more than we do. We're catching the early flight in the morning." Mary said. So with that we all said our good byes. When we got back to Will's apartment I looked at Jordan. "I'm hungry J, are you?" "Yeah I am, what about you Will, you want anything to eat too?" "No I'm not hungry at all, but don't let me stop the two of you eating. I'd really like to have a sleep." "Ok if you're sure! How about we go and have a meal at that Italian Dave and let Will sleep?" "Yep good idea. Are you sure you'll be ok Will?" "I'm sure, you two go, and don't hurry back ok?" "Yeah ok." We both said. We walked round to the restaurant. I was famished. Kev and me used to have a joke, how would we like to die, would we like to freeze, or die from heat, or starve. I never wanted to starve, it must have been a terrible death. But then again all deaths were terrible. We both had the spaghetti bolognaise like the first time we met Will and Steve. We were half way through when we were interrupted by the waiter; he had two bottles of Coke. "This is from the gentlemen on table seventeen." We both followed his eyes where he was looking. My god it was Mike and Brian from the QE2. I asked the waiter to go and ask them if we could go and sit with them at their table. He came back to say that we could. We picked our plates up and walked over asking the waiter to bring our coke. "What the fuck you doing here guys?" I said to them. "Were back in New York on business, we came over on 'Concord' and just wanted a quiet meal, then we see the two of you here. What you doing here, why aren't you back in DC in school?" Brian said. We then went on to tell them all about the last two weeks with Will and how we'd been to the memorial service. "Oh shit guys it sounds like you've been a tower of strength to your friend Will." We both just nodded yes. "What time do you have to get back? Would you like to come back to the Waldorf with us, we'll show you our suit." "I think it would be ok don't you J?" I said looking at my watch. "Yeah Will needs to be on his own for a while, we'll let him sleep." When we got to their hotel all the staff were practically falling over them selves looking after them. When we got to their room I noticed the door wasn't like a normal hotel room door but was a double door. They also had a big key like the key they gave us and not the usual electronic thing. As soon as they opened the door we could see that it was quit sumptuous. The carpet felt like it was two inches thick. They had their own kitchen. The TV was one of those big plasma things. I turned it on and flicked through the channels till I found MTV. "Is it ok to have this on guys?" I said looking at the two of them. "Of course it is, you're our guests, it's not what I'd call music but if you liked it then that's ok." Mike said. We talked for what felt like ages. I looked at my watch. "Shit J it's half past eleven, we'd better get back to Will, he's been on his own long enough now." "Yeah you're right." He said as he stood up. We thanked the guys for the night. We really needed that. When we got back to Will's apartment we let ourselves in putting on the light. Will was still fast asleep on the couch. The more I looked the more it looked as though something wasn't just right. It was then that I spotted the half bottle of whisky. Then I saw the empty packet of sleeping tablets. "Oh fuck J, look." I said pointing to the whisky and sleeping tablets. "Oh no...." He ran over to the phone and dialled nine one one as I was shaking him trying to wake him up. I couldn't. It was then that I saw the letter on the table. It was addressed to Dave and Jordan. I tore it open and read it. Hi guys, really sorry to drop this on you but I just couldn't live without Steve one more day. Now we're together again and will be for all eternity. Go see Mr Baldwin, I made a Will out the other day. Sorry again guys I love ya. Be good for each other. Your friend. Will. I gave the letter to J as he came over. "What have you done Will, just what the fuck have you done." I said as tears ran down my cheeks. "The ambulance will be here as soon as they can." "I think it's to late for that J, he's gone." I said feeling for his pulse. The door burst open as two paramedics came running in with a big bag. "What have we got?" The guy said as the young lady looked on. We couldn't talk. "Come on boys, what gives? Snap out of it." "It looks like he's taken an overdose and half a bottle of whisky." I said. He pulled Will of the couch onto the floor. He felt for a pulse, he opened Will's shirt and put two things on his chest. He said something to his partner. "Clear." Will's body jolted. "Nothing." The lady started pumping his chest. The guy got a stethoscope out of his bag and listened for a heart beat. "Nothing, charging, clear." "Clear." She pumped again. Still nothing. He got a hypodermic out of his bag, he filled it up and injected it into Will's chest. He then turned the dial of the machine up. "Charging, clear." "Clear." He jolted again. The guy put his stethoscope on Will's chest again. "Nothing." He turned the dial up as far as it would go. "Charging, clear." "Clear." Will's lifeless body left the floor with a jolt. The guy listened again, looking at his partner. "Nothing, I think you'd better call the police, and get them to call the doc to determine life extinct. There's nothing more we can do for him I'm afraid. He's made a good job of it." She spoke into the radio. I could hear that they were on their way. Twenty minutes later two cops knocked on the door. One of the paramedics let them in. They were talking to each other as they walked in. "Ok boys, what happened here?" We told them all about Will, Steve and the trade centre. I gave one of them the note he left us. "Ok, where were the two of you tonight?" We told them about the Italian restaurant, meeting Mike and Brian and going back to their hotel for the evening. "Ok, have you anywhere you can stay for the night while we check this out." We looked at each other. "We could go and stay with Brian and Mike." "The guys you were with tonight?" "Yeah." "No sorry that's no good, we want to talk to them first." "Could I call my dad?" Jordan said. "Sure kid, what's the number?" Jordan gave his number for one of the cops to ring. He dialled the number. His eyes opened wide when his dad answered it. "No, no problem Senator Flack, we'll deal with it don't worry, it's just procedure, ya know! Yeah ok sir he's here." "Hi Dad, sorry you had to be disturbed this time of night." "Never mind that Jordan, how are you and David, are you ok?" "Yeah we're k, but we've nowhere to stay for the night." "Mm, ok leave it with me, sorry to hear about William Jordan." A thought then struck me, we had better tell Mary and Edwin before they go back to Oregon. Jordan hung up the phone. "We'd better tell Mary and Edwin J, before they go back, maybe we could stay the rest of the night there." "Yeah we'd better. We might be able to, we'll have to ask." Jordan got his mobile out and dialled the hotel. It took quit a while for Mary to answer. "Jordan? What on earth's the matter, phoning at this time of night." "There's no easy way to say this Mary, but Will's taken his own life, he took an overdose of sleeping tablets and half a bottle of whisky while we were out, and we need somewhere to stay for the rest of the night while they carry out their investigation." "Oh my god no. You must come over to us right away. Get a taxi now." "Yeah ok we will Mary, and thanks." "No need to thank me young man, you helped William in a time of need. Now it's our turn to help the two of you." He then phoned his dad again. "Hi Dad, yeah we've got somewhere to stay, yeah Will's boyfriends parents, they came over for the service today, or should I say yesterday now. Yeah that'll be ok Dad, thanks for that anyway. Bye Dad. Yeah love you too." "He was just about to ring us back to say that he'd phoned the Governor and that we could have stayed there." One of the cops picked up on the Governor. "You have some friends in high places boys." "That's only cos my dad's a senator." "Mm, yeah but he does have the ear of the President doesn't he? Being on that committee." Fifteen minutes later we were both in the arms of Mary and Edwin. When we had all calmed down we sat down to talk. "You know, it doesn't surprise me one bit that Will's done that, we should really have been prepared for it, but it's too late now." Mary said. She had booked us into the adjoining room, she had the door unlocked, and the double bed made up. We both froze when she led us into the room, seeing only the one bed embarrassed us slightly. "No need to be embarrassed boys, I know you're gay so go ahead and get to bad." She said with a smile. "Thanks Mary, are you going to stay for Will's funeral, or are you going to go home and come back?" "I don't know yet David, Edwin and I will have to talk about it, one of us really needs to go home, and I suppose someone should look after the two of you." "You don't need to worry about us, we'll be ok." "I'm sure that's how it looks to you but you're only boys, and you need someone. Now go and have a shower and go to bed." That is just what we did, with not one bit of sex. We just went to sleep in each other's arms. The next thing I knew there was a knock on the communicating door. "Can I come in boys? There's someone to see you." We both sat up groggily. "It's probably one of those fucking cops." I said. "David Wilkinson, watch that mouth." "Oh shit." "That's a nice welcome David." My Mum said as she walked in with Jordan's mum. They both came over to each side of the bed and put their arms round us. "How did you get here Mum?" "We caught an early flight. It is twelve o'clock lunch time." "Shit is it?" "David!" "Sorry Mum." She was hugging and hugging me, if I didn't know before that she love me I knew then. "That's ok David, just don't make a habit of it ok?" "Ok Mum, I'm really glad you're here. Where's dad?" "He's at work, where do you think he is? He's sorry he couldn't come but this new job...well it's very well paid and he can't just drop everything just like that. He sends his love though." "The police called this morning, they said that everything looked ok, but there would have to be an autopsy to determine the cause of death." Mary said looking at us and smiling. "When's that then?" I said. "Should be about now they said. As soon as it's been carried out they'll free the body for burial." "Body, body, don't you mean Will, it is him we're talking about here." "David, that's no way to talk to Mary when she's done all that she has." My mum said standing up. "Yeah sorry Mary, it just sounds kinda not right to say the body." "David, the body is just a shell, his life has gone now, he's with my Steven in heaven now." Mary said taking hold of my hands. They did release the body later that afternoon. The funeral was held the two days later, and most of it was a blur. What a waste. I do remember it was another sunny day. Most of the hotel staff turned up. Edwin came back from Oregon. Jordan and I wept openly as the coffin was lowered into the ground. "Bye Will." My mum made an appointment for us to see Mr Baldwin again. He could fit us in at five that evening. Jordan and me were sat next to our mums and next to each other as Mr Baldwin read out the contents of Will's will. It seemed that he had left us exactly half each of what he had been left by Steve, of course the expenses of the funeral had to come out of it. But it meant that over night Will had made us both millionaires. Not that we wanted it, we would much rather have had Will. So, it was with heavy hearts that the next day we took off from JFK bound for DC. AUTHOR'S NOTE: Suicide is not the answer. If you're feeling depressed or despondent, please get some professional help. Please also realize that this is a story about fictional characters. To be continued...