Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2001 03:50:18 EDT
From: GoWithTheFlo1234@aol.com
Subject: (relationships)

All Work and No Play- Third Chapter
by gowiththeflo1234@aol.com

Thank you to those who wrote to me with suggestions and praises, sorry to
keep those waiting for the third installment. I dedicate this to those
patient souls. Again, feel free to write or write to me again with
comments, suggestions. This story is about two men who are conflicted
emotionally...not an enraged hormone fiasco, so don't be expecting to get
off with this material. Thanks, Jeff

Chpt 3, Part I

      Mike suddenly said to Seth "I have to go back and tell Laura
something, I'll meet you on the plane."
      "Alright," Seth said, quietly.
      Mike reappeared from behind the gate and called out, "Laura!"
      Laura turned around, "Mike, get on that plane before it leaves
without you!"
      "Thanks for the 'sudden emergency'," Mike says.
      "You owe me one," Laura says, laughing. "I guess those years of drama
in high school paid off after all!"
      "I'll catch you..."
      "Friday," Laura finished. "I already booked my tickets and arranged
to be taken to the hotel."
      "You're the best Laura!" Mike said, hugging her.
      "And don't you forget it!" Laura said. "Just be careful."
      "I will," Mike said.
      And with that, he turned and went behind the gates a second time.
      "Laura!" someone else shouted.
      Laura turned around to find Luke.
      "Lau---Laura," Luke said, panting.
      "Luke, breath," she said coaxingly. "What are you doign here?"
      "I'm here to see Seth," Luke replied. "Am I too late?"
      Laura only nodded, Luke felt like crying. His tears were on the verge
of flowing down his cheeks.
      "Maybe it was for the best..." Laura said.
      "No, it's not!" Luke screamed back, a tad bit aggressive.
      Laura, taken back by his rage, said, "Give it some time...maybe Seth
will turn around."
      "Turn around?" Luke questioned. "What do you mean?"
      "I just meant...." Laura stammered. "...he just seemed eager to start
a new life."
      "You mean he didn't even cry...or anything?" Luke asked, with concern
in his eyes.
      God, Laura thought. I can't lie to Luke, he looks so devastated.
      "He was eager...that's all," Laura said, her head bowed down.
      "I see," Luke said. "Shouldn't you be on that plane?"
      "Uh...family emergency," Laura said.
      Luke nodded and said. "I'll see you around."
      With that, he walked out of the airport to find a taxi home.


      Seth looked outside his window, Mike preferred an aisle seat (being
afraid of heights and all). The stewardesses pushed carts with orange juice
and peanuts...Seth couldn't even bear to look at food, his mind just wasn't
on eating.
      "What are you thinking about?" Mike asked, interrupting Seth's train
of thought.
      "Maybe I should've taken Luke's proposal," Seth said, dreamily.
"Luke Masterson....Seth Masterson."
      "I like the sound of Seth Brookes better," Mike said, leaning a
little closer.
      "Thanks," he replied, bashfully. "I think."
      Mike leaned back into his seat and took a huge sip of his orange
juice.
      "Those rings...were so beautiful," Seth said, inhaling a deep breath.
"He is so beautiful. I can't do it Mike, I have to go back New York."
      "We need you in Paris Seth," Mike said. "Plus, you said yourself, you
wanted a new life."
      "I guess you're right..."Seth mumbled. "I'll call LUke first thing,
when I get to Paris."
      "Suit yourself," Mike grumbled, as he slipped the headphone over his
head.


      I've been living a lie, Luke thought to himself as he strolled
through Central Park.  I thought he cared about me, I beated myself over my
workaholism...but all he cared about was his work also...he couldn't leave
me fast enough for this promotion.
      Luke sobbed silently.
      "Luke, there you are!"
      Luke turned around and found Kristy.
      Kristy took Luke into her arms, and Luke cried on her shoulders.
      "He...left...me..." Luke choked out. "He...didn't...cry...."
      "What?" Kristy said. "He didn't cry?"
      Luke straightened himself, "Laura was at the airport and she told me
that he was 'eager to start a new life'."
      "Oh my god," Kristy gasped.
      "Well, who am I to be in the way of his success and glory," Luke
said.
      "Luke..."
      "No Kris, I'm sick of love itself...I'm just going to join some
monastery or become a priest."
      "Luke, you'r enot even catholic," Kristy said. "Listen to yourself,
you're giving up on something that means the most to you."
      "Well obviously I didn't mean that much to him," Luke said. "I'm
through with love. Love stinks!"
      "YOu need some tea..."
      "No, I need some vodka..." Luke retorted.
      "Alright, tea it is...my treat," Kristy said.
      Kristy guided Luke to a nice corner cafe and ordered two cups of hot
black tea.
      "I want to drown my sorrow with ALCOHOL," Luke said, loudly. "Not
TEA."
      A few people stared at him strangely.
      "What?" Luke said to them. "Never seen a gay guy get his heart
stomped on?"
      The looked of bewilderment turned sympathetic, a quiet mutual
understanding was made.
      "Here's the tea," the waiter said, bringing to them two hot steamy
cup of liquid. "And a muffin...on the house."
      THe waiter winked and walked away.
      "I think that guy has the hots for you," Kristy suggested, jokingly.
      Luke only sipped the soothing liquid in silence, comtemplating over
Seth.


      "I can see the nightline of Paris," Seth said, taking a deep breath.
"It's so beautiful."
      "Yeah, isn't it?" Mike said, leaning over Seth to take a closer look.
      Mike inhaled the sweet scent of Seth, potent, yet seductive.
      "Mike," Seth said, snapping Mike back to reality.
      "Yeah?" Mike said, blinking his eyes.
      "You want to get off of me for a second," Seth said. "I need to go
use the men's room."
      "Oh sure," Mike said, leaning back into his seat.
      Seth unbuckled his seatbelt and walked to the bathroom. Seth locked
the door behind him and preceded to the sink. Seth splashed some cool water
on his face... what just happened...he felt this awkward attraction...for
Mike.



Part II Looking back...

      A week has gone by...the large penthouse, once occupied by a happy
couple, remained gloomy and dark. Luke worked at the firm more, drowning
his emptiness with work. Luke took a bite of his chinese take-out of sesame
chicken, when he remembered the first date he had with Seth was at a
chinese resturant.
      It was almost a year back, when Seth and Luke met at a chinese
resturant in Greenwhich Village. A mutual friend had set them together for
this blind date, neither one of them was too happy with the arragement.
Luke, being the more precise one, arrived first and glanced neverously at
the empty seat across from him. What if he didn't he like me, Luke thought
to himself.  Thousands of unanswered question pounded in Luke's head. He
could feel a headache coming on...when he heard the most angelic voice
asked, "Are you Luke Masterson?"
      Back into reality, Luke answers, "Yes, and you must be Seth Brookes."
      "Yes, may I?" he asked, gesturing at the empty seat.
      "Of course," Luke said, getting up to pull out the seat for Seth to
seat down.
      "Thanks,"Luke said, smiling.
      Luke could feel himself being very attracted to this man. Luke
glanced as Seth combs through his blonde hair while reading the menu.
      "What are you staring at?" Seth asks, catching LUke in the act.
      "Um....uh...nothing," LUke mumbles and returns to his menu.
      This time, propping the menu up to hide his face of embarassment.  He
could hear Seth chuckling softly to himself...triggering even more shades
of red on Luke's face. The waiter came and took the order, and the two
found themselves staring at each other.
      "You have very intense eyes," Seth said, observantly.
      "Thank you," Luke said, blushing. "No one has ever complimented my
eyes that way."
      "Well, I'm happy to be the first."
      "YOu have very beautiful eyes yourself," Luke comments, referring to
Seth's blue eyes.
      Seth giggles and thanks Luke for the comment. The first dish was
sesame chicken, Seth and Luke waited for the white rice before devouring
down the dish.
      "I love sesame chicken," Seth says. "I just love chinese food
generally. It's like god's gift to people."
      Luke laughs at this comment....
      ...we were so happy...Luke thought as he took another bite of his
sesame chicken.
      "Mr.Masterson," his secretary Rita said. "I'm leaving for my
vacation, I'll see you in a week."
      "Take care Rita," he said. "Have fun."
      "Thank you sir," she replied.
      She left, leaving Luke to think about going on a vacation of his
own....
      ....a few months ago....
      "Oh Luke!" Seth screamed. "We should go to the Bahamas."
      "The Bahamas?" Luke asked. "How random."
      "I've always wanted to go there, or we can go somewehre romantic like
Paris!"
      "We'll go to Paris one day,"Luke said. "When we have free time."
      "You promise?" Seth asked, like a little kid.
      "Promise," Luke said, kissing Seth on the lips...
      ...Paris, Luke thought bitterly. THe most romantic city of the world
drove us apart. And now Seth was living there without him. Luke dropped his
chopsticks into the take-out box and cried.


      "I cooked us dinner," Mike said.
      "Mmm, smells good," Seth commented. "I'm glad at least you know how
to cook, I was never good at cooking adn neither was..."
      "I know," Mike said. "Here, try this porkchop."
      Mike scooped some mashed potatoes, peas, and a piece of porkchop onto
Seth's plate.
      "I'm not exactly a fan of peas," Seth said, making a face.
      Mike laughed, "Just eat it, it's good for you anyhow."
      Seth took a sip of his wine, the alcohol kicking into his system.
      Half of the second bottle of wine later....Seth was giggling like a
giddish schoolgirl, laughing at all of Mike's lame jokes.
      Wow, he must be wasted, Mike thought to himself. He hasn't mentioned
that Luke for once during dinner.
      "I'm tired!" Seth declared, as he stretched from the table. "I'm
going to go to...whoa!"
      Seth had gotten up too fast, and the alcohol got to his ability to
walk. Mike got up quickly to catch Seth on his fall. Seth laughed and
looked into Mike's eyes...Mike's hazel eyes...were intising. Mike leaned
into Seth and kissed him...Seth kissed back...they inched their way towards
the bed.  Mike removed Seth's shirt...kissing and caressing his body...Seth
fumbled through Mike pants, removing them and his underwear...Mike climbed
on top of Seth and kissed him passionately on the lips...as his hands
roamed the forbidden regions...


      Luke woke up by the sound of the phone...
      He had fallen asleep at his desk at work.
      "Hello," he said, groggily. "Luke Masterson's desk."
      "Are you sleeping on the job?" the voice asked.
      "Mr.Pierce," Luke said, waking himself up.
      Mr.Pierce, his boss, chuckled lightly, "It's ok Masterson, you
deserve a nice long sleep...even if it's in your office. I've checked your
portfolio, you've done some extensive and impressive work for our firm."
      "Thank you sir," Luke said. "Just doing my job, sir."
      "And a very good job indeed," he replied. "ANd that's why I'm
granting you a two week vacation, fully paid by the firm."
      "Oh, Mr.Pierce," Luke said. "I don't know what to say."
      "YOu deserve it Luke," he said. "You've worked the hardest this
season than any of the other stock brokers. Name a destination, and you'll
be there faster than you can say Wall Street."
      LUke pondered for a moment and without a doubt, he replied, "Paris,
sir."



to be continued....

sorry for the long wait, i hope it was wroth it. again,
gowiththeflo1234@aol.com that's the e-addy...write to me with questions,
comments, suggestions, whatever....constructive criticism please.

-happy reading, jeff