Chapter 3 : Let's Dance Tonight

Rush home, dinner, quick shower, hair to be done, and then select the clothes for the night out, while in the background, the bopping dance music is pumping out at such a level that the entire street knows its Friday night and the boys are going out.

That is a typical Friday night at 32 George St., and tonight is no different. Both Frank and I were ready by 9pm. The rest of the gang would arrive sometime around 10pm before heading out. I sat in the lounge sipping on my scotch and coke, while Frank started re-organising the furniture to make room for himself.

When he first moved in, I was hesitant in allowing him to re-organise the place to suit his needs. With time, I got used to it and tonight was one of those nights where I knew he was itching to hit the dance floor of the local nightclub Bacchus. Sometimes I wondered whether I was wasting my time in going out, as the floorshows that Frank would put on, were better than any I had seen in years. Yet his interest in dancing was purely for his own enjoyment and that of his potential pick up for the night, not the general public's.

His blend of rhythm, music and erotic lustful looks sometimes made me question his motives behind the dancing. Watching him dance tonight with even more fervour than before, a smile came across my face as I realised the boy was not going to come home alone, come hell or high water.

My mobile phone flashing distracted me. Looking down at it, I saw William's name on the screen and picking it up, yelled "hello?”

I heard "open the damn door bitch" barely audible over the thumping loud music. As I hung up, I looked at Frank, and motioned to him to turn the music down, whilst pointing to the door. He nodded and dancing over to the stereo system, he turned to volume down.

I opened the door, and there stood William in his usual party outfit of jet-black attire, and behind was his young straight friend Troy.

"I am glad you finally decided to answer your phone and let us in" said William with a grin.

"Oh you know the situation here on Friday nights" I replied smiling "told you I could give you a key to the place, that way you can come in anytime you like".

"What, and find you in bed with some hot stud?" replied William "By the way, I picked up a straggler on the way".

For the first time, I noticed a third person was there, hidden by the darkness and standing about two metres behind Troy. The figure moved forward, and as the light shone on him, the guy said "Hello spunk".

I could not believe me eyes as they focused on an old friend of mine, Nathan. For a 26 year old guy, he still had the youthful looks of a 20 year old. Nearly 175cm tall, with slim tanned body, his green eyes were slightly covered by his blonde hair that fell over his forehead. The first time I had met him was four years ago at a local restaurant, and after spending a weekend together, ended up becoming friends.

"Nice to see you are alive Nathan" I said "where have you been hiding for the last year?".

"Oh here and there" he replied with a grin "so much to tell you. God I missed you!"

He leaned over, his arms around my waist, pulled me closer, and kissed me on the lips. I had forgotten what a fantastic kisser he was, and reciprocated. Then just as quickly, he pushed me away and standing there, laughed.

"What's so funny?" I asked perplexed.

"Haha you!" he replied with a big grin on his face.

"What!?"

"After all this time, you are still the best damn kisser I have met" he replied with a chuckle.

"There goes the ego" said William as he threw his arms in the air, and with Troy behind him, walked into the lounge room. Frank by this stage had put his top back on and re-organised the furniture in the lounge. As William and Troy said their hello's to Frank, Nathan leaned over to me.

"I still think you are the hottest guy out" he whispered. I simply looked him straight in the eyes and shook my head.

"If I am so hot, how come you have not kept in touch?" I asked "Its been over a year since I last heard from you".

"Yeah I know. Sorry. My partner at the time wasn't a scene queen, and didn't want me mixing with the gay community" he replied, "biggest mistake I ever made!"

"Come, lets get a drink and we can chat before we go out" I said as I put my arm around him, and led him into the lounge. As we walked in, he looked at me with a kind of sadness in his eyes.

"I really have missed you Jason" he said with a tinge of sadness in his voice. I looked at him and noticed the expression on his face, fully of sadness. As I looked at him, all I could think of was how much I too had missed him being around.

"I missed you too Nathan" I replied.

Frank had gotten the guys their drinks, and were standing around in the lounge talking. The music was now at a reasonable level, and the three of them were laughing over some joke that William had just made. I led Nathan to the others, and introduced him to Frank.

For the first time since I had known Frank, he nearly dropped the glass with Bourbon and Coke, as he said hello to Nathan. After the introduction, I took Nathan by the hand and led him towards the kitchen. As I passed William, he looked at me and shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "don't know what's wrong". I winked back at him as if to say "ok" and headed for the kitchen.

I poured myself a Southern Comfort and Coke, and Vodka with Orange Juice for Nathan - his favourite - that he took and in two mouthfuls, emptied the glass. I poured him a second one and handed it to him; whilst at the same time motioned him to take a seat. He sat down and I took the chair near him, sitting down as well. For a few seconds, we simply looked at each other without saying a word.

"Ok Nathan, what's the matter sunshine," I asked.

Nathan simply looked at his glass, took a sip, and then returned to gazing at his glass.

"Talk to me Nathan,” I said in a quiet voice.

"I don't know where to start Jason" he said, his voice starting to break.

"How about from the start? It's always a good place to begin" I replied "or better still, what are you feeling right now?"

He sat there simply looking at his drink without saying a word. I gently reached out and place my hand behind his neck, and begun to caress him.

"Nathan, its ok. You don't have to tell me anything, but you know I care for you" I said with a sincere tone "I just don't like seeing you hurt".

Nathan leaning over and placed his head on my shoulder, and begun crying. I held him close to me, my hand running down the back of his head, caressing him gently.

"It's ok,” I said.

For several minutes we just sat there, Nathan crying and me holding and caressing him gently as I kept repeating "it's ok, let it out, it's ok". He finally leaned back, tears running down his eyes and looked at me.

"Why did he have to do that?" he asked.

"Do what Nathan?" I asked at a loss as to what he was talking about.

"John, my ex" he replied, "why did he have to betray me like that?"

"What happened? What did he do?" I asked.

Nathan drunk the last of his Vodka, placed the glass on the table and looked at me with the saddest face I had ever seen. His eyes were red from crying and his lower lip was quivering as if ready to burst into tears again.

"He said he loved me," he replied "and all this time he was seeing someone else behind my back the cunt".

"Oh" was all I could muster to say.

"I came home early on Tuesday from work and found him in bed with his ex having sex" he said "I could not believe it. In bed with his ex and in our bed".

I poured him another drink and sat there listening. Long ago I heard learnt that the best thing one could do is say as little as possible and let the other person talk.

"He told me to fuck off and come back later the prick. He didn't give a damn that I was there or had caught him cheating on me. He simply told me to leave, and went back to having sex with his ex" Nathan continued.

"What did you do?" I asked in a horrified look.

"I was in shock. I left the house and went walking" replied Nathan "I just kept walking for hours. I don't know where I went, but eventually got home. He was sitting in the lounge watching television, as if nothing had happened. He even got up and gave me a kiss on the cheek the bastard!"

"He then said that it was over, and that he never loved me" continued Nathan " and then told me he wanted me out of the house that night because his ex was moving in in the morning. He simply threw me out just like that".

"What a bastard! It was your home too, he couldn't do that,” I said angrily.

"It was his house, I simply moved in with him" replied Nathan "I begged him to let me stay and try and sort things out, but he simply told me to fuck off".

"Poor baby" I said as I leaned over and gave him a hug.

"He sounds like an utter arsehole! You are better off with out him" I continued, "Have you got a place to stay?"

"Yeah" he replied, "I moved in with Monique. She has a spare room, so am crashing there till I find a place of my own".

"Monique, the owner of Sappho's?" I asked

"Yeah that's her" he replied "John and I stayed there a few times as she was a friend of his, but they had a fallout one day. She was the only one near where we lived”.

“You could have come here you know” I said.

“I know, but felt guilty over not speaking to you during the last year” he replied.

“You are a fool Nathan,” I said smiling “friends are friends, regardless of what happens or how long it is between meetings. If you like, you can move in here with Frank and me. We’ve got a spare room and Frank won’t mind”.

“In fact, I think he likes you” I continued with a chuckle “the look he gave you and me afterwards. I would not be surprised if he makes a move on you”.

“Frank?” he said with a frown “He is too young for me. You know I like my men older than me. Besides, I still love John despite what he has done”.

“I know but you need to forget him. He isn’t worth it. Trust me on that” I replied, “anyone who does what he has done, is not worth it. Even if you got back together with him, you will always think that he is cheating on you, even if he wasn’t. Not a good way to base a relationship.”

“Yeah I know” he replied.

“It will take time to get over him” I continued “and you need to find a fuck for the night. It helps wash out the memories – trust me; it works wonders after you break up, having someone else to pay attention to. So you going to join us tonight?”

“No. Think might head back to Monique’s place. Don’t feel like partying tonight” he replied.

“Aw come on Nathan. Come out with us. It will be fun. Lots of hot guys out at Bacchus on a Friday night” I said with a grin on my face.

“Don’t feel like partying tonight, seriously Jason. Prefer to have a quiet night” he replied “were you serious about moving in here with you and Frank?”

“Of course I was serious! Wouldn’t have offered otherwise” I replied.

“Thanks” he replied.

We sat there quietly finishing our drinks. I felt sorry for Nathan, he deserved better but he tended to attract the wrong kind of guys. One of the prices one pays I suppose for being young and attractive. In the background I could hear the other guys laughing. I looked at the clock and noticed it was nearly 11pm, and the guys would be ready to head out.

“Wait here a moment Nathan” I said as I got up and headed for the lounge.

“About time you joined us bitch,” said Frank as I walked in “we are about to head out. Ready?”

“Guys. Think I will stay home tonight. Nathan needs to talk, so you go out and I might join you later” I replied.

Frank looked at me with his “what are you up to” look, but didn’t say anything.

“Ok no problem,” replied William “will see you out later, otherwise will call you tomorrow. Say goodbye to Nathan for me will you?”

“No probs” I replied as I watched them leave. I closed the door behind them, turned the stereo down and headed back to the kitchen. Nathan had poured himself another drink and was standing at the kitchen sink looking out the window into the back garden.

As I walked in, Nathan turned and looked at me.

“Am going to head off shortly,” he said.

“No need,” I replied, “the others have left, and I am not going out tonight. And you sunshine, are staying here tonight.”

“No its ok. Go out with the others,” he replied, “I am ok, seriously. Will go back to Monique’s tonight. I don’t want to ruin your night Jason”.

“Ruin my night? God!” I chuckled “you know how long it would take me to meet a gorgeous hunk like you, chat them up and bring them home? Hours!! Why go out when I have one in my kitchen already?”

Nathan laughed.

“You? Hours?” he chuckled “more like 20 minutes and you would be in the sack with them. I know – I have been there remember?”

“Weeeeellll” I replied smiling “things have changed since I picked you up. I was younger then and you were on heat that night. Made it easy. Besides, would rather spend time with you and catch up. Its also crawling distance to my bedroom if I drink too much”

“Haha,” he laughed ”you never crawl and besides, hope you have no secret intentions to get me into your bed. Now do you Jason?”

“Me? Secret intentions with you? Neva!” I replied with a grin on my face “what would ever give you that idea. I am innocent remember?”

“Yeah ok. Live under that delusion,” chuckled Nathan “but remember, I know you too well. So no funny moves ok, not while I am sober anyways”.

“Promise I wont, not while you are sober,” I chuckled “Jokes aside though, tonight you are staying here, and tomorrow we will go and get your stuff and move you in. Ok?”

“Sounds good to me” he replied. Nathan leaned over and kissed me on the cheek “Thanks Jason”.
“Its ok. That’s what friends are for. Now, grab your drink, lets go to the lounge and relax” I replied as I picked up my drink and headed down the hallway. Nathan followed behind me carrying his drink and the bottle of Vodka.