Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2010 05:05:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Henry Brooks Subject: The Tales of Rick and Alec Tale Five Under The Hollywood Stars The Tales of Rick and Alec Tale Five: Under The Hollywood Stars Andy had been staying with Rick and Alec for three weeks, and working at The Golden Cockerel as a bartender (one of his hidden talents) for almost the whole time. The three of them were enjoying an interesting and expanded sex life together. Often Marty and Tyler joined in on the festivities. The five young men were becoming fast friends. They were all sure that their special relationship would last a life time. Then fate stepped in for Andy, in a good way. Early one evening, the bar was very slow. An exceptionally hot young Latino man came in, sat at the bar, ordered a gin and tonic, and said to Andy, "You are one hot guy. I sure would like to get into your pants." Andy was flattered and answered, "I'm not nearly as hot as you are, buddy." Whenever Andy had a moment he would chat with the young man, whose name he learned was Carlos. He was still seated at the bar when Alec came in for his after gig drink. "Hi Alec," Carlos said cheerily. Alec didn't recognize the young man, and asked, "Do I know you?" Carlos got hysterical with laughter and Alec could not figure out why. "I'm Miss Fantasy," Carlos said. "I guess you didn't recognize me." "No way," Alec said incredulously. "I've never seen you out of drag. Why didn't you tell me how hot you were?" "You never asked, gorgeous," came the reply. The three men chatted for awhile and Rick joined them after his shift. When Rick and Alec finished their free drinks, they left. Carlos stayed at the bar until Andy was finished at 2 AM, and then Andy went home with him. If ever there was a case of love at first sight, this was it. Two weeks later and three weeks before it was time to leave for Hollywood, Andy moved into Carlos's apartment. Alec and Rick, Marty and Tyler and now Andy and Carlos bonded into a tight knit family unit, a real band of brothers. Since Rick and Carlos were to be American Idol widowers for the foreseeable future, they were glad they had each other. All six of the brothers were at the airport to see Alec and Andy off to Hollywood. There was a lot of hugging and tears and well wishes. When they left the airport, Tyler and Marty returned to school and Rick and Carlos went to work. This was Miss Fantasy's night to entertain at The Golden Cockerel. The big jet landed smoothly at LAX and Andy and Alec removed their carry on bags from the overhead. Neither had checked luggage. They took a cab to the hotel to which they were assigned. When they checked in they received an envelope informing them where to meet for dinner. They would be given further instructions at dinner. The weeding out procedure was to begin the following day. There were 140 contestants that would be weeded down to twelve for the live competition. Two contestants would be eliminated by public vote during the first two weeks of the competition. Those two weeks were critical because the contestants who made the top ten would tour the country after the competition and get paid for it. More importantly their talents would be exposed to the whole country. At dinner that night, they were all instructed where to congregate for further auditioning. There was a huge auditorium in the hotel and they would be singing there with all the other contestants acting as a live audience. Andy and Alec immediately made a few friends at dinner. All of the girls and some of the men were attracted to their good looks. A handsome young man whispered in Alec's ear, "A few of us are going to a gay bar after dinner. If you are so inclined, please join us. Your room mate is welcome to come along, but my vibes are that he is straight." Alec laughed. "His partner would be shocked to hear that." The young man laughed, "I'm Matt," he said and stuck out his hand. In all, seven of them went to the bar. They enjoyed one drink each and Alec said that he wanted to be well rested for the ordeal to come. He and Andy wanted to return to the hotel, which was walking distance from the bar. The others scoffed at them. It was obvious they didn't think they had a chance to make the cut, and they wanted to have as much fun in Hollywood as they could, before they were sent home. "Are we the only ones taking this thing seriously?" Alec asked Andy, not expecting an answer. There were two queen size beds in their hotel room. "What a waste," Andy said as he and Alec jumped naked into one of the beds. They assumed the position and played sensuously with each other's cocks. Finally they each engulfed the other and brought each other to glorious orgasms. They swallowed each other's cum and there was no waste. Afterwards they wrapped up in each other's arms and fell asleep. Their body time clocks were set for three hours later, and they were terribly overtired, so sleep came easily. The next two weeks were grueling. Most of the time was spent just sitting in the audience and waiting. Alec and Andy made cut after cut, and found themselves in the top twenty-four. Only one day of competition remained until the top twelve were chosen. Alec had listened carefully to the judges' advice. They seemed unanimous in their opinion that his guitar playing was weak compared to his singing. They urged him to either drop the guitar or maybe just use it as an intro. Alec felt naked without his guitar, but he knew instinctively that he should take the judges' advice. Even if he didn't do as well without his instrument, maybe they would give him brownie points for listening to their advice. He decided that at this final audition, he would sing without his guitar. After all Andy was doing well enough without an instrument for a crutch. The judges would often say to a contestant, "That was not a good song choice for you," and so now Alec was faced with a major decision. What should he sing? He tried hard to listen to his father's voice, and in a fleeting instant he heard, "Climb Every Mountain." He rejected it immediately. One of the judges was very disdainful of singers who sounded "Broadway." The judge felt that Broadway singers could not become super star artists. Alec thought that a Broadway song was not a wise choice. Again he heard his father's voice, "Climb Every Mountain." He decided to go with it, and leave it to fate. At this final audition, he had a full orchestra at his disposal. He and the orchestra leader listened to several arrangements of the song, and Alec selected the one he liked the best. During rehearsals the two musicians made some changes to the arrangement, adding a crescendo here, and toning down another there. Finally it was Alec's turn. He took center stage. One of the judges said, "I see you have no guitar today, Alec. Let's see what you can do without it. What are you going to sing for us today?" "Climb Every Mountain," Alec said. The anti Broadway judge arched his eyebrows. The orchestra began to play a lush, string dominated introduction. When Alec began to sing, the judge's arched eyebrows became wide eyed wonder. One of the female judges began to cry. At the end, the remaining contestants, led by Andy, applauded wildly. They and the judges gave Alec a standing ovation. That afternoon, the contestants were called into a private room one at a time to hear the judges render their final choices. Alec and Andy made the cut and were in the final twelve. They were given passage home, along with all the other winning and losing contestants. They had to promise not to reveal the results, because the whole selection process would not begin airing for another two months. If the results got out they would risk losing their standing, and would be replaced by a runner up. On the trip home they wondered what they would tell their friends. They decided to tell them that they didn't make the cut, put up with their disappointment, and just go back to work. At the eleventh hour they would pack, say their goodbyes, and head back to Hollywood. That's just what they did. During the first few days they heard a lot of sympathetic mumblings from their friends and the bar patrons. They accepted these condolences graciously. Their partners felt that an abundance of sexual activity would ease the pain. Neither Alec nor Andy dared disagree on that. Alex and Andy both got through the first two cuts, which were decided by the viewers, and were in the top ten, assuring them a place on the tour. The night after the results, the other eight contestants went out on the town, but Andy and Alec decided to celebrate in their hotel room. They called their partners who were temporarily rooming together until Alec and Andy would come home. They then indulged in a night of wild, abandoned love making. Alec actually lost count of the number of times he entered Andy and spilled his juices deep inside Andy's ass. Andy chose to cum in Alec's mouth and to share his juices with Alec. He too came several times before they both collapsed in exhaustion. The next few weeks were more hectic than before. In addition to rehearsing for the show the contestants would be making a weekly commercial together for one of the sponsors. It was incredible how hard they worked and how exhausted they were at the end of the day. Andy and Alec began to substitute sex for just falling asleep in each other's arms. Before they knew what had hit them, Alec and Andy found themselves in the top five. Neither could believe that they were that good. Andy rationalized that all the young girls and probably gay men were voting for them because of their looks. They failed to give credit to their talents and their incredible charisma. After all they were both regional winners of local Fox TV affiliates. They found themselves receiving requests from several agents to sign contracts with them to manage their careers. They were both promised record contracts and major gigs across the country. When they did go out on a rare evening, they were pursued by paparazzi, and had to run from them and screaming young women. Finally, it had to happen. In the week before the grand finale, Andy was eliminated, leaving only Alec and a fantastic girl singer whose forte was rock. Alec was more of a balladeer. Do not cry for Andy, he received several offers through his newly chosen agent (Alec's also) and after consultation with Carlos he agreed to go to New York to star in a revival of Oklahoma. Rehearsals were not scheduled to begin until after the tour so everything worked out perfectly. "It's my curly hair that did it," he announced. Carlos thought that he could advance his career in New York as well, and he was happy to make the move. The top ten were all to appear on the final show and on the results show the following evening, so Andy stayed in LA. The night after he was eliminated, he and Alec were just getting ready for bed when there was a knock at the door. Alec quickly put on a pair of briefs and opened the door to find two smiling faces, Rick and Carlos. "We're here for the finale," Rick announced. He started undressing rapidly as did Carlos. Andy and Alec were already naked. Each couple took a bed and made love far into the night. During the rest of the week they mixed it up a lot. Rick and Carlos rarely left the hotel room. Andy left only for rehearsals. He was recognized wherever he went, and he didn't want the press to pick up even a hint of homosexual activity until after the last show. He feared that Alec's chances would be compromised if the public suspected that he was gay. Alec was so busy rehearsing and making the final commercial that he rarely saw his friends. The finale consisted of each of the finalists singing a song of their choice, a duet together, selected by the judges, and a song written especially for the occasion. Alec dared not even hope, but the song each of them would sing was a ballad, and he thought that might give him an advantage over the rocker. Between the guest artists, the top ten contestants and the two finalists, the two hour finale was a resounding success, one of the most entertaining two hours of television variety ever aired. The two finalists kept hugging each other. They were both winners. The "loser" would miss out on the cash award, but they were both already bombarded with recording and concert offers. The only one who was neither excited nor happy was Rick. Alec's career was somewhere out there in the stratosphere. He knew that they would be immensely wealthy, but where did that leave him? He feared that Alec would move on without him, and he hadn't even finished high school. Well, neither had Alec, but no matter there. He vowed to finish high school and go on to college. He had always wanted to study law, and he swore that somehow he would realize his dreams. He was sure that Alec would help him. He also knew that Alec would be on the road a great deal, and he wondered what that would do to their relationship. If he was in school, he would not be able to travel with Alec. Alec could sleep with groupies every night. Maybe Alec would get tired of him. Maybe Alec would think that he was boring. Rick withdrew into himself and Alec was aware of it. After the finale, the top ten, the judges, the orchestra, and the guest artists had a huge back stage party. Carlos stayed away and Rick stayed with him. They had a quiet dinner together in the hotel. Carlos wanted to know what was bugging Rick. Rick was one to keep things bottled up and Carlos got very little out of him. It was Alec who was able to put his finger on the problem. After the party, Andy joined Carlos in their hotel room, but Alec asked Rick to please join him for a night cap. Rick was not in the mood but he followed Alec down to the bar. "Listen jerk," Alec said. "Get over your funk. I love you with all my heart and soul. You are never going to be out of my life. I know you are worried about me being constantly on the road, but that's bull shit. If you want me to promise fidelity, I will, but don't be stupid. We'll have long separations. I want you to be free to have sex with anyone, and I want the same privilege. You notice, I said, have sex. I didn't say make love. If you ever make love to someone else, I want to see you immediately, so we can discuss it. Do you understand what I am saying to you? You and I have mated forever. Don't ever doubt that for a second." Rick nodded, and started to cry. "Alec," he said, "since you will be away so much, would it be OK with you if I went back to school? I want to study law? "It's more than all right," Alec said. "I was going to suggest it. You were always the one with the brains. Your dad fucked you up. I want to make it right." They finished their drinks and went upstairs. They were too tired for sex and fell fast asleep in each other's arms. Andy and Carlos were making non stop love in the other bed, and it didn't disturb them at all. The one hour results show the next evening again featured the top ten finalists and guest artists. This time Carlos and Rick were in the audience. They both knew that success for Andy and Alec was assured. Of course, they wanted Alec to win, but they knew that some of the runner ups had eventually gained more success than the winners. They just relaxed and enjoyed the show. The hour dragged on interminably, but then the moment came. The huge audience became stony silent. The host took forever to open the envelope and then he hesitated for what seemed an eternity before he announced the winner. "Alec Thomas." Epilogue Andy and Carlos went to New York. Andy became one of the brightest stars on Broadway. He starred in one musical comedy after another until finally he was lured back to Hollywood to star in a non singing romantic comedy. Carlos was never without a gig in New York, but like Rick, he went back to school, where he studied statistics. When he and Andy moved to California, he got a well paying job with a major insurance company. Andy was often tempted by handsome gay men in his industry, but his heart remained strongly with Carlos. Carlos gave up his drag career to be a full time statistician. Marty and Tyler finished college and became CPA's. They started their own firm in Ft. Lauderdale, advertising heavily in the gay press. They never grew to be a large firm, but they were successful and lived a life free of financial stress in the city that they had grown to love. Alec enjoyed a successful career in concerts and TV. His recordings often went platinum and he had more Grammies than he had room for on his shelves. He also won an Emmy for a TV variety special, and he actually did a cameo role in one of Andy's musical films. After that he appeared in a movie of his own, but it wasn't a comfortable venue for him, and he never made another film. Rick became a lawyer and was wooed by some of the best firms in the country. It was common knowledge that he was the partner of super star Alec Thomas, and these firms believed that his status would attract many clients. He chose a prestigious New York firm. He and Alec made New York their primary residence. Once a year, come hell or high water, the six brothers took a week off and met at the Beverly Hills estate of Andy and Carlos. They spent the week naked around the pool. Carlos made sure that all the servants were young gay men. The brothers enjoyed sex amongst themselves all week, and often the young servant men joined in on the festivities. One day, when Rick least expected it, he received a letter from his mother. He was shocked. It read: Dear Richard. I often see your picture in the paper with that handsome singer, Alec Thomas. My friends just adore him. I was able to trace you when I read that you now live in New York City. Your father forbids me to acknowledge that you exist. He remains ashamed of you. I want you to know that I don't feel that way. I had to obey your father's wishes, but my heart is broken. I love you now as I loved you then. I will be in the New York area without your father from Labor Day weekend until Sunday of the following weekend. My sister, your Aunt Clara, now lives in Cedarhurst on Long Island and I am spending the week with her. I would so love to see you. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me and have dinner with me one evening? I'll be arriving Friday afternoon before Labor Day. Please call me on my cell phone Friday evening. The number is 207-555-3478. If I don't hear from you, I'll take it to mean you don't want to hear from me. Your loving mother. Rick cried for an hour and then called Alec, who was just finishing a gig in Atlantic City. Rick was crying so hard, Alec could barely understand him. "I'll be home the entire holiday weekend," Alec said. We'll call her and meet them in the city on Saturday evening for dinner. You should see as much of her as you can during the following week while I'm away. This is wonderful news. Rick, his mother, his aunt, and Alec met at one of New York's finest restaurants. The reunion was very tearful. Rick held his mother's hand all through dinner. He was busy working on a big case, but he agreed to go out to Cedarhurst for dinner at Clara's on Wednesday evening. The ladies were thrilled. Of course, Alec charmed both ladies. They were gushing all over the big star. Clara took pictures to show her friends whom she was certain would not believe this at all. When they got ready to leave, Rick's mother kissed Alec. "Thank you for taking such good care of my son and for loving him," she said. Alec held her tight. The ladies had come in to the city by railroad, but Alec arranged for a limousine to take them home. When they left the restaurant they were bombarded by flash bulbs. The paparazzi were out in force, but Rick covered his mother's face lest his father ever see the pictures. That night as they prepared for bed, Alec took Rick in his arms. "We did good, kid," he said. "Yeah," Rick answered, "we did real good. We've come a long way from that bridge." The End