Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 18:15:28 -0700 (PDT) From: Kirk Landers Subject: Dating and the Single Life- part 2 Copyright and Disclaimer: 1. This is a fictional story with fictional characters. 2. No one is to steal this story under any circumstances 3. This story deals with relationships and not sex, so if you're looking for a story with alot of sex in it. This isn't the story for you. Well here's part 2, glad to hear many of you liked the first installment, I hope you enjoy this one also. So here's part 2 titled "The Next Day" "THE NEXT DAY" The next morning David slowly woke up, rubbing his head. "Major hang over." He moaned to himself, he started to get up when he saw Kyle walk into the room wearing his sweatshirt and sweat pants. "I borrowed your clothes last night." Kyle said sitting down on the bed next to David, handing him a cup of coffee. "It's cool, that sweatshirt is probably yours anyway. I think I borrowed it and never gave it back." David replied groggily Kyle looked at the sweatshirt, "Actually you're right, this is my sweatshirt." "Sorry." David said "Oh, no it's cool. You can keep it." Kyle answered "Did you spend the night?" David asked sipping the coffee. "Yea, you were pretty smashed last night. I wanted to make sure you were all right." Kyle replied David smiled at Kyle's thoughtfulness, "Thanks." "Of course." Kyle said trying to think of a way to bring up what David said last night, "So, do you remember anything?" David sat there thinking, "I remember being at the club, drinking, you taking me home, then I was saying something like-" David stopped himself remembering what he said to Kyle, "Oh God." "Yea." Kyle replied knowing David remembered "I just said that because I was drunk." David said quickly hoping Kyle would believe him. "David, it's okay. After you said that, I called Marcus." Kyle confessed "He told you?" David asked pissed off. "I asked him if it was true." Kyle replied "And he told you everything?" David asked getting angrier. "David, he was-" Kyle began to try and calm him down, but David cut him off. "What the hell?" David yelled getting up from the bed. "David calm down." Kyle said trying to get him to sit down. "No, you guys had no right to talk about me like that." David said pushing Kyle's hand away from him. "David, Marcus was only trying to help!" Kyle yelled angrily "Just calm down." "Fine." David replied sitting down on the bed. "Besides, you're one to talk." Kyle said "You talked to Marcus, Tyler, Jake and Randal about this? So basically everyone knew." "Well, obviously it wasn't something I was just going to come right out and tell you." David retorted "Why not?" Kyle asked "If I knew, I would have given you a little space from me and not have been so touchy and clingy with you." "It's because you were so touchy and clingy that I didn't want to say anything." David replied Kyle looked at David confused, "Wouldn't that just get you more upset?" "When you and I cuddle or kiss or do anything like that, I know it's the closest thing I'll ever have to a relationship with you." David confessed Kyle wasn't quite sure what to say, "Oh...David, I love you, you know that. I just don't want a relationship." "I know." David replied "But I don't want you to think for a second that you are the reason I don't want anything to happen between us. If I was to ever be open again to a relationship, it would probably be with you or someone like you." Kyle said "I just don't want a relationship." "You know, I have to get ready for work. You mind showing yourself out?" David asked changing the subject "Oh." Kyle replied wounded "Um, yea sure. Want to hang out later?" "Can't, I'm going to be really busy with work." David replied "Okay." Kyle said quietly "I guess I'll call you then." "Fine." David replied "Bye." David then headed to the bathroom, leaving Kyle standing in the middle of the room. Kyle got his things and quietly left the apartment. David sat on the floor in the bathroom listening to Kyle close the door to his apartment, never did he thing he could be so cold to Kyle, and he didn't mean to be, he was just having trouble dealing with everything now that Kyle knows that he loves him. Kyle went over to Marcus' place to talk. "Didn't go well?" Marcus asked "Not at all." Kyle replied "What happened?" Marcus asked "He first got really pissed that we were talking about it." Kyle replied "Then he just shut me out." "I'm sorry." Marcus said putting an arm around Kyle's shoulder "It's all right." Kyle replied "I didn't really expect it to go well." "Don't worry, just give David some time." Marcus said "This is going to ruin my friendship with him isn't it?" Kyle asked "It'll probably be a little uncomfortable at first, but just give it time." Marcus replied "You think?" Kyle asked unsure "Kyle, David doesn't just love you in a romantic sort of way, above everything else he loves you as a friend." Marcus said "You know how much he cares for you." "Yea, but still, it can all change." Kyle replied "No, the friendship you and David have isn't the kind that will just go away over this, it'll be okay." Marcus said "Thanks." Kyle said feeling a little better. There was a knock on the door. "That's probably Randal." Marcus said "We were going to have breakfast before I went to work, want to come?" "Yea, sure." Kyle replied Marcus opened the door and was suprised to see David standing there. "You son-of-a-bitch." David said "Why did you have to go and tell Kyle that I loved him?" "You told him last night first." Marcus said trying to reason with him. "If you hadn't said anything, I could have just told him that I said those things because I was drunk, but you have to go and tell him the whole story." David said pissed "Don't try and blame this all on me." Marcus shot back. "Too late, I do blame you. I told you those things in confidence. You weren't supposed to say anything." David said "So tell me David, how did you treat Kyle when you two talked?" Marcus asked trying to figure out what's really making David so mad. "What's it to you?" David asked "I hear you were kind of hurt his feelings." Marcus said "Like I care how he feels right now." David said out of anger, not really meaning it. "Keep your voice down." Marcus said trying to warn David, but it was too late, Kyle walked up to the door. David's anger immediately turned to shame when he saw Kyle. "Kyle." David said not quite sure what else to say Kyle didn't say anything to David, he looked back at Marcus. "I'll take a rain check on breakfast." Kyle said then brushed past David out the door. As Kyle headed out the door Randal was on his way up. "Hey Kyle. What are you doing here?" Randal asked "Ask David." Kyle replied "I'll talk to you later." "Kyle wait." David called after him. "What's going on?" Randal asked "Long story." David replied trying to catch up to Kyle. "Let him go." Marcus called out to David. "No, I need to talk to him." David replied "Kyle needs some time to think." Marcus said "Just come inside so we can talk." "No, I think you've done enough." David shot back "Oh my God, are you honestly angry at me about this?" Marcus asked David took a deep breath and sighed... "No." he admitted "I just, I don't know what to do." "Come to breakfast with Randal and me and we'll talk." Marcus suggested Kyle had the day off of work so he went over to hang out with Jake at his dorm. "So then you just left?" Jake asked after hearing the whole story from Kyle. "Yea." Kyle replied "I guess you're pretty pissed at David right now huh?" Jake asked "Actually, I'm not." Kyle replied "I mean, he was just upset. I understand that, my only real concern right now is whether or not David and I will ever be back to being close friends again." "I'm sure you will." Jake answered optimistically "You think?" Kyle asked "I know." Jake replied smiling comfortingly "Thanks." Kyle answered "So, how long have you guys known?" "A little over a year, I think." Jake recalled "Over a year?" Kyle asked shocked "Yea." Jake replied "Sorry we didn't tell you, you mad?" "No, I'm just confused, I mean all this time it never even occurred to me." Kyle said "It's understandable." Jake said "I mean, he knew you didn't like dating, so it's logical that you would think that nothing would ever develop between you two." "I guess." Kyle answered seeing the logic in what Jake said. "Tyler and I were planning to try and help David move on from you by setting him up." Jake said "Oh, so that was the reason behind the blind date for him?" Kyle asked "Yea, we thought that it would be best, we were hoping to do it without you finding out that David loved you, because we didn't want there to be any friction between you two." Jake replied "Sorry you had to find out like that." "No, it's cool." Kyle said, not wanting to talk about it anymore Kyle changed the subject, "So, um, what are you doing today?" "I'm going to stay over at Tyler's tonight...again." Jake said annoyed "Your room mate kicking you out of the room for the night again?" Kyle asked "Yup." Jake said "Maybe you should think about moving out." Kyle suggested "Actually, it's nothing official yet, but Tyler and I have been talking about being room mates." Jake said "Really? So you might be moving into Tyler's apartment?" Kyle asked "Yea." Jake replied "That's cool." Kyle said "You think? I don't know, I mean Tyler and I are very different from each other." Jake said "You two are good friends though." Kyle reminded "I know, but look at our us, Tyler is this strong, street wise, started out with nothing and made it somewhere type of guy, and I was raised as a spoiled brat who had everything." Jake said "But look at where you two are now." Kyle said "You don't rely on your parents for money or support you're doing it on your own and Tyler is supporting himself on his own too. You guys may have been brought up differently, but you two are a lot similar now and I think it would be a good idea if you two moved in together." "Well, I mean like I said, nothings been decided for sure it was just an idea Tyler floated last night after the club." Jake said "You two should definitely talk about it more." Kyle said "It'd be a lot better than getting kicked out of your room every night." "True." Jake replied Meanwhile, at a small diner Marcus, Randal and David were sitting down for breakfast. "So, he probably hates me huh?" David asked "No, I'm sure he doesn't hate you." Marcus replied "Yea, Kyle's too nice to hate anyone." Randal added "He's probably a little pissed though." "Definitely a little pissed." Marcus agreed "Really?" David asked worried "But probably not too much." Marcus replied "Yea, he won't be too mad." Randal added "Okay, you guys really need to stop repeating each other. I get the point, I screwed up." David said "But the point is, Kyle still wants to be close with you." Marcus said "You need to tell him that you still want to be close with him too." "To be honest with you guys, I don't know if I can." David confessed "What do you mean?" Randal asked "I don't know if I'll be able to be as comfortable around him anymore. Things are different now." David replied "Don't do this to Kyle." Randal said "He doesn't deserve to be shut out." "I don't want to, but I don't know how to act around him anymore." David said "Kyle still wants to be close to you." Marcus said "But I can't be close to him." David said "Not for a little while anyway." "You can't just shut him out." Randal said "He hangs out with us all the time." "How do you plan to stay away from him?" Marcus asked David thought for a minute, he thought of a decision that he feels he has to make. "I'm going to stay away for a little while." David decided "What?" Randal asked not quite sure if he's understanding all this correctly. "You can't do that David." Marcus said "It's only until I can get over Kyle." David replied "You've been in love with Kyle for over a year. You really think you're just going to get over him so quickly?" Randal asked "I don't know." David replied "Maybe it'll be for a little bit, maybe it'll be longer." "This is going to really hurt Kyle." Marcus said "I'm sorry for that, but it's what I need." David said "So, you're just going to stay away from us?" Randal asked hurt "No, I just won't be there when you are all with Kyle. I'll see you guys like this, whenever Kyle isn't around, but I just can't be around him." David said sympathetically "Do you really think that's the only way?" Marcus asked "It's the only way I can think of so that I won't hurt Kyle anymore than I already have." David replied Later that day, Kyle and Jake headed over to Tyler's apartment. The three of them sat together talking about the idea of Tyler and Jake becoming room mates. "I think you should move in here." Tyler said "Are you sure?" Jake asked "Positive." Tyler replied "I don't want this to effect our friendship though Tyler, I mean, what if we end up hating each other?" Jake said "Jake, don't worry so much, it'll be fine." Tyler replied "Will you be able to get a refund or anything from the dorm you're staying at?" "Yea, it should all be fine." Jake said "Awesome." Tyler said "When do you want us to help move you in?" Kyle asked "Let's do it today." Tyler said "So soon?" Jake asked "Sure, why not." Tyler replied "Let's just clean out the second bedroom. I have a lot of boxes of crap in there." "I'll help you with that." Kyle said "Jake, why don't you start packing up at your dorm." "Sounds good. I'll see you guys in a little bit." Jake said "All right." Tyler replied "Thanks so much Tyler." Jake said giving Tyler a hug "Anything for my friends." Tyler answered Jake left to go back to his apartment while Kyle and Tyler started cleaning the second bedroom. "This is a really good idea." Kyle commented "Yea, I think so too." Tyler replied picking up some boxes and setting them outside the room. "So how are things at the resteraunt?" Kyle asked "Things are going all right. We hired a new waiter, but he's been so nervous his first week that he kept dropping things." Tyler replied "Really? What kind of things has he been dropping?" Kyle asked "You're just asking these questions to get your mind off of David aren't you?" Tyler asked "Am I that transparent?" Kyle asked "Kyle, do you want my advice?" Tyler asked "Yea, please." Kyle replied "Just act like nothing has changed." Tyler began "When you hang out with him, cuddle and everything like you always do with him." "But don't you think that might weird him out?" Kyle asked "I think that if he sees that you don't want things to change between you two then it will be easier for him to get over you." Tyler replied "You think?" Kyle asked "Yea, everything will turn out all right." Tyler replied "I hope so." Kyle said As Kyle and Tyler finished cleaning up the bedroom, Jake was at his dorm packing up his stuff when Randal came in. "What are you doing?" Randal asked walking into Jake's dorm room. "Tyler, Kyle and I were talking and I've decided to move in with Tyler." Jake replied cassually "Whoa! When did all this happen?" Randal asked "I know it's really sudden, but my room mate was always kicking me out because of his girlfriend so Tyler thought it would be a good idea if I just moved in with him since I was staying at his place all the time anyway." Jake said "That's awesome." Randal answered "So what are you doing here?" Jake asked as he finished zipping up one of his bags "I was actually wondering if you knew where Kyle was. I tried his cell but no one answered and I was driving around this area so I thought I'd try my luck and see if he was with you." Randal replied "He's over at Tyler's right now. They're cleaning up the second bedroom for me." Jake replied "What's going on?" "David told Marcus and I today that he was going to stay away from Kyle for a while." Randal said "Are you kidding?" Jake asked shocked "No, he said that he needs to space from Kyle so he can get over him." Randal replied "That's going to crush Kyle." Jake said "Yea, that's why I wanted to talk to him so I could ease it on him instead of him noticing that David was avoiding him." Randal said "Help me load these boxes and bags in my car and then we'll drive over to Tyler's and talk to Kyle." Jake said picking up a couple boxes. Randal helped out and they loaded up their cars with stuff and headed over to Tyler's. Over at Marcus's house, Marcus and David were talking about the decision David made. "David, I think you might be being to pre-mature about this decision." Marcus said "Marcus, I know your just trying to look out for Kyle and me, but I've made up my mind." David replied "Just seriously think about what you're going to be doing to Kyle." Marcus pointed out "Kyle doesn't want to stop being around you." "But I need to stop being around him, just for a little while." David answered "David, you may think this is the right decision, but trust me, it's not." Marcus pleaded "What do you want me to do?" David asked harshly "Talk to him." Marcus retorted "Just talk to him. At the very least you owe him that." "I can't." David replied "You won't." Marcus corrected "Marcus, you have no idea how hard this is for me right now. So just back off!" David yelled "No, David you're being a selfish ass right now. All you're doing is saving yourself from the pain. You say you love Kyle? Bull. You're not even thinking about what you're going to be doing to him. What kind of love is that?" Marcus shot back "Don't even try and question my feelings for Kyle." David warned "You know how much I care about him, I would do anything for him. I would die for him." "Then prove it." Marcus said "Prove how much you really care about him and go talk to him." "This is ridiculous." David said heading for the door "I don't need to prove anything to you." "You're right." Marcus began "You don't need to prove anything to me. You need to prove it to yourself. You say you love Kyle? Then do what's best for him and not what's easier for you." David looked over at Marcus, really obsorbing what he said. Jake and Randal got to Tyler's apartment. They unloaded some boxes and went inside. "Hey Randal." Tyler said as they walked in "What are you doing here?" "I came to talk to Kyle." Randal replied "Oh, he's in Jake's bedroom cleaning." Tyler answered "Maybe you guys should come with me. He might need our support." Randal said "What's going on?" Tyler asked "You'll see." Jake replied The three of them headed into the bedroom to find Kyle cleaning the windows. "Hey Kyle." Randal said walking in. "Hey Randal." Kyle said smiling "I didn't know you'd be here." "It wasn't really planned." Randal replied "What's up?" Kyle asked "Can I talk to you?" Randal asked "Of course." Kyle replied sitting down in a chair. Randal, Jake and Tyler pulled up some chairs and sat around Kyle "Wow, is this a interrogation or somthing?" Kyle asked jokingly "We just want to make sure you know that we're here for you." Jake replied "Is something wrong?" Kyle asked getting worried "It's about David." Randal replied "Oh, don't worry about that." Kyle answered "I'm just going to act normal around him so David doesn't feel weirded out or anything, then pretty soon everything will go back to the way it was." "No, it won't." Randal said quietly "What do you mean?" Kyle asked "David is going to stay away...from you." Randal said gently "What?" Kyle asked shocked "Just for a little while, until he gets over you." Randal added "So he's just going to be avoiding me?" Kyle asked "Yea." Randal replied "And he just figures I'll be okay with that?" Kyle asked getting pissed "It'll only be for a little while." Jake said trying to look at the bright side "It doesn't matter. he can't just make decisions like that, this decision doesn't just effect him it effects me too." Kyle said "He knows, and he's sorry." Randal said "Not as sorry as he will be." Kyle said getting up "What are you talking about?" Tyler asked "I'm going to go talk to him." Kyle replied "He can't just do something like this with out talking to me about it." "Kyle, maybe you shouldn't." Randal suggested "No, I should." Kyle replied "He should know me well enough to know I'd be upset over this." "He's confused right now." Randal said "So? He should know that nothing would stop me from wanting to be his friend, I'd do whatever it takes to keep him in my life." Kyle said heading out the door. "You think he'll be all right?" Jake asked "I'm actually more worried about David right now. Kyle's going to let all hell break loose on him." Tyler replied Kyle drove over to David's apartment and banged on the door. "You in there David?" Kyle yelled Kyle got out his cell phone and dialed David's cell. "Hello?" David asked answering his phone "Where are you?" Kyle asked "I'm sitting outside of your apartment." David replied "Good, I'll be right there." Kyle said hanging up the phone. Kyle then drove over to his place and found David sitting outside of his apartment door. David got up and smiled. "Hey. Can I talk to you?" David asked "Actually I need to talk to you." Kyle replied opening the door. Kyle and David walked inside his apartment and Kyle slammed the door. He went up to David and they stood there. Kyle was ready for a face off. "So you're a liar and jerk?" Kyle asked "What?" David asked "This morning you said you were late for work, but you didn't go to work today. That makes you a liar. And now you're just planning to avoid me? That makes you a jerk." Kyle replied "Kyle, let me explain." David began, but Kyle was too upset to let him finish. "What the hell David?" Kyle asked "You can't just make a decision to not see me anymore and expect me to be okay with it!" "How did you find out?" David asked "Randal told me. So you were just going to do this and not say anything to me about it?" Kyle asked hurt "I wasn't going to." David replied "But, Marcus made me realize I had to. That's why I came here." "You wouldn't be here right now if Marcus didn't tell you to?" Kyle asked David didn't say anything. "Unbelievable." Kyle said angrily "I thought you were my best friend!" "I am." David replied "Then you should have known how upset this whole thing would make me!" Kyle shot back "How about my feelings?" David asked "Don't you think this is killing me too?" "Is it?" Kyle asked "Because you have me fooled." "Kyle, the last thing I ever want to do is hurt you." David said "Then don't." Kyle replied "Don't avoid me." "It's just too hard." David said "Just give me a little time." "David.' Kyle pleaded "This is me, your best friend. How can you so easily just start avoiding me?" "Kyle, believe me. I don't want to." David replied "I wish I could just easily go back to being the best friend to you, but I can't. Not right now anyway." "How long?" Kyle asked "I don't know." David replied "Maybe a month or two, I really don't know." Kyle stood there, staring at David, not sure what to say. He understood why David was doing this, but he didn't like it at all. "David, we've known each other for over four years. Ever since we met we haven't spent a week with out seeing each other. How can you so easily make this decision?" Kyle asked "This wasn't an easy decision to make." David answered "Kyle, if you knew how much this was killing me. But it's what I need." "I understand." Kyle replied quietly David turned and headed towards the door. Before he left he looked back at Kyle. "This isn't what I want." David said "All I've ever wanted was to love you and take care of you." "David-" Kyle began but David cut him off. "I know, you don't want a relationship." David said "But what I don't get, is that you are the most loving person in the world, but you won't let anyone love you." "That's...a decision I've made." Kyle replied quietly "I hope you change your mind one day. I don't want to see you alone forever." David said leaving. Kyle watched as David left closing the door to his apartment. He sat down on his couch thinking about what David said to him('...you are the most loving person in the world, but you won't let anyone love you.'). Kyle realized that loosing David has made him feel more alone then he's ever felt before... ********************************************************** To Be Continued.... With any comments, questions, or feedback e-mail me at ILJ4EVER44@yahoo.com Thanks!