Date: Sat, 04 Dec 2021 11:56:10 +0000 From: Wes Leigh Subject: Misunderstood, Chapter 12 (Gay Adult/Youth) MISUNDERSTOOD By Wes Leigh This is a work of fiction intended solely for the entertainment of my readers; any resemblance to any real people or places is purely coincidental. This story is the property of the author and is protected by copyright laws. The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. If you enjoy this story, please support the Nifty archives today with a thoughtful donation by visiting https://donate.nifty.org/. Chapter Twelve Gray sat in his pickup, waiting in front of Marco's Restaurant. He couldn't believe he was actually doing this. He stomach churned with anxiety. His palms were sweaty. He put the key in the ignition and cranked up the truck, put it in gear, and started to drive away. Then he stopped himself, shoved the truck back into park, and turned off the ignition. He took out his cell phone and checked the time. It was now one minute later than the last time he'd checked and still five minutes before the date was scheduled to begin. At the rate he was going, he was certain he'd die of a heart attack before his prospective date even arrived. His phone beeped, indicating a text message was waiting. It was from Jessica. Jessica: He snorted and sent a quick reply. Jessica: He shook his head and typed: Jessica: Gray: Jessica: Gray laughed. Jessica: Gray was distracted by the sight of a tall, well-built young man walking up to the front of the restaurant. He was blonde and very handsome and, to Gray's relief, the guy matched the picture from the dating website. Gray's phone began blowing up with texts from Jessica. One selfie after another showing her smooching various guys. Gray began to panic. He sent a quick text. But the pictures kept coming. He tried not to laugh as he turned off his phone and slid it into his pocket. Checking the mirror, his hair looked good, dark and wavy and setting off his fair skin and gray eyes. He might not be as handsome as his date, but he told himself he was still a good catch. "Have confidence!" he whispered. "You got this!!" Climbing out of his truck, he walked to the door of the restaurant and held out his hand. "Cameron Schaeffer?" The blonde flashed him a smile and nodded. "That's me, in the flesh." He giggled a bit as he shook Gray's hand. "And you must be Gray Langston?" Gray nodded. "Nice to finally meet you in person." "Same here," Cameron replied, looking Gray up and down. "I like your style, Gray. Those pants are hot on you, sweet thing." Gray smiled bashfully. He'd chosen his clothes carefully. A deep blue shirt, button-down of course, with the sleeves rolled up on his forearms. A dark gray tie with an electric blue pattern, tied loosely around his neck. Light gray slacks, nicely pressed. Black leather belt and matching shoes. He looked dressy, but casual. Jessica had approved, when he'd sent her a full-body selfie, so he knew he looked good. Cameron looked ... different. He wore a forest green pullover and blue jeans that had been stylishly torn at the knee and bright green, alligator leather, cowboy boots. Nothing casual about his choice in attire. He preferred to stand out, and his clothing was just the starting point. Cameron strutted around Gray, checking him out front and back, then smacked his lips. "I'm hungry, and I may not wait for the food." He laughed as he came back around in front of Gray. "But I suppose we're here, so we might as well have an appetizer before we get to the main course." He winked as he pulled open the door and gestured for Gray to go first. It was all a bit much for Gray, far more than he'd bargained for when he set up his account on the gay dating website. But Cameron had seemed like a good match to him, and their phone conversations over the past week had been pleasant, making it clear they were ready for the next step: an actual date. Gray was committed to going through with it, but he was beginning to wonder if he'd bitten off more than he could chew. He chuckled to himself, imagining other things he could be biting, judging by how fast Cameron seemed to be moving. The hostess seated them in a booth in a dark and cozy corner of the restaurant. Their waiter showed up promptly to take their drink orders. He appeared to be young, probably in high school, with classic Hispanic features. Dark black hair. Brown eyes. Light brown skin. He was cute, and the thin mustache on his upper lip made it clear he was trying to look older than he was. "My name is Armando, and I'll be serving you tonight. Is there anything I can get you to drink?" Cameron licked his lips suggestively as he said, "Aren't you delectable, Armando? I think I'll have a mango wine cooler." Armando blushed and turned to Gray. "And you, sir?" Gray gulped and replied, "Just an iced tea, please." "I'll be back with your drinks shortly. Then I'll take your food order." Armando smiled and hurried away. Cameron grinned. "That one would be fun to break in, don't you think?" Gray wasn't sure how to reply. "Ummm. Sure. But he seems kind of young." Cameron shrugged. "I'd say he's 16 or 17. Well past the age of consent. And I doubt he's a virgin. They start young in a small town like this." Gray felt extremely uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was going, so he attempted to change the topic. "Anything interesting happen in your world this last week?" Cameron nodded. "We held a recruitment drive at the branch campus. Added five new members to the Alliance. I told you about the Alliance, didn't I?" "You mentioned something about it. A political action group, right?" "Right. It's the Gay Action Alliance. I'm the executive officer, so I set the agenda and everyone follows my lead. We have forty-five members now, so we're going to be making quite a splash in this hick town." Cameron paused when Armando returned with a tall glass of tea for Gray and a platter of breadsticks with three different dipping sauces. A young woman followed Armando with Cameron's wine cooler. As she set it on the table, she said, "I'm the bartender tonight. My name is Ann. If you need a refill, let Armando know and I'll bring it right over." She seemed cute enough and was close to their age, maybe a little older, and she was obviously flirting a little with Cameron. But he ignored her completely, staring at Armando's butt in his tight slacks. Ann noticed and stopped smiling, shrugged her shoulders and left. Armando took their food orders (spaghetti for Gray, lasagna for Cameron) and promised to bring more breadsticks if they needed them. Cameron winked at Armando, making the boy blush and rush off. "Now, where was I?" Cameron asked. "Oh, yes, this hick town. Although it does have its attractions," he said with a sly glance at Armando's retreating frame. Turning back to Gray, Cameron said, "The goal of the Gay Action Alliance is to drag these bumpkins into the twentieth century by overcoming the ridiculous, outdated prejudices they cling to." "Such as?" Gray asked. "Well, to start with, this idea that being a gay is a sin that will condemn you to Hell." Gray nodded. The pastor at his mom's church seemed to agree with Cameron on that point. Cameron leaned forward. "Is Hell even a real place? And what is sin? Just a concept in some musty old book designed to keep people chained down and giving money to a church to waste on fancy buildings. That's what it is." Gray stopped nodding. Mom's pastor probably would NOT agree with that part. Cameron wasn't finished. "I mean, seriously, Christians are Neanderthals. They need to just die off and let the world get on without them. Christians and all these other superstitious barbarians should be locked into a cave where they can spout their primitive viewpoints all they want without contaminating anyone else." Gray felt obligated to say something. "Not all Christians feel that way. Just last Sunday--" Cameron interrupted. "Don't tell me. Let me guess. You heard someone talk about how much God loves all of us, even those poor, misunderstood gays. Man, wake up and smell the coffee. Gays are not misunderstood. We aren't confused or misguided. We aren't mentally ill. We're no different than anyone else in this world. We just like dick, not pussy, and there isn't anything wrong with that!" Gray looked up and saw Armando standing there, another plate of breadsticks in his hand. "Ummm ... more breadsticks?" the boy asked, clearly extremely embarrassed. "Sure," Gray said with an apologetic smile. Armando dropped the plate on the table and hurried away. Cameron giggled. "Probably going in the restroom to yank out a quick one. Hope he washes his hands afterward." He giggled again, clearly amused with his own wit. Gray took a deep breath and tried to change the subject. "I love hiking. They have some great trails up near the lakes. And there are some terrific camping spots up there too. What about you?" Cameron shook his head and frowned. "Too busy for that. Takes a lot of time running the Alliance, you know. I couldn't afford a weekend off. Besides, it's quite a drive to get up to the lakes." Gray nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're right about that. I haven't been to the lakes in ages. I guess my main leisure activity now is gaming. Call of Duty is my favorite." Cameron sneered. Obviously, such things were child's play in his opinion. "No," he snorted. "I haven't messed with that stuff since high school. You still do?" Gray looked down at the table. "Yeah," he admitted, "I guess I'm a bit of computer nerd. I enjoy player-versus-player competition. Gets the blood flowing," he added, with a nervous laugh. Cameron laughed too. "I can think of better ways to get the blood flowing," he said with a leer, leaning forward and sliding his hand beneath the table to grip Gray's knee. Gray jumped. He knew this was something he wanted to try, but he wasn't quite ready for it to go so fast, and he certainly wasn't expecting anything to happen in the restaurant before their food arrived. He put his hand on top of Cameron's and squeezed gently. "Sounds, ummm, fun," he muttered. Cameron smiled haughtily and removed his hand, leaning back. "You might have to turn off your computer first. Think you can do that?" Gray nodded, afraid to look up from the table. Fortunately, Armando saved the day by walking up with the food. As he set Gray's spaghetti down, Gray looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks. It looks delicious." Armando smiled gratefully and placed Cameron's lasagna in front of him. "Enjoy your meal. If there's anything I can get you--" "We'll definitely let you know," Cameron interjected. "Cutey pie," he added. Armando blushed again and turned away. Gray shook his head, dismayed by Cameron's behavior. It wasn't just the outrageous flirting. Gray thought he was supposed to be on a date with Cameron, but Cameron seemed to be more interested in their young waiter than in his date. It didn't help any that Cameron was so full of himself. Gray ate silently, thinking this date was not going the way he'd imagined it would at all. Cameron took a bite, chewed thoughtfully, and swallowed. Washing it down with a sip of the wine cooler, he glanced over at Gray. "I know this whole gay scene is new to you. You admitted that in your profile, which might turn off some guys, by the way. But I took it as a challenge. An opportunity to teach a new guy how it works. To show you how to ... well, how to be gay." Gray looked up, confused. "What do you mean?" he asked. Cameron grinned. "There's more to being gay than sucking dick and taking a cock up your ass. Sorry to be so blunt, but you need to hear this." He took another sip and said, "Our world today is full of bigots. It is every gay man's duty to fight the system tooth and nail. To push back against oppression. To let everyone know we're here to stay, we're out and proud. Why do you think I flirt so much with boys like Armando?" Gray had no idea. He shrugged and said, "Because you're gay and hoping he is too?" Cameron laughed. "No. Not at all. He's too young for me. No, if he acted interested, I would tell him to see me in a few years. In the meantime, I would offer to coach him on what it means to be gay. I'd show him how to stand up for his rights. That's why I flirt. Sometimes it leads to a new recruit for my Alliance. Sometimes it just gives me a chance to say I'm gay and don't give a fuck who knows it. That's the message every gay man needs to be sending." Gray took a deep breath. "I don't think I could do that," he admitted. Cameron frowned. "Don't you get it, man? It's not optional. You have a responsibility to other gays and to lesbians, transgenders, transsexuals, queers and all other down-trodden groups. You can't back away from that obligation." "Sorry," Gray said. "I'm just not as open as you." "You can't sit on the sidelines," Cameron insisted. "Look. This is war. We have to fight. They hate us, and they deserve our hatred coming back at them. As a gay man, you have no choice. If you're not with us, you're against us!" Gray had heard enough. "Funny you should say that," Gray replied. "I remember Jesus saying something similar, but Jesus said, `If they aren't against us, they're for us.' I guess I just want to try to work with people to make a change. Because I do agree with your cause, Cameron. Everyone, including all the groups you represent, should be treated fairly. But I don't agree with your tactics. I don't believe it's right to hate anyone, even someone who hates you." Cameron leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. "It's bad enough fighting ignorant Christian fools. They can't help being morons. But the real enemy is complacency." Gray shook his head slightly, confused now. "Complacency?" "Yeah. Gays like you are my biggest challenge. You want to enjoy the life, get your rocks off, and pretend the world is one big happy place. But you don't want to fight for what's right. Your complacency makes me sick." Gray put down his fork. "I don't think treating others the way you want to be treated is complacency. I think it's just common courtesy." Cameron shook his head disdainfully. "I think it's simple cowardice." "Really? So I'm a complacent coward?" "No," Cameron sneered, standing up and throwing his napkin on the table. "YOU'RE A COWARDLY PUSSY!" he shouted. Other diners looked over, surprised by the outburst, wondering what was going on. Cameron stomped out of the restaurant, leaving Gray sitting there alone. Gray watched him go, then picked up his fork and continued eating his spaghetti in the awkward silence that had fallen upon the restaurant. He thought the sauce was especially tasty, complimenting the tangy meatballs very well. He tried to guess the spices they'd used, planning to try it on his own the next time he cooked. He pulled out his cell phone and turned it on, laughing when he found twenty-three texts from Jessica, all pictures of her cuddling with different guys. Armando walked up, tentatively, and asked, "Is there anything I can get for you, sir?" Gray shook his head. "No, the food is delicious, Armando. Please tell the chef I enjoyed it very much." Armando smiled. He really was a cute young man. "You're welcome, sir. I'll let him know." Gray grinned. "There is one thing you can do for me." "What's that, sir?" Gray handed Armando his phone. "Take a picture of me. Be sure to get the empty chair in it." He pointed at the chair Cameron had vacated. Armando frowned in confusion, but did as asked. He took the picture and handed the phone back to Gray, who checked the picture and smiled. "Perfect. Thanks, Armando." "You're welcome, sir." "Could I have the ticket now?" "Certainly, sir. Ummm, and your friend's ticket?" "Put it all together please." "Yes, sir. I'll be back shortly." Gray took another bite of spaghetti and sent a quick text to Jessica. He attached the photo and captioned it . Jessica's reply was quick. Gray replied: His phone beeped. He laughed and put the phone away. Armando brought his ticket. He handed Armando cash, telling him to keep the change for a tip. Armando beamed. The tip alone would amount to over $40. "Thank you, sir!" he exclaimed. Gray smiled. "I appreciated your service, and I'm really sorry for the way my friend behaved." Armando grinned. "It's okay. It happens." Gray stood up and walked out of the restaurant, head held high, conscious of the curious looks he was getting from all around. *** While his computer powered up, he talked to Jessica. "Oh my God, Gray! He seriously said that?" Gray nodded, knowing it was silly since Jess couldn't see his nod over the phone. "Yes, baby doll. He said I was a cowardly pussy." She laughed. "That boy wouldn't know a pussy if it flopped onto his face." Gray groaned. "Jess? Really?" "Well, it's true," she insisted. "I bet he never played doctor with the neighborhood girls when he was boy. And the only tits he's ever seen were just above a thick, trannie cock." "JESS!" She began laughing hysterically. Gray shook his head and chuckled. "I really don't need you trying to cheer me up, you know." "I know," she replied. "I'm just sorry you're first date as a gay man was such a disaster." "I picked up a few ideas for spaghetti, so it wasn't a total loss." "Really? You'll have to show me this weekend." "You're coming up?" "Yeah. School is getting on my nerves. I need a break." "No hot dates then? No guys banging your door down for some snookie?" "Nope. So I'll be going over your potential dates and screening them for you." "Not going to happen, Jess." She giggled. "You obviously need my help picking the next one." "There won't be a next one," Gray said. "I'm deleting my dating profile as we speak." He clicked the mouse, ending his availability on the gay website. "Gray! You can't stop after one date. Not all gay guys are dicks." Gray snickered. Jessica giggled in response and asked, "What's so funny?" "I've always heard you are what you eat." Jessica snorted. "Seriously, sweet cheeks. You gotta get back on the horse and ride him until he drops! Spur him if he doesn't buck enough under you. Make him whinny when you dismount and beg for another ride." Gray laughed. "Now that's a graphic image, Jess. Do you write soft porn on the side?" "Maybe I should. But only gay porn. I wouldn't want any of my lovers to think I'm writing about their feeble attempts to pleasure me." "Send me your draft manuscripts. I'll need some entertainment now that I've given up dating." "Gray! You can't give up. You just started." "And I've just finished. It's over, Jess. I deleted my profile and I'm removing the software from my computer." "Fine. Then I'll just have to hook you up with a blind date." "Please don't, Jess." "Trust the Mistress of Love. She will deliver romantic encounters to your doorstep." "No, Jess. I mean it." "I'll see you Friday night. Make spaghetti for three." "Jess!" he exclaimed "Gray!" she mimicked. "What did I do to deserve a friend like you?" "You're just lucky, I guess. See you Friday." "Yeah, okay. Bye." "Later, masturbator!" He disconnected the call and turned back to his computer. Pulling up a web forum on gay dating, he indulged in a little joint misery as he read about other disastrous dates and shared his own miserable experience. *** The doorbell rang on Friday at 6:00 p.m. sharp. Gray opened the door to find Jessica standing on his porch next to Tony Russo, his old roommate. Gray was shocked. He flung the door open and grabbed Tony in a tight hug. They laughed and pounded each other on the back, while Jessica kissed them both on the cheek. It was quite a reunion. Two old people saw it all as they walked on the sidewalk in front of the house. The McClarys, Edna and Joseph, didn't take kindly to such displays of public affection. Especially between two young men. It was vulgar and uncalled for. They frowned and kept walking. They certainly hoped this type of thing wouldn't be happening on a regular basis. It was just what they were afraid might happen when the house sold and the young man moved in. What was the neighborhood coming to? Gray ignored them as he held Tony in his arms. He pushed Tony out to arm's length, exclaiming, "You look great, Tony! How have you been?" Tony smiled bashfully. "Doing okay. The new roomie is a bit of a jerk. Nothing like my old one, but I'll survive." Gray pulled them both into his house. "I'm so glad to see you. I haven't missed school, but I missed you and all my other friends. Was this your idea, Jess?" "Naturally. Thought you would enjoy seeing a familiar face or two." "Come on in and let me show you around." "Nice place you have," Tony said with a grin. "A step up from the old dorm room." "It's comfortable," Gray said, smiling. "If you like tiled floors, deep-pile carpets, and a complete lack of loud, obnoxious parties every weekend," Jessica added, with a smirk. Tony walked into the living room, checking out the big screen television. "Too bad it's so far from campus. I'd live here." Gray turned to Jessica. "Show him around, would you, Jess? I have sauce on the stove I need to stir." "Sure thing. This way to the boudoir, Tony!" *** The meal was wonderful. Good food and good friends. Laughter. Reminiscing. And teasing each other as only good friends are allowed to do, knowing they can be brutal and still love each other the next day. After the meal, they sipped wine and watched three romantic comedies, falling asleep on the couch halfway through the last one. Gray woke up to see the credits rolling on the movie. Jessica was curled in a ball on the far end of the couch. Tony was snoring softly, his head leaning against Gray's shoulder. Gray leaned forward, carefully lowering Tony's head to rest on the arm, then pulling Tony's legs up onto the couch. Tony snorted once and fell back asleep. Gray turned off the television and walked into the hallway, opening a linen closet. He pulled out two light blankets and draped them over his guests. Then he turned out the lights and went to his own bedroom. He closed the door and dropped down onto his bed. It had been a wonderful night, certainly. He'd enjoyed the conversation, and it was so great to see Tony again. The guy was stunning and cute as ever, with a great sense of humor and a friendly demeanor. And it was certainly obvious, thanks to Jessica's constant prodding, that Tony was at the very least interested in Gray. It hadn't come out in their conversation, but Tony had all but admitted that he was gay and wouldn't mind hooking up with Gray. So why did Gray feel sad about that? Tony was cute. They had gotten along famously while they were roommates, and dating certainly seemed a future possibility for them. And yet, Gray still hesitated. There was something about the situation that didn't feel right to him. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became. It was simple really. Tony was no more than a friend. A funny, sexy, flirty friend, but still only a friend, almost like a male version of Jessica. A few months ago, when Gray had been struggling with his desires to be open about his sexuality , he had fantasized about romantic walks hand-in-hand with Tony as his boyfriend. But now, it didn't seem right at all. There was a connection between the two of them, but no spark. He liked Tony, but he didn't love him, and it just seemed wrong to have sex with someone just because you were horny. Gray wanted more, and he wasn't going to jump the first gay guy who came along. If that had been his plan, he could have had Cameron in his bed. He shuddered at that thought. Would it be any different with Tony? Tony was miles beyond Cameron, but Gray still didn't love him, and he wasn't willing to compromise on this. Now that he had admitted to everyone that he was gay, he wanted to be happy with who he chose as his lover. And if that meant waiting until he found the guy he truly loved, then so be it. Jessica would be disappointed, but she would understand when he explained how he felt. He just hoped Tony wouldn't be angry. He really liked the guy and hoped they could remain friends. You couldn't have too many friends. Gray rolled over and closed his eyes. Having made up his mind, he felt at peace. Love would be his first priority from now on. The end of MISUNDERSTOOD, Chapter Twelve