Knockout

Set in Trigger, Florida a fictional suburb of Miami. You will find not all is orange groves and theme parks in the sunshine state.

[knockoutlives]

Whatever they offer you, don’t feed the plants.

Josh: Mom just told me. congrats.

Troi: I am so proud of you Vinny! Congratulations babe! I've never been happier for you, for us!

Spencer: Congratulations Vinny! When Adam gets back from his Medical Retreat we need to go for drinks! Congrats!

Abby: Congrats big brother! I can't wait to come visit and see you on stage!

Amelia: Congratulations! I’ll see you at 2 for lunch and you can tell me all about it! Mak: Congratulations Vinny!

Kevin. MY. GOD. VINCENT ANDREW DEPOLA HOW ON EARTH DID YOU KEEP THIS HIDDEN FROM ME?!?! CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING CAST AS SEYMOUR!

Unknown Number: Congratulations!

V: thanks, who's this?

[phone]: you know who this is, we met up for drinks the other night in Queens.

[phone] : had to get out of Manhattan to make sure your boyfriend didn't hear anything about it.

V: oh ya, thanks.

[phone] : that's it? I'll remember that the next time we hook up, and you wanna fuck me.

Vinny sighed and looked from the phone in his gloved hands, to the city street in front of him. Scanning the empty street for anyone he could potentially know. As if even seeing them would allow the other to know who Vinny was messaging. The sender's comments made him recall the night in questions, and the corners of his lips pulled into a smile as he replied.  

V: listen, I've got some things to do today. So I'm going to have to cut this short. But, I expect to see you at my place tonight at 6. He’ll be gone for a few hours.

[phone] : fire escape, or front door.

V: fire escape, just so you don't run into him. I don't need that

[phone] : Your wish is my command - T

Upon sending his last message Vinny locked his phone and let out an even heavier sigh as he leaned on the concrete wall of the building he had just walked out of prior to the bombardment of Text​ message - well wishes. Pushing off of the wall Vinny began his walk down the street heading towards Times Square, and the subway. There was a slight chill in the air, causing Vinny to wrap his arms around his midsection, and pulling his leather jacket closer to his body to conserve warmth.

A smile began to tug at his lips again as he recounted the morning.

--

The day had already began to speed by, though when one wakes up at six to be out the door by seven the time just begins to fly from the second you actually leave the bed. He had left Troi in the warm blankets that morning, to make his way to the gym to beat the rush. (The treadmill he liked at his gym always seemed to be taken if he was late, even If it was by five minutes.) So arriving precisely at seven fifteen gave him enough time to get his workout, shower, and get dressed into human attire by eight. Today had been no different until he left the gym and his phone began buzzing, like a virgin's vibrator on crack.

“Hello, This is Vincent….”  

“Vinny, it's Camille! Would you be able to stop by the midtown studio space this morning?”

“Of course I can! What time?”

“Now, would be nice”

“I'm on my way, I’ll be there by nine!”

Jumping on the subway almost immediately after the phone call, Vinny had arrived at the rehearsal space to find his agent Camille in the lobby of the building looking as if she had just ran down the stairs of the familiar building from the rehearsal space on the fifth floor.

“Vinny!” The woman said with a grin as she took the boy into her arms. Camille was quite short, so she normally came up to Vinny's shoulder, but in her heels today she was almost at eye level. “I'm so glad you could make it, I have two people who would really like to speak to you. It was last minute but apparently they're on a tight schedule. So they needed to get a hold of you A-S-A-P.” “Oh, alright?” Vinny said confusion clear on his face. “Vinny..” Camille said her grin still growing as she stepped into the elevator and dragging Vinny in with her,  the door closing behind them “...you got the part! You’re Seymour!”

-- 2:30 PM Cilantro - Upper West Side, New York City

“Oh, the second your mom read that Playbill article, it got plastered all over Facebook and you were tagged EVERY TIME. If I didn't get the call from Chrissy, I would have seen at least one of the 25 posts your family made!”

“God Amelia, I'm glad we weren't friends when I made it into Idiot. She went crazy. You would never have let me live it down. I mean I shouldn't complain though. She is my mother, Troi’s is just as bad.”

“I mean I would kill for my mom to be half as excited about a part I get. But that my friend is a totally different story. How was Troi when he found out?”

“Oh, he was happy. He had a bunch of errands to run earlier before he got to the studio earlier. So we haven't talked much just yet.”

Amelia took a sip of her mimosa and smiled across the table at Vinny. She was probably the oldest friend he had in the city, nonetheless​ the only one here who knew almost all of Vinny's past with and without Troi. The pair had met when Vinny was touring with American Idiot, and freshly single. In a different time and place Vinny felt Amelia might have been a perfect girlfriend for him, but with her lack of the desired plumbing and the fact that on one drunken night they may have made out, she held the coveted best friend spot and nothing more. But, of course Vinny never told Prima he might have been replaced. “Im glad things are finally working out between you guys. It was rough for a while on tour there. Until, you and Travis were a thing for a bit. You know he's in the city now, I dunno for how long but he’s got a place in Queens.” “Ya don't say?” Vinny said grabbing his Margarita and taking a large gulp of the drink.

“Ya, but we all know how you feel about taking the W into Queens. Vincent Depola doesn’t leave Manhattan unless it’s for a good reason.”

Almost instantly Vinny placed his drink down with a little too much force, and looked from Amelia to his phone. “Looks like I struck a nerve?” “No, I’m just not really in the mood to deal with any drama. And, you know drama follows him.” “Oh I know, I was living through the times of you guys screwing around AND the months following when y’all were just hating fucking. Thank god thats over” “Amen” Vinny added as he looked down at their empty plates. “So when are you going back on tour? Or, are you looking more for something more stable in the city?” “Well it depends on how the next two weeks go on Raph’s residency. I’ve got a few auditions lined up either way. If he’s leaving the city, I might jump on a tour, but there are also some workshops in and out of the city I could hop into if he stays. Why? Are you already going through withdrawls from me?” Laughing Vinny added “No! Well sort of.. I dunno.” “What’s eating at you?” Amelia responded, her tone switching almost instantly from upbeat to concern. “Nothing really, I mean it’s just weird to finally be tied down…” Sipping at his drink he continued. “...Like literally I went from the tour, to spending time home for a few months, and now I'm with Troi in New York. This isn't little old Trigger, this is the real world. And believe me I have never been happier with Troi but I just, I'm by myself too much. Granted now that I'm in the show I'll be able to rehearse and spend time with other people. But, until then it was just Troi and I, and on occasion Spadam. And you know how it is dating a dancer, or at least someone in a similar field as you. If your schedule don't align sometimes you're lucky to see them at night, again if you're lucky.”

“You sound perfectly normal Vin! It sucks, you know I know it. And that’s why I’m engaged to a doctor now. But, this is just your nerves from being pent up this long without anything really happening. Ya, you had the audition grind going, but until something happens you're on edge waiting to snap. You're in a Broadway Show now, you're going to be fine.”

Sighing, Vinny looked over at Amelia with a smile now. “I am. I'm in a Little Shop of Fucking Horrors. Finally!”

“And that's why this is on me” She added placing a credit card on the check.

--- 4:45 PM

Stepping back into the cold afternoon air the two embraced in front of the store for a moment, and then Vinny began his walk towards Central Park. Though the park wasn't too crowded this time of day, Vinny didn't mind the people that much. And, it was the fastest way to get home even if it did take him almost an hour at his leisurely pace. He enjoyed his time alone, it was something he got a lot of. But, ever since the tour ended and he went back to Trigger, it hadn't felt like he had taken a moment to just breathe, even when he was alone.

One moment he was single, and moving back home, the next he had a date with Troi. A date, that put them back on each other's radars. It took some time before he was even capable to even think about kissing Troi. Then it just happened, and happened, and happened. Numerous times, sometimes multiple at a time. Things just fell back into place, as if it was a four piece puzzle, not the complex thousand piece jigsaw their lives really were. It’s not that the two forgot about their previous qualms, but they spent almost a month just accepting the past was in the past, taking a tip from a popular ice queen and just ‘letting it go’. Most importantly though Blaise Monroe was out of their lives, and one thousand two hundred and eighty four miles away living a poor excuse of a life in Trigger, what a wash-up.

There were some days though that Vinny wondered what would have happened if he was still in Trigger? If the couple hadn’t rekindled and moved back to NYC to share Troi’s loft apartment. Would he be on another tour? Would he just be living the same washed up life, that Blaise Monroe was currently living? Or, would Travis still be in the picture, or at least in more then---

“Watch it man!” a cab driver shouted as Vinny stepped back onto the curb, lost in his thoughts and almost catching the cab’s drivers side mirror. “Damn it” Vinny mumbled under his breathe as he regained his bearings. About Halfway through the park, he could see the back of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on his left, and knew he had to go a bit more south if he wanted to get into his neighborhood without leaving the park. Walking on the streets around the park was almost as bad as Times Square. Why people flocked to this place, not even he knew. It was a beautiful park, but there were other wonders to see in the city. That were not inhabited by homeless people pissing all around, or thirsty gays cruising the bathrooms.  Turning passed the Alice in Wonderland statue, Vinny felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist and Troi’s voice enter his ears.   “Hey there handsome” Leaning back into the other man’s arms Vinny felt his cheeks rise into a smile. Turning around he placed his hands around Troi’s neck and kissed him softly, letting his short beard rub against Troi’s stubble ridden face. “How’s my boyfriend? No excuse me how’s the new Seymour Krelborn in the Little Shop Revival!“ “I’m fine! I’m fine! Still letting it all sink in!” Vinny responded to Troi’s enthusiasm with his own. “Of course you are!” “How’d you know I was here?” Vinny added as he laced his hand into his boyfriends and continued the walk towards their apartment. “ I mean I’m far from complaining at all, I just thought you were going to be at the studio for most of the night teaching” “I was talking to Rhea about finding out you got the part, and she said she’d cover my night class. Under the conditions that I take you out to celebrate.” “ I will never feel bad about getting to spend more time with you babe, but that is entirely your call.” Looking away from his boyfriend and around the street to see where they had exited the park. Stopping for the light Vinny sighed softly, inaudible to anyone but himself,  

“Of course I want to take you out tonight! Do you mind if I take a run to the gym first though?”

Almost immediately Vinny smiled at Troi and nodded his head. “Ya, totally!” Vinny added with a little too much excitement.

“Wow, someone's happy I'm not just at the studio,and actually going out of my way to put a little extra muscle on.”

Vinny couldn't help but laugh at his boyfriend's response as he reached his free hand over to jokingly feel Troi’s abs.

“Not enough yet.”

-- 5:55 PM

[phone] : I should be there a little after seven ;)

“Vinny! Have you seen my shaker?”

Quickly locking his phone, Vinny looked up from the couch towards his boyfriend in the bathroom. “Uh, probably in the kitchen, or maybe your gym bag?” He added hopping up from his place on the couch and moving towards the window to unlock it. “Do you need a protein shake today? I mean we are going for dinner afterwards. I don't want to be the one eating a five course meal and then you have a carrot. Those days are long over.”

Emerging from the bathroom Troi was in a pair of joggers and a t-shirt, tugging on a hoodie while almost walking into their kitchen counter. “You're right I guess, I'm only gonna be gone for forty five minutes max.”

“Good! Now go! I'm hungry” Vinny shot back playfully at Troi, as he wrapped his arms around the other and kissed him softly. Biting Troi's lower lip gently, Vinny pulled away and ran his hands over Troi's abdomen once more. “I love you.”

“I love you too!” Troi added with another quick peck, as he gathered his keys and drawstring bag and headed out the door.

As soon as the door shut Vinny practically ran too it to lock both the deadbolt and chain the door, making sure there was no way of potential disruptions. From the door, he made his way to the bathroom to throw some water on his face and check his reflection. He had changed when he had gotten home, from his casual wear to his Grade-A bum attire. Sweat shorts, an oversized hoodie, and his thick framed glasses Because, contacts just hurt after a while.

Staring at himself in the mirror Vinny closed his eyes tightly and ran a hand through his messy hair. Then he heard it, a light rapping on the living room window. The window had opened as he returned to the room to see his guest finishing his window entrance. Brushing himself off and placing his bag on the floor, Vinny’s eyes trailed up the familiar body and he smiled when he reached the man’s face which was covered in shadow from his hood. Not caring about the cold breeze coming through the open window, Vinny stepped closer and placed his lips to the other man’s. Wrapping his arms around him, Vinny broke the kiss to place his head on the others shoulder. The other man did not hesitate to place his stubble ridden mouth onto Vinny’s now exposed neck, tugging lightly on the skin with his teeth. Swatting the back of the man’s head Vinny dragged them down to the couch, where he was straddled by the other male. “No marks!” Reaching around the others waistband, Vinny let his hands wander across the other’s ass and playfully squeezed. Catching the other's mouth in his own Vinny began to remove the others hoodie when --

“Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight, never running from a real fight. She is the one named Sailor Moon!”

“Fuck, Fuck, Fuck,” The other said un-straddling Vinny as the latter ran his hands up his face and began laughing softly. Standing up and closing the window; the other man leaned on the counter top, one arm on the counter the other rubbing his face.

Laughing still, Vinny bent down and fished out two phones from the bag by the window and brought them over too the counter. Placing his hand on the other’s neck he ran it north towards the man's hair,  and in doing so he pushed down the hood revealing Troi from the shadow.

“Babe, next time you decide to seduce me as a stranger. Turn your old phone’s ringer off ,maybe?”

Grinning at his boyfriend Troi grabbed Vinny's waist to pull him into his side, and kiss the other's forehead while on the balls of his feet. Still biting back laughter Vinny pulled Troi into his chest and kissed the top of the shorter boys head.

“Jeeze, I wish I could say this was the first time I've been cock blocked by Sailor Moon.”

“Hey, it's probably my mother trying to get a hold of you in the first place.”

“Even better! I wish I could say that this was the first time getting cock blocked by your mother.”

Picking up the iPhone in the Sailor Moon case, Vinny saw the missed call was in fact from his future mother in law, and handed the phone back to Troi; before returning to the foreign phone still on the counter.

“So this, is what's finally given you a New York area code.” “Surprise!” Troi added sarcastically as he relocated by hugging the other from behind. Vinny, while toying around with the phone, felt Troi run his hands down his sides and under his hoodie. “ I can give you the entire tour of it, after we take care of something else.” Letting,his hands lower from Vinny’s abs, Troi slipped under the waistband of Vinny’s sweatpants and began searching for his target.

“Oh really now?” Vinny said as he turned (not gracefully) to face his boyfriend, and caught Troi’s lips in his own. Running his own hands across the other’s chest, Vinny straightened himself up and walked Troi backwards to their room. Breaking the kiss, as they crossed the threshold into the dark room Vinny softly pushed Troi onto the bed, and closed the door behind him. “I mean you still need to get a workout in before dinner” “I mean I could use a protein shot.” “Oh ya? Like you needed one the other night at that shady speakeasy in Astoria?” “Hey, that dinner was painful, a little exciting sex in a seedy bathroom livened it up a bit” “God I love you..” Running his hands down Troi’s sides Vinny noticed that in the time it took him to close the door, and make the room completely black Troi had removed his shirt and hoodie. His skin warm, as Vinny felt the smaller boy quiver under his touch. Tracing designs along the other’s chest, his hands teased the soft skin of Troi’s nipples. Where he tweaked the other softly, gaining an audible gasp from the boy under his touch. ‘I thought you weren’t going to follow through with your texts when Rhea let you out early.” Leaning down towards Troi’s left nipple Vinny placed his lips and began teasing the other with his tongue and biting softly on the erect flesh. “And miss out on this? Why did you think I decided to go to the gym? Babe,” Troi gasped and tried to regain his composure. “...today is my off day. I was at the studio all morning. You’re lucky I was able to climb the fire-escape at all.” As Vinny continued to work on Troi’s nipples, and enjoyed the soft sounds of pleasure his boyfriend was making; he began to run his hands up Troi’s muscular arms. Tracing where he knew the other’s key tattoo was, and up his shoulder where his right hand gripped the soft skin that led to Troi’s neck and jawline. Reaching down past Troi’s stomach and into the other’s sweatpants, Vinny squeezed the package that was clad in only a jock-strap. Removing his hand from near Troi’s neck, Vinny leaned up and let his lips mash against Troi’s hungry mouth. Troi wrapped his legs around Vinny’s waist as his boyfriend began to give his neck the same treatment he had previously did on his nipple. Removing his hand from Troi’s sweatpants, Vinny shucked his hoodie off while Troi greedily pulled his muscular boyfriend towards him. Vinny’s skin warming the other’s cold skin under him. While their lips waged war upon each other, their bodies worked together to have Vinny grind on Troi in ways that made the smaller boy moan through their kissing. “And to think, I used to be The Screamer.” Vinny added between panting, as Troi began to suck on his shoulder while his hands need-ily pushed Vinny’s sweat-shorts down. Leaving him exposed to the room, and in position to finish the job the two had set out to do from the beginning. Troi’s sweatpants were next to go as the warmth of their skin on skin began to drive the two wild. Reaching for the lube they kept in the bedside drawer, Vinny’s length pressed up against Troi’s grundle sending the other a bit over the edge. From the touch of Vinny’s length, and the restraint of his jockstrap Troi moaned louder than before, as Vinny silenced him with his lips covering the others. Managing to open the bottle of lube with one hand, and steady Troi with the other, Vinny was about to finish his preparations when --- “Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight, never running from a real fight. She is the one named Sailor Moon!” Troi let out a groan as he heard his phone go off again, using both of his hands he grabbed Vinny’s waist and looked for the others eyes in the darkness. Feeling Vinny’s nose rub up against the bridge of his own, he looked into where the others eyes were, and pleaded with him. “Forget it, and Fuck me.” Troi all but whispered as he slid his lips once more over his boyfriends.

And Vinny did.

[knockoutlives]

Are You Ready to Wake Up?

Are You Ready to Wake Up?

Not even fifteen minutes had gone by and Josh was already feeling slightly overwhelmed; as he followed his mentor to the silver BMW and placed his bag in the backseat as he was instructed. Closing the door behind him, he tried to make himself comfortable in the shiny car. The inside, like the outside, was spotless. Something he figured he would learn about Blaise Monroe relatively fast, everything seemed to have to be perfect for him.

From what he had always had been told, Blaise was like Mak, only he never accepted defeat. He got what, and who he wanted no matter what got in his way. Perfection, was the only option  There had been talk years ago that during their senior year of high school Mak and Blaise tried to prove who could get more tail throughout the year, but the competition came to a crashing halt once Prima sunk his metaphorical claws into Mak and that was that. The rumored totals were that Mak had only slept with one boy before deciding to make PriMakofficial, but Blaise had reached upwards of twenty. There was also the rumor as to what the ‘Blak Feud’ was based on; the fact that Blaise was slutty enough to rival Mak, but would never allow Mak into his pants. The rumors were endless, and though Josh was well aware he was only fed half of the story, he still didn’t know if he could trust the man in the driver’s seat.

“I mean it’s nothing exciting.” Josh said as he tried to elaborate more on himself as his mentor had asked. “I grew up here in Trigger born and raised; and haven’t escaped it. But honestly you knew that already, didn’t you?” Smiling a genuine smile at Blaise as he took the car out of park, he looked out the window at the almost empty parking lot. “I know my /darling/ brother, and his friends are probably not your favorite people. And that’s alright, we can always talk to Martin about switching us if you’re uncomfortable Mr. Monroe.” Dancing around the specifics, Josh decided it was now or never that he address the very large Elephant in the car. They didn’t need to talk about the fact that his brothers /almost/ fiance was lead astray by this, pied piper of penises he was paired with.

“Unfortunately you can’t really pick family.” Josh said with a light laugh.

Turning his gaze away from the moving street, Josh observed Blaise as the car exited the parking lot and couldn’t help but smile. He was even more handsome up close, then he was at a distance and Josh couldn’t help but mentally swoon over him. He was just so, put together and he never really been attracted to that. He had always pursued more artsy guys, or creatives that had a general blur of disorganization over them. But with Blaise, everything about him was angles and sharpness as if everything about him was clear; from his perfectly styles hair to his grey Michael Kors shoes. It just summed up to being, well attractive.

God, if any of the guys knew I just admitted to finding Blaise Monroe attractive. My eyes would be bleached in a second.

“I mean Starbucks is fine…” he lied.

“But, it’s gonna be packed from the after class/before going home rush.” Josh added as he thought about what he just said and blushed. “ Sorry, barista brain even on my day off…I work at the one you want to stop at”

[knockoutlives]

Are You Ready To Wake Up?

“I’m from a little all over,” Blaise answered. “I grew up in Tennessee until I was about twelve, then we moved to the West coast for a few years, and then we came to Trigger when I was in tenth or eleventh grade.” Years after Blaise’s arrival to Trigger he still claimed Columbia, Tennessee as his hometown. As his accent faded and the number of years in Trigger started to rival his time in Columbia his answer evolved to give a more accurate account of his origins.

“What about you Mr. Depola? What’s your story? ” Blaise asked as he they reached the end of the corridor and opened the door to fresh air and sunlight.  He was careful not to outright ask if Josh was also from around the area. Partially because they both already knew the answer and partially because the question was much more interesting in general.

Out in the natural light, Blaise could easily tell Josh’s hair was a light brown instead of a flaming red. Maybe he needed to wear his “old man” glasses more often. Regardless of haircolor Josh was clearly a part of the Depola clan look wise but seemed to be missing another Depola feature. Blaise knew first hand the of the extroverted tendencies that Melynda and Vinny displayed. This gene skipped the youngest Depola in Blaise’s eyes.  If he was wrong about that then he was at least right about Josh being slow to warm up compared to the others.

As the pair approached the line where sidewalk gave way into parking lot asphalt, Josh stopped abruptly and looked over at Blaise tentatively.  Blaise watched the wheels turn in his mentee’s head as he muttered something about not being close to campus, texting a friend, and a car being in a shop...What was that really about?

“Right over here,” Blaise said as he took the step forward to cross into the parking lot. He lead the short way to his silver BMW. It was his least showy vehicle, a non convertible sedan, but he still felt a little ostentatious as he unlocked the door for the college kid who just explained his car was in the shop. “Feel free to put your stuff in the back” he said as he opened the back door and slid his brown leather satchel bag into the back seat. As Josh was getting adjusted, Blaise pulled down a dark pair of prescription sunglasses.

It was just sunny enough to get away with sunglasses without looking like a complete tool. The sunglasses also saved him the hassle of having to dig out his regular glasses from the bag in the back seat. Best of all, the sunglasses gave Blaise a way to study Josh better yet in an inconspicuous fashion. He started the engine and looked over at Josh’s whose facial features now appeared in sharper focus. What a cute kid. 

Blaise could tell there was more to Josh than just a cute face but whatever it was Josh seemed to be holding it back. Was it because he felt awkward about their overlapping pasts? Maybe, but it was like Josh was trying a little too hard to be polite. LIke when he agreed to go to coffee. Did he really want to get coffee? Did he even like coffee? There was only one way to find out. While still observing Josh he poised a simple question.

“How about the Starbucks around the corner?”

[knockoutlives]

We Start With Stars In Our Eyes

“Well then I hope this pumpkin doesn’t have the standard midnight price tag, because depending on what you have up your sleeves we might end up in a giant gourd at some point.” Spencer said smiling at Adam as he entered his ‘bubble’ once more, and made eye contact. Causing once again time to stop in his mind, or at least the concept of movement to vanish from his mind. Before he knew it though, Spencer was smiling across the Ferrari and admiring the boy taking the driver’s seat. Blush softly marking its territory on Spencer’s cheeks, he subconsciously ran his hand back through his soft hair as Adam finished his statement. “I mean I don’t think anyone else is really worth my time now anyway.” Spencer replied with a small grin on his lips as he broke eye contact with Adam and watched the street begin to move as they left the curbside. Returning his gaze back to the other male, and feeling his cheeks raise in temperature he observed the mundane task of Adam putting his sunglasses back on and for some reason could not feel giddier.

“Well it’s Wonderboy, or Charming so pick your poison apple.” Spencer shot back with a small smile and keeping the fairytale references from earlier. Biting his bottom lip subconsciously, he mulled over the options of food in his head. Spencer wasn’t picky that was for sure, but he mentally crossed off two types of food right off the bat; Indian and Mexican. Primarily, because they were known as the kiss of death for some gay men. Not that Spencer was at all considering being intamate with Adam tonight, but either way food going right through him would make the night take a turn. Quickly removing his thoughts from the gutter, Spencer made a decision “ I mean I can eat just about anything. I haven’t been to the gym in the last few days so what the hell, anything is fair game! Though I’m totally down for Burgers or Pizza. Your date is easy to please” As the pair made their way out of the Channing Street neighborhood, and back towards the center of Trigger. Spencer couldn't help but think about how surreal this entire situation had become through the course of just this one day, but couldn't keep the smile off his face as he watched Adam drive them through the town he knew so well, for someone who wasn’t a local. Passing Hasings’s Studios and then the Galaxy Syndrome, Spencer noticed the direction Adam was driving them. They were soon going to pass Fort Rapids, and then most likely end up over by the Pier, where there were plenty of restaurants to choose from. From the newly opened second location for Donato’s, and then the new Shake Shack that seemingly popped up out of nowhere. Somewhere in the past year or so the Trigger Community Board had gotten funding to expand the pier and the surrounding areas which in turn merged the In-And-Out and the Pier into The Harbor Walk. “So, tell me about yourself Charming, because all I know about you at the moment; is that you somehow tricked your fairy godfather into giving you a Ferrari for the night, your name is Adam, and though I don’t get to take any grass out of your hair right now. I have to say you clean up very nicely.” The street lights were already starting to glow on Route One as the Adam took the exit off the freeway and down into the newly dubbed ‘Harbor Walk’ area. “Have you been down here since the In-And-Out and the Pier merged into this food-court-shopping thing?” Spencer asked sounding like a true local as Adam pulled the Ferrari into the parking structure near the far end of The Harbor Walk

“Shall we?”

[knockoutlives]

We Start With Stars In Our Eyes

Adam, who was tucking away his sunglasses, laughed when Spencer indicated their transportation sprouted from a deal with the devil. Maybe he had gone overboard with acquiring the Ferrari after all. But it was worth it to hear Spencer’s reaction. Adam tended to be on the laid-back end of the spectrum but he was drawn to the more sassy fiery personalities. His best friend, for example, carried a propensity towards theatrics at times. He supposed in his relationships with these bolder personality types they worked to balance each other out. Things were rarely ever boring. He moved slightly out of view to let Spencer get a better glimpse of the car for a moment then returned to his original position to admire Spencer’s hair. Or maybe he was just a half a step closer than before. Just as in the park earlier they subtly drew closer to each other as if there were a magnetic force.

“Don’t worry about that. It’s just your standard ‘pumpkin turned into carriage’ setup. No interactions with the Devil necessary,” Adam said with a small smile. It felt like a fairy-tale theme was starting to emerge.  Hadn’t Blaise mentioned something about looking like a prince earlier? Adam’s cousin was definitely the fairy godfather in this cute little analogy.  Could one have multiple fairy godparents though? Troi deserved some credit for inspiring the look to which Spencer referred as a ‘breath of fresh air’.

As far as Adam was concerned, it was also possible that Spencer felt a breath of fresh air because he was taking Adam’s breath away. This theory seemed especially true when Spencer came a little closer. Adams lungs missed the command to inhale and exhale. His attraction to the other male was invigorating and excruciating. Like maybe an evil queen reached in deep behind his breastplate and toggled with his heart just a bit.  

He somehow willed himself to breathe again as Spencer thanked him for the hair compliment. Somehow being the operative word because the genuine humility Spencer exuded made him even more attractive in Adam’s eyes.  Yes sassy Spencer was fun but so was getting to see a different layer. “I’m glad you never thought about it. Anyone who is off put by your hair is not worth your time at all.” He made sure to make eye contact with Spencer in order to convey his sincerity.  Although he’d willingly stare into Spencer’s eyes anytime.

In no time at all, the two were sitting in the Ferrari. Adam was putting his glasses back on when Spencer asked him about their destination. Or rather Spencer addressed Wonderboy which drew a chuckle from Adam. “Wonderboy, huh?” The nickname from earlier had resurfaced and Adam was still just as tickled to hear it. “It’s up to you actually. What’s your favorite type of cuisine?” He could have pre-picked a restaurant but he wanted to be sure Spencer would thoroughly enjoy the place. He’d save the surprises for slightly later in their fairy tale like adventure.

[knockoutlives]

We Start With Stars in Our Eyes

“Hey handsome”

With those two words, Spencer had to remind himself to breathe. This was all such a blur in his head that he was having some trouble computing it all. He had not hours ago, accepted that he was going to spend the evening with the rest of War And Peace, and however many bottles of wine he could drink till he either passed out or finished the novel. That being said the fact that Adam was now standing in front of him, looking like a prince and being the epitome of a gentleman. It was just more than he had expected and caused basic functions like breathing, to come to a pause.

“Your manners? Well, I just expected you had left them at home, or sold them to the devil to drive that!”

Gesturing towards the Ferrari parked on the curb, Spencer turned from the car and back to Adam just as he removed his sunglasses to reveal his stunning green eyes.

“But as much as I enjoyed the basketball shorts, I do have to say this is a total breathe of fresh air”

Resisting the urge to violate Adam’s personal space he made a hesitant step towards the other, and then tried not to be obvious as he gave the other male a once over. Taking in every detail from the leather shoes on his feet to the bracelets and watches on his wrists. This man in front of him looked so different  from the soccer player at the park. If this is what a change of clothes did to him, Spencer wondered what else was in store for him.

“Oh, thank you.” Spencer added as he ran a hand through his soft silver hair. “I didn't realize I had my beanie on the whole time before,” The snarky confidence gone from his tone, truly being humble from Adam's compliment. “it's usually a darker brown. I'm glad you like it though. I hadn't thought about you maybe being turned off by.it”

Turning to close the front door Spencer noticed Kevin still standing just out of view. The older boy smiled at Spencer and gave him a thumbs up, before the door shut. Hoping, Adam had not seen his cousin fangirling.

“We shall” Spencer said with a grin as the two left the porch and approached the Ferrari.

Thanking Adam as the other, open and closed the door for him, Spencer settled into his seat and put his own sunglasses on as Adam revved the ignition.

“Where are we headed or am I supposed to be in the dark the entire time Wonderboy?”

[knockoutlives]

Are You Ready To Wake Up?

From the moment Josh acknowledged Blaise being his mentor, time seemed to freeze around him. He reached into his bag and took out his phone to make a quick search, for info on one;  Blaise Monroe. All in one quick swipe of his thumb, he was able to find out everything he needed to know. Blaise Monroe. 29. Editor of the Orange Sun; the Florida State literary Magazine. Josh looked up from his phone and listened to Martin continue her paring, making eye contact with Blaise once more. Smiling at the man he looked  back at his phone and scrolled a tiny bit more for further information, before placing his phone back into his bag.. So he’s an editor, but also seems to write a lot of travel pieces? I can work with that.

Ms. Martin finished her student-mentor pairing and looked from the students to the mentors seated around her. “Now, you may all take the rest of the class time to go converse with your mentors whether it be here or off campus. I’ll email you the first mentor assignment before our next class so that you can start freshly on that when you meet then!” Clapping her hands together she added “I hope you all have a good time and a good first week of the semester!” Almost instantly the students began to descend from the stadium-like seats to go meet their respective mentors, but in the time it took Josh to put the syllabus away in his bag Blaise was already ascending the stairs to where he was seated and upon closer inspection Captain Jawline, was now dawning the title Captain Stubble and Josh could feel the corners of his lips begin to tug upwards. Standing up from his seat he smiled at the man in front of him and took his hand.

“Josh Depola, at your service”

I would prefer anything but coffee. This is my only day off this week and I would surely like to not smell coffee beans for what’s left of my time before I return to coffee hell…”I mean sure, that would be great.” Josh said as the pair descended down the stairs and left the lecture hall. Walking down the hallway toward the exit of the English building was quiet, too quiet for Josh’s liking but he was never good in situations like these. His family was made up of very social people; Annalynn was a social butterfly, Eric and Melynda were part of Trigger’s Board of Trustee’s so they were socialites asides from  their own professions, and Vinny was well, Vincent Andrew Depola everyone in town knew of his brother. Josh figured this was what it felt like to have a family that was always in the public eye, even though it was just a boring old suburb, he always imagined that if Bravo ever wanted to do a Real Housewives-esque show in Trigger, his family would be part of it.

“So, you’re from around here right?”

Josh said attempting to make some form of conversation, as the pair approached the parking lot. He knew that was a stupid question. He knew who Blaise was, or at least who he was from his scandalous reputation back when he was out-slutting Mak MacArthur, and stealing Troi away from his brother. But how could this guy walking next to him be thee Blaise Monroe. He was so put together, and not even close to what he had heard about him in the past. Or, at least by his appearance. Stopping before going any further into the parking lot, Josh closed his eyes and then  looked at Blaise.

“Since I’m assuming it’s not too close to campus I just gotta text my friend to not wait up to drive me home.”

Josh dug into his bag for his phone and began to send a text. “My car is currently in the shop” he noted looking back up at his handsome mentor feeling slightly out of place.

Hell, even if these assignments are crap at least he’s pretty too look at. I can see why people liked him more than Mak though.

“Where are we headed then?”

[knockoutlives]

Are You Ready To Wake Up?

It was okay to be a few minutes early but being this early was out right unfashionable. The room before him was completely empty. Oh well, he would survive this “faux pas”.  In the academic setting he rarely worried about how he appeared to others. To be clear: he was always going to look nice. Today for example, he wore a medium washed pair of Saint Laurent jeans, a pale pink button up shirt courtesy of his mother’s new fashion line, and matching gray shoes and blazer both from a Michael Kors collection.

His hair was also purposely styled to show they he gave effort but not “too much” effort. Whatever that was. He would always give a large amount of weight to his physical appearance but his social appearance tended to take a back seat when he was in the world of writing or between the walls of a school building. Here he relaxed and let his work do all the talking.

Blaise took a seat towards the back of the room and set his brown leather satchel next to him. According to his phone, he still had about twenty minutes to kill before anyone showed up. He really should have stopped for a coffee before he came. In fact, he had enough time to enjoy a good pairing of espresso and biscotti. He rarely passed up the chance to munch on a pastry coffee combo and of course today just had to be one of those occasions.

Determined not to wallow in his awkwardly earliness, he rummaged through his satchel until he emerged with an eyeglass case and a book of The Best American Essays. This class was assigned the 2016 edition as one of its required reading texts but the one Blaise held in his hands was an older edition, a little worn, from the year in which he himself was a student in his class.

 Back when he was undecided, his parents gunned for something practical like accounting or business but in his gut he knew those weren’t the right fit. It wasn’t until he thumbed through the pages of this essay book, highlighting and jotting little notes, did he realize that writing was the path he should take. It seemed fitting that on the day he turned from student to master that he would do so with this book in hand.

Blaise slid on his reading glasses and proceeded to dive into his book. The glasses were a fairly new bi-product of aging.  He was not yet thirty but his near perfect vision insisted on decaying. In the back of an abandoned lecture hall, Blaise could afford to care more about the content of his book than how dorky he looked in his new spectacles. He managed to get through a whole essay before he a vibration from his cell phone pulled him back into the real world.

 Adam Everett has uploaded a new photo to Facebook

 Blaise smirked knowingly at the notification. His cousin Adam rarely posted on social media and when he did it was usually about his budding romance with a silver haired guy named Spencer. Although he teased his cousin relentlessly about being a hopeless romantic, Blaise himself could not help rooting for two people in true love. He clicked on the notification to see the latest “Spadam” adventure.  

Once the notification was opened, several thumbnails of photos flooded the phone screen. The “new photo” of interest was actually a part of a photo set entitled “Hot Chocolate Rune Winter 5k” which contained about twelve photos. Scoff. Prior to Spencer, Adam was definitely not a photoset type of person.  Still, Blaise continued down the rabbit hole of sappiness and clicked on the first picture of the set. It was a selfie of sweaty damp haired Adam and the flawless silvered haired Spencer just after Adam finished his race. The next photo was one of Adam by himself holding his racing number and the photo after showed him just  as he was crossing the finish line. Most of the remaining photos alternated between the race itself and cute selfies of the happy couple. The second to last photo, however, featured a group picture with Adam and his friends including...Troi Bentley

Pining: An Interlude (Draft One)

ive feet away from me you stand. A goodbye on your lips you need not to utter because the remnants of the last goodbye still echo in my ears. Please stay right where you are so we can be suspended in a world in which I don’t have to watch you turn away. I don’t want to see your disappearing act again. Especially if this is the grand finale and you will never return to this stage. I do not know if I can bare to end this show. I do not know if I can bare to see you with a different leading man by your side...Five feet away from me you stand. You make it seem so far...

The words to an old piece of prose poured into Blaise’s head as he took in a picture of its muse. A refined draft of this piece appeared in his senior portfolio years ago, but the words embossed in his brain were from the original version. Blaise jotted down draft one after a particularly ominous evening with Troi Bentley. Somehow that night was not the complete end and they found themselves drifting back toward each other again and again. 

This photo of Troi and Vinny emphasized there would be no return to Troi this time. Or ever. Blaise figured their permanent ending was ultimately for the best. After all, the pining boy needed to be set free and the disappearing boy needed to go back to the one person who could make him stay and remain visible. Blaise paused on the picture for a couple of more beats until he digested this odd feeling that was not quite jealousy.

“Mr. Monroe?” A familiar female voice called for Blaise’s attention. He looked up to see Ms. Elizabeth Martin standing a few feet away from him. The perfect subject on which to purge the words that still clouded his brain.

“Five feet away from me you stand…” Blaise started, “ Please stay right where you are. Let’s stay suspended in a world in which I don’t have to watch your eyes flicker away as they allude to your impending disappearance…” He stood and walked towards her as he recited what he remembered from a slightly newer draft of his prose. When made sure to finish bridging the gap between them just as his piece also came to an end.

 Ms. Martin stared at him in contemplation until something clicked. “‘Pining: An interlude?” she asked.

 “I knew you were in love with me,” Blaise smirked. “What kind of TA can hear random lines from a student’s work and still identify the piece years later?” 

“One who has a substantial memory,” Ms. Martin retorted and turned to take her place at the podium in front of the room. Blaise went back to retrieve his items as well as to cast his reading glasses into hiding. With all his belongings properly organized, he claimed a new spot near Ms. Martin as other mentors and students began to come in.

“As I was saying, it is okay to admit you had a crush on me. You aren’t my TA anymore. I promise you won’t get in trouble.” Blaise’s teasing solicited a subtle eye roll from Ms. Martin. She was not particularly upset or annoyed as much as eye rolling felt like a perfectly natural response to Blaise’s nonsense. “C’mon Liz. You’re attractive, I’m attractive. You’re intelligent. I’m intelligent. We’ve both got the writing thing going on. It’s only natural. Let me take you out to dinner- lunch even. And if you can resist me by the end then fine we’ll still have our great working relationship.”

Ms. Martin, the multi-tasker, had been using the time during Blaise’s monologue to finalize the list of mentor/mentee pairings. She peered over at him from the list once his rambling had came to an end. “You know Mr. Monroe...I am seeing Larry.” She was sure mentioning Lawrence Fisher, a new professor within the English department with whom she went on numerous dates over the past couple of months, would force Blaise to take things down a notch. She should have known better.

“Larry, oh right. He can come too. You know I swing both ways,” he playfully winked at Ms. Martin.

“And that is my queue to get things started.” A somewhat embarrassed Ms. Martin turned her attention toward the classroom that now had full attendance. After a brief introduction and some further instructions she began to call out pairings. “Mr. Joshua Depola and Mr. Blaise Monroe…”

 Blaise smiled and scanned the room for his match. Luckily, even without a raised hand, Joshua would have stood out. There were only a few male students taking the class and no one else had such a rich orange-red set of locks. He gave a nod to acknowledge the raised hand and Ms. Martin continued to call out the pairings. But wait, had she really said Joshua Depola or was it his discovery of the unsettling picture earlier that was warping his perception. He would find out soon enough. Either way, he would also make sure to approach the kid with an open mind. It was his duty as a mentor. 

One all of the pairings were announced, Blaise collected his bag, thanked Ms. Martin for putting up with him, and headed over to where his mentee was sitting. Up close, the younger male was a little cuter than expected and had an aura of...broodiness maybe. Not to worry, Blaise encountered many broody types in his world of art and writing.

“Hi, I’m Blaise Monroe,” he introduced himself and extended his hand for a handshake. “Can I buy you a coffee? I have a good place in mind that is not too far from here.” Getting to know his mentee while sipping coffee at his favorite cafe seemed like a win-win.

[knockoutlives]

We Start With Stars In Our Eyes

As it turns out, one cannot call his cousin out of the blue and demand to take out their ferarri with little to no explanation. Adam learned this the hard way just after he finished showering. He was headed down the corridor wrapped in a lush white spa robe.  Staying at the Monroe Estate felt like living in a luxury hotel. Although his side of a family had its share of wealth, they also liked to keep things simple. The Monroes erred more on the side grandeur. Right before Adam reached his room, he was intercepted by his cousin.

“Let’s take a walk,” Blaise said as. he wrapped an arm around Adam’s shoulder to steer him in the right direction.

“B I don’t have tim-” Adam started to say and slowed down the pace.

“Oh, sure you do. You didn’t expect me to just give you my precious baby without any explanations did you?” Blaise interrupted. He had a point and Adam knew it. Reluctantly, Adam followed his cousin outside of the guest wing and to another bedroom on the opposite side of the mansion. “Bedroom” felt like an underwhelming way to think of where Blaise resided. It was more a small one bedroom apartment as there was a separate seating area away from the neatly made king sized bed and a kitchenette.

“Have a seat,” Blaise gestured to one of the plush arm chairs in his seating area. “Can I offer you a scotch?” he asked as he headed to a drink cart stationed on a wall behind the chairs. He knew it was not Adam’s drink of choice but it was all he had at the moment. He was working on being a “responsible adult” and cutting back on his alcohol intake seemed like a good place to start.

“So. You want my ferrari so that you can get laid tonight?”

“No,” Adam shook his head. Some of the remaining water from his damp hair dripped onto his robe. “I need it to pick up my date.”

“Right. You need impress your date so that he will have sex with you at the end of said date.”

“No,” Adam sighed. “Look, I know I literally just met him and we talked for a short amount of time, but he seems really special. Y’know? I could actually connect with him in a way that I haven’t with anyone in a long time. So, if this is our one night together before I have to go back across the country, then I want it to be amazing. I want it to be just as special as he is because he deserves it.”

“God Adam you’re such a hopeless romantic. Really sappy. It’s like you’re an Nicholas Sparks character,” Blaise teased. “Fine. You can take the ferrari,” he conceded and took a swig out of the scotch glass. “You also win parting gifts.”

Blaise stood and motioned for Adam to follow him to the more bedroom like portion of the room.

“Can I interest you in some cologne? I know just the scent that will make you irresistible in case you change your mind about hooking up.” He opened a large armor to reveal shelves and shelves of cologne. The nice way to put it would be that Blaise was a collector. It felt to Adam that he was more of a hoarder.

“No, I think the French ‘shower gel’ in the guest bath has that covered” Adam shook his head.

“Okay, but this next thing is non-negotiable. Take a seat at the vanity and I’ll be right back.” Blaise disappeared into the connected bathroom and returned with a warm face cloth and some type of facial care product.

“Really Blaise? What part of I don’t have that much time do you not understand?” “The part where getting my ferrari is also contingent on doing an exfoliation mask. You can’t show up and do your Prince Charming act without flawless skin.Just let me do my magic. It’ll only take 10 minutes to dry. If you leave it on longer than 15 it will be your funeral.”

Knowing that further resistance would be futile, Adam slumped back into his chair and allowed Blaise to use the cloth to “open his pores” and then start to apply the mask.  After a couple dabs with applicator brush, Adam allowed his eyes to flutter shut. The procedure felt more relaxing than expected. And soothing. He was not even aware that his skin needed soothed. Or maybe it not his skin as much as the predate nerves he had been trying to suppress.  

The “all done” a few moments later came a little too soon.

“Feel better?” Blaise asked.

“You know I thought you were being evil but you’re actually a genius,” Adam said as he rose out of the plush chair.

“I’ll forgive you for the mistake. But just to clarify...I’m an evil genius” Blaise smirked. “Now get out of here and don’t forget to take it off in ten minutes. Let me know if you need help peeling it off.”

“Thanks.”

By the time he arrived back to his room, six minutes remained on the facial timer and another twenty five before he finally had to leave for Spencer’s place. Just enough time to throw an outfit together and make his hair look presentable. 

As usual, the first task seemed to be the more the more complicated than the two. Adam’s friends would argue that he fell closer to the “fashionably challenged” end of the spectrum. Growing up in the middle of nowhere Tennessee did him no favors in that department. To be fair, he was not bad at picking out clothing for his friends; he knew their perspective clothing styles quite well. It was in these moments, with the pressure of an impending date or important event he must attend, that he tended to be very hit or miss. Adam usually enlisted Troi for help but he was hundreds of miles away and probably enthralled with his in his re-kindled relationship. It was worth a shot to try getting his attention though.

Adam used his oversized phablet to snap a picture of himself in facemask and sent it to Troi Bentley with no explanation. If anything would get Troi’s attention it would be this sight. The dancer/skincare enthusiast always nagged Adam to try facial masks. Of course Adam always refused.

There was no immediate response to Adam’s photo so he started in on his hair with the necessary comb and product to get it all into place. Luckily he mastered this task well enough to finish just as it was time to peel the mask from his face. Also lucky, he had watched Troi remove facial masks so many times that he could also accomplish peeling the tightly wrapped mask with only a couple of winces. Blaise was right his skin looked way more refreshed and “prince” like.

Still no word from Troi. He’d have to settle for the next best thing and play a game of “What Would Troi Pick?”. It might have been easier to go get his cousin, however, he did not want to impose too much. Adam was always overly conscious about asking for too much and Blaise had already done him a huge favors with the facial mask and the ferrari.  So he was left to wonder WWTP? As he had already done his hair any pull over shirts were out which narrowed down his options to just a couple of shirts.

He picked the one that wasn’t plain white and constructed a Troi Bentley approved outfit.  Satisfied with his hair, outfit, and nonexistent pores, he made his way to the large driveway where the Ferrari was waiting. As he walked, he drew his phone out of his slacks to check for a response from Troi. Still none. Ugh. But since he had his phone in hand, he might as well text Spencer to let him know on the way.  He smiled once the simple message was sent.  A couple of more paces and he was face to face with a beautiful red ferrari.  The top was already down which made him glad he used an extra strong hair gel. Prior to now, Adam’s preoccupation with setting up “the perfect date” eclipsed his own thoughts about how crazy fun driving around in a luxury car would be. He slid on a pair of sunglasses, revved the engine, and started toward Spencer’s place in hopes that they would both enjoy their evening.

Adam found himself at Spencer’s doorstep ringing the doorbell. He was vaguely aware that no one seemed to bothered to greet their date at the door anymore but of course he did not care. His mix of southern gentleman and borderline obsessive romantic made it impossible to stay inside his car after letting Spencer know he had arrived.

A few nervous moments later, Adam looked up to see Spencer appear in the doorway. “Hey Handsome,” Adam said with a smile. Exactly what he said in his text message a few minutes earlier, but he couldn’t think of a more suitable way to greet the other male. He was happy to see that Spencer was just as striking as he remembered. Also happy that serendipitously meeting an intriguing and attractive guy at the park turned out to be a reality. With a change of clothes Spencer looked even better than what Adam remembered.  The rich hazel color of Spencer’s eyes pierced through the tint of Adam’s sunglasses. But Adam couldn’t say the same about Spencer’s hair which seemed...silver? Was that actually his hair color or were the sunglasses playing a trick. “Where are my manners?” He shook his head. It was somewhat rude to peer at your date from behind dark lenses. He slid off the sunglasses and tucked them onto his shirt. Spencer’s hair was still silver but brilliantly so. Adam would never be as brave as to dye his hair that color but it worked for the other male. It was just as bold as as Spencer. “The silver really suits you.” Adam resisted the urge to reach his fingers up towards the other male’s hair in a way reminiscent of their earlier park encounter.

“Shall we?” He asked gesturing to the ferrari.

[knockoutlives]

We Start With Stars In Our Eyes.

“You have a what?!?”

“A date, he's a guy I met at the park. I dunno, there was just a spark. Like we've met before. It's probably nothing asides a one night thing.”

“A One Night Thing? Spencer James! I don't want to hear anything like that!”

“Relax Abby! I don't mean sex, I just mean. He probably lives down here, and I'm up in Philadelphia. So asides this one date I doubt I'll see him again unless I'm here.”

“Well as you know I'm not opposed to seeing my favorite nephew more often…”

“...She's actually not kidding, I know I can sometimes be a downer. But, she gets more excited to see you then her own son” said a voice coming into the kitchen.

Spencer looked down at the glass of water and then looked towards his cousin. Kevin stood in the doorway in a pair of sweatpants and an oversized hoodie. The boy hadn't really kept up with appearance as of lately. Due to his relationships, “break”.

“That's not true, I love being around both you boys!” Abigail said from her seat across the counter from Spencer. “But. Because you were asleep when Spence got in last night, I'm going to let you two catch up and go check on Sam and Joe, and make sure their homework is actually getting done. You both know, if they don't actually work they'll be at eachother's throats” Abigail smiled and squeezed Spencer's shoulder, as she left the table and kissed Kevin on the cheek, before leaving the kitchen, feeling the air of the room shift almost immediately.

The tension in the room that seemed to amplify as Abigail left and continued to grow, up until Kevin spoke from the sink where he was pouring himself a glass of water, eyes facing the window in front of him, clearly not fully present on the room. Snapping out of the daze, Kevin spoke.

“I left him. Not the other way around, if that's what you're thinking. I mean. Everyone seems to think that, when they hear that we're on a break. How could Prima, the love struck doe, leave the reformed man slut that is Mak MacArthur? It's always written on their faces, even when they don't ask. But, it was easy. I told him to get out.”

“I mean…”Spencer took a breathe, this wasn't how he was planning to ask his cousin how the break happened. He originally planned on avoiding the conversation, until it was just awkwardly there staring them in the face. But, clearly Prima wanted to rip that band-aid off, with whatever skin was attached to it. “...yes I grew close to Mak. But, you're blood Kev. Your feelings are more important to me then his.” Spencer got up from his chair and leaned on the counter next to Kevin, “He did try to talk to me a few weeks ago. Maybe, a week or two after your breakup but, I didn't respond or answer him. It wasn't my place to get involved.” The younger boy sighed softly as he placed his hand on the older's shoulder.

Kevin tensed slightly under Spencer's touch, and then turned to his cousin. His eyes were glassed over, and Spencer couldn't help but pull the older boy into a hug. “Listen, whatever happens to you and Mak. I'm gonna be here to help you pick up any pieces on the ground. Even if that means dragging your ass up to Philadelphia and keeping you there for some time. Hell, I'll even bring you up to see Vinny in New York if you want. Last I saw online he and Troi were living together, and had a pretty nice place. Whatever will help you, I'm here and so are the others. We love you.”

Kevin took a deep breathe into Spencer's shoulder, and let the floodgates loose on his cousin's shoulder while he was being reassured. Sniffling he removed his tear stained eyes and looked up at Spencer admiring how much his younger cousin had grown in the past few years. His eyes scanning Spencer's face,and the landing in the damp shoulder his face had just been burried in.

”I'm sorry.”

A soft laugh escaped Spencer's throat and he smiled. “I have to change anyway, so let it all out if you have too”

“I heard...you're seeing Josh again? I thought that didn't end too well.”

“Oh no, not Josh. Though I did awkwardly run into him at Starbucks earlier.”

Kevin laughed softly and grabbed Spencer's glass of water from the counter for a drink, before wiping his eyes again with his hand.  “Was my idea, of setting you two up that bad of an idea? I mean he's only four years younger than you. It couldn't have been THAT bad. I mean you still haven't told me about what even happened on that date.”

“And that's a story for another time, because I'm not even going to try to explain to you how it went. Ever heard of the Nighthold Raid? Or, the Emerald Dungeon or something like that? No, neither did I. And it just got better…..” Spencer sighed as he started out of the kitchen with Kevin a few steps behind.

“Now, I need you to help me get ready for tonight.”

~~~~~

“Relax, it's just a date.” Spencer whispered to himself as he looked into the mirror and ran a hand through his silver hair. He for once was glad he had packed an extra outfit or two. Years ago his mother had began drilling it into his head; always pack an extra set of clothes to impress. You never know when you're going to be put on the spot.  He laughed at the thought of his mother, which in turn also calmed himself down slightly.

Normally he didn't give any real thought to his outfits. If he was going to class or to the studio he didn't really care about his appearance. Though, he always looked put together, even if his jeans had paint stains down the legs or his band tees were overly wrinkled, it was him. Though he couldn't lie; he enjoyed getting the care packages from his aunt with all the new samples her boutique had.

“Earth to Spencer….you awake in there? Because if you're accepting what you wearing right now I'm going to get my mother to go into total makeover mode”

Snapping out of his thoughts Spencer turned away from the mirror and towards his cousin. “No, Abby isn't needed at all, jerk” he said with a laugh as he playfully threw his black t shirt at his cousin. “You know if she came in to help, she'd change her mind fifteen times and Adam would be waiting on me for an extra hour, minimum.”

“Oh? So this mystery man, is picking you up from the house?”

“Yes, and soon.” Spencer said as he grabbed his phone from next to Kevin to check the time fast. 7:45  “Fuck.” he mumbled disappearing into his rooms bathroom and closing the door halfway behind him to still hear Kevin.

“Are you even going to tell me about him? Even his name?”

From the bathroom Spencer sighed as he dropped his black basketball shorts and boxers, laughing at himself internally. Are you really changing into more appropriate underwear? Just to potentially look good if the night goes there? Yes. Sliding a pair of simple black Calvin Klein trunks onto his lower half, he looked in the medicine cabinet's mirror and sighed. All that confidence he had earlier at the park was gone, or at least hiding.

“His name is Adam, and honestly I can't tell you more asides that he plays soccer. Wether it's just a hobby, or what I will be finding out tonight. Notable features include dark beautiful hair, deep never ending ___ eyes, and a southern accent that I could used to hearing.”

“Says the boy who was just telling my mother, it'll probably be a one night thing. Did you put on your 'Im getting laid underwear’?”

With a grin on his face Spencer left the bathroom, now with a pair of faded jeans on (that hugged him in all the right places) and headed past Kevin to the mess of clothes spilling out of his suitcase. “Perhaps. All I’m going to say with that is don’t wait up for me.” “Spencer James!” Kevin said sitting up from the bed where he was laying, and looking over at Spencer as he pulled a tan polo shirt over his head. “Don’t be stupid.” “Kev, relax. I promise, I have no intention of sleeping with someone I just met. I mean, ya we joked about it. Like, flat out admitted to each other in not so many words, that I could easily take him down.” Spenders continued as he fastened a brown strapped watch to his wrist, and feeling a vibration come from his pocket.

Hey Handsome I'm on my way.

Unable to help it, Spencer started smiling and couldn't help rereading the simple text message over and over, as simple as the message was. It has felt like years since another guy had pined over him, nonetheless called him 'handsome’ without trying to get in his pants in years. Not that this couldn't be just a local woo-ing someone from out of town, with thoughts of getting lucky.

“The southern accent is common here right?” The smile dropping slightly from Spencer's lips. “Or, is it just by chance?”

As if knowing where his cousin was going, he stood up and smiled at Spencer, before turning him around and looking at the two of them in the mirror. “We're going to have one of those sappy moments in front of a mirror like they do in all those movies from the nineties.”

“We don't have to” Spencer said running a hand through his silver hair and sighing softly. “I mean he seems like a nice  guy, so I'm just gonna wing it and see what happens.”

“Good, you deserve this.”

Spencer stepped away from the mirror and slipped his feet into a pair of brown leather shoes. “How do I look?” He asked turning around to face Kevin once more.

“I mean I've been looking at you for the last 15 minutes getting ready and I didn't correct your outfit once, I feel like that says alot right there. But, you look fine. If this guy's doesn't at least try to put any type of moves on you, he's gotta be straight.,”

Feeling his phone vibrate once more in his pocket l, Spencer looked down at the notification on his screen;

Here.

“Oh. My. Ferrari.”

Hearing his cousin's statement Spencer joined him by the window and let his jaw drop slightly gazing down at the gorgeous red car at the curb. What am I getting myself into. Before he could comprehend his thoughts, or the fact that the driver was no longer in the car, Spencer heard the doorbell ring.

“I’ll get it!” Kevin almost shouted as he started for the door to head down the stairs to the front door.

“To hell you will” Spencer said as he shoved past his cousin, through the doorway, and down the stairs. Almost tripping over himself every step of the way, he straightened himself out arriving at the landing and proceeded to walk the final steps to the front door.

Through the frosted glass he could could only make out the shape of Adam as he took a fast breathe to try and center himself one last time. This was the first time anyone had met him at the door. Usually, even with his friends back home there was the stereotypical 'here.’ text and then he made his way to the car, or the outside of his building. Granted it was a total different type of situation then the one that was playing out before him, but this alone made him giddy on the inside. Someone was actually acting chivalrous, towards him.

“Open the damn door!” Kevin all but hissed from a safe spot on the staircase to observe.

In one fluid motion, Spencer reached for the door and tugged on it lightly.

“Hey there”

[knockoutlives]

Are You Ready To Wake Up?

“Welcome to Creative Non-Fiction Writing, I am Professor Elizabeth Martin. Please….”

Please, take your pencil and shove it in your eyes and blind yourself. Josh thought as his fingers played subconsciously with the stapled corner of the class’s syllabus. He had already skimmed the first page, and found himself getting lost in his own thoughts. Of course this wasn’t the class or the professor’s fault. No, it was actually his brother’s.

His brother had moved away from Trigger officially only a few months ago, but he had hardly been around in the past four years. They were once closer than brothers could be, and then something changed. He still couldn’t really put his finger on what actually changed about his brother. Vinny had gone through a lot with the loss of Troi, the boy Josh had thought was going to become his brother-in-law back then. He still could, being as the pair had been working on themselves for the past almost year, and maybe that was why Josh started having issues with his brother. In the end, he still was happy and in love. Unfortunately, Josh wasn’t that lucky and deep down inside, that might have opened the divide more and more. The crack that spread the two apart  wasn’t all on Josh though. Vinny put his fair share of distance on the brothers, but that, that wasn’t what was currently gnawing at the back of Josh’s head.

Shaking the thoughts of jealousy from the front of his mind, Josh looked down at the syllabus and forced himself to try and at least focus a bit on the matter at hand. The small woman smiled as she continued to address the class and continue down her syllabus. She wasn’t a young woman but she wasn’t as old as dinosaur bones, which came as something as a shock to Josh. He was told by a friend who had previously taken this class that the professor could rival the beauty of Medusa. This woman though, was probably in her mid thirties, and if Josh was straight could see her having a bit of a ‘Stacy’s Mom”-MILFy look going her way. If, he was straight. Fortunately he was one of the four boys that had decided to take this class, and the rest of the twenty four students were female. So unless any of the other students decided to put the moves on Ms. Martin, the semester may be uneventful in the scandal departments. Josh yawned as he followed Professor Martin’s instruction to flip to the second page.

This is where it looked interesting, the syllabus was divided into a few sections. Ranging from ‘Required Reading’ to the division of how the assignments were going to be graded. But, the section that interested him the most was a part that read 'Semester-long Mentorship’ Josh couldn’t help but smile as he skimmed the blurb and listened as the woman finally arrived to the mentoring portion of her syllabus.

“And now that I’ve given you all more than enough of the syllabus, we can all use a 15 minute break, and then we can regroup in the small lecture hall down the hall, and I can introduce you all to your potential mentors.”

Josh sighed once more and rolled his eyes. The one part of this class I was looking forward to..

Standing up he stretched backwards; which in turn caused his his black hoodie to rise up, revealing a grey t-shirt. Straightening himself out Josh reached down for his messenger bag and pulled out a bottle of water to drink.

He looked around at the students that didn’t take advantage of this break as a quick smoke run, and tried to observe his classmates. A few of the girls that remained he had seen around campus, giving him a once-over once or twice. Josh wasn’t quite on the 'popular’ level, but he did get quite a bit of attention for his looks.

That was one thing he enjoyed about his family, they were all blessed with good looks. Annalynn; his twin, got all the boys attention at Florida University. Her relationship status on Facebook changed quite regularly Vinny’s had stayed stagnant for a while after the break up, but now had returned to its proper status with Troi Bentley. The thought of the couple was enough to cause Josh to rolls his eyes again, as he gathered his blazer and bag to head to the lecture hall.

Walking in he couldn’t help but smile politely at the group of people seated on display next to the professor’s pulpit. They all seemed to know one another and were speaking amongst themselves. Josh did a quick headcount and noted there was one mentor for each of the students. There was one guy that stood out the most to Josh. Asides his almost perfect jawline and perfectly styled hair, Josh was impressed that he was the only mentor addressing the professor herself, and they were both in what looked like a friendly heated debate.

Taking a seat about halfway up the amphitheater-like hall, Josh took another sip of his water and pulled out his phone. To his surprise Facebook had not refreshed since his earlier scroll, so he was stuck looking at his brothers most recent post, which brought the twinge of jealousy back to the foreground of his thoughts.

“These two met us at the finish line! #hotchocolate5k #winterinthecity #winter2017” was the text to go along with a picture of Troi and Vinny, and their friends Adam and Spencer after finishing the 'Hot Chocolate 5k’ up in New York City. Normally, pictures of Troi and Vinny made Josh happy, but now Spencer was brought into the picture.

Spencer and Josh had gone on one date and things just didn’t work out. But, Josh was told by Spencer’s cousin, Kevin that they would be a perfect match and had gotten Josh’s hopes up. Of course Josh didn’t truly have anything against Spencer but it made things uncomfortable. A couple of times Spencer had stopped into Josh’s Starbucks and just flat out ignored him. The guy had just left a bad taste in his mouth, and now whenever he saw his brother and friends in happy relationships Josh’s jealousy tendencies came out to play.

He just wanted to be happy, and overall he was usually overlooked by everyone. It’s not that his family didn’t love him, but being the only Depola child still in Trigger apparently made him the 'runt’ of the litter for lack of better terms.  Vinny was hardly around ever since he and Troi made up and moved in together. Granted miles separated him and his brother but Josh still heard little from him, compared to when Vinny first went on tour and they talked almost everyday. Annalynn, well she kept to herself at school and even when she was home she was always out with friends. While their parents decided to live the life of an ‘empty nest’ couple, though they still had one bird in the nest. So, more often than not Josh was alone to his own devices, which consisted of nights staying in gaming. World of Warcraft, or Pokemon you name it he played it.

Not even bothering to refresh his news feed, Josh closed out the Facebook app and returned his phone to its place in his bag.

Finally, the rest of the class began to filter in, and take notice of the mentors in the front of the hall as they took random seats. Already the students were beginning to form cliques and all Josh could do was simply roll his eyes as they began to whisper amongst themselves and point at the mentors. The mentors had seemed to stop talking as Professor. Martin finished her conversation with Captain Jawline, and she approached the pulpit where all the focus was now on her.

“It’s so nice to see you all again!” The women said as she flipped through her notes and turned back towards the group of mentors to her left. “These are some close colleagues of mine, that have volunteered to come pair up with you all for the length of this semester. I’ve learned through my career as a writer, that networking is the most important tool you can have in your toolbox. But, even more important then networking is guidance. Of course I can give you as much guidance as I can, but by being able for each of you to work on these assignments with your mentor. I feel you will grow and learn far more things then I can teach alone.”

As Prof. Martin started in on her lengthy explanation as to why she decided that this semester was going to be the first she used this ‘Mentoring-Pilot Program’, Josh began looking at the mentors and vainly crossing ones off his list do to their appearance. No matter how many times he scanned the group he kept on catching his gaze on Captain Jawline. He was dressed up, a bit more than the other mentors. His hair was short, but spiked up a bit. And, in all honesty he looked not only younger then all of the others, but he looked familiar. A face like his though, he would not have forgotten so easily.

“You’re going to be meeting with your mentor atleast twice a week, and that can be on your own schedules, or one of the meetings can be during the second half of our class. I’m willing to work with both students, and mentors” Elizabeth said glancing back at the mentor’s. “ The class will be a learning experience for all of us! You will have an assignment assigned by myself every week, and your mentor will also assign you writings that will directly reflect what their area of expertise is. So without further ado, I’m going to pair you all up with your mentors! To make this all fair I’m going to pair each student and mentor in the order that they arrived here today.”

Josh smiled as he heard the professor, knowing full aware that he was the first student in the class.

“Mr. Joshua Depola! You will be partnered with…” she skimmed down her notes and smiled “… Mr. Blaise Monroe.” Captain Jawline smiled, and looked up at the students looking for any acknowledgement as to who he was paired with.

Blaise Monroe.

Josh’s mouth went dry as he waved his hand up to acknowledge Blaise.

“Shit.”

[knockoutlives]

The Death Of a Bachelor

For pleasure? Adam glanced doubtfully at the five pound book but  seeing Spencer’s smile convinced him it was the truth.  Or maybe he just thought so because the smile was so endearing. Either way, he took Spencer’s word. “No, not shocking as much as refreshing,” he said assuringly. “Maybe I’ll take on the challenge one day.” In a few years when he was done with medical school and could finally relax, he’d crack open the book along with a bottle of bourbon.  That is if he even survived medical school.

He came to Trigger to escape the stress of school and yet here he was thinking about the impending doom of readings and clinical. His mind was still slightly pre-occupied as the other male talked about where he left off reading.  However, with the gesture of fixing Adam’s hair, Spencer recaptured Adam’s full attention. Not just his mind. On edge hairs and racing heartbeats indicated a response from Adam’s body as well. Intentionally slower breaths allowed him to continue through the rest of the conversation without having a heart attack.

 His heart did almost stop when Spencer called him Wonderboy. He thought he heard the nickname earlier too but had been standing out of reliable earshot. Although this time was clear and direct, Adam still had to ignore it. Their current subject matter left no room for digression lest they wanted to dissipate the exciting tension building between them. He’d have to ask about the Wonderboy thing another time if he got the chance to see Spencer again.

“No, I’m not a prude,” Adam shook his head . “I’m just saying there’s a line between public displays of affection and public indecency...” Innuendo clung to the air and elicited images of the two devouring one another right there in the park. Perhaps they’d find themselves on top of Spencer’s blanket. Perhaps he’d run a hand up Spencer’s shirt as they locked lips. Perhaps...Adam should focus on his breathing again. He couldn’t get too lost in this erotic daydream. There was still the matter of asking Spencer out so that he could see Adam squeaky clean and nicely dressed.

At first Adam merely suggested they should hangout but then quickly changed his mind and asked to see Spencer the same night. Sometimes boldness pays off. This time, for example, Spencer agreed to the date, jotted down his contact information on notebook paper, and handed the small sheet over to Adam along with the exact hour he would like to be picked up.

“Yes, I’ll be there at eight.” His fingers grazed Spencer’s as he reached out for the note and another electric current pulsed from his finger tips, up his arm, and throughout his whole body. He was glad he was still a little flushed from the soccer game. Otherwise, his attraction to Spencer would have been that much more evident. Not that he needed to hide it. If he was reading this situation correctly then he was sure the attraction was mutual. Unfortunately, he could not just stand there stupidly looking into Spencer’s eyes with his arm still extended. He reluctantly pulled out of his trance to fold and slip the contact information into his pocket.

“Please excuse me. I have a date I have to get ready for.” He gave one last smile before slipping the paper into his pocket and turning back towards the deserted soccer field.

As he walked, he felt his pocket to make sure the paper did not slip out in the short amount of time it took to travel a few yards. Yes the paper was still there, deep in the pocket of his athletic shorts but it wasn’t enough to put him at ease. He fished out and unfolded the paper to make sure he did not imagine the information exchange.  A name, address, and phone number were indeed scrolled in decent enough lettering. Although he wasn’t a Trigger native he recognized the street name immediately. He knew the area was decorated with houses almost extravagant as his own family’s. He’d have to bring his A game.  In just a few more steps he made it back to the sideline of the soccer field where he left his belongings. Before sliding on the drawstring bag, he took out his cellphone and quickly dialed his cousin’s phone number. He cut to the chase as soon as the other line picked up.

“I’m taking the Ferrari tonight.”

[knockoutlives]

The Death of a Bachelor

“For pleasure..” Spencer added with a small smile, “ as shocking as that probably is for anyone to believe. The story is actually pretty amazing, if you get past the fact that the book is almost five pounds in it’s entirety.” Though Adam was clearly keeping his cool, Spencer couldn’t help but notice the slight rigid-ness in the others stance. While removing the grass from Adam’s hair, he all but felt the connection flood through the two of them, but as soon as the contact broke it was as if Adam could not relax. Spencer could feel the emotions radiating off of Adam, and the exciting tension between the two was enough to dry out Spencer’s mouth so that he could barely swallow what little saliva was in his mouth. “You could, but you shouldn’t” “What? Not into a little public display of affection, Wonderboy?” he said playfully as he pushed off the tree and was now firmly back on the ground. Not only did Spencer have both feet on the ground, but he could once again feel the heat and tension radiating off of Adam as the other boy spoke into his ear, about the two of them tangled up in a dirty, sweaty mess. Not that Adam had specifically said that the two would be tangled into each other but, it was a beautifully vivid painting inside Spencer’s head. It had been months since he had any sort of connection with another male, and even then the kiss goodnight was the last moment they had shared. Spencer, had never been one to hook up, none the less sleep with someone on the first date. He was quite old fashioned, and liked his men to be the same. He never truly let a man touch him unless he felt completely comfortable, and if they tried to kiss him and he didn’t initiate the gesture. Well, that was when he found an escape route. But, here and now. All his logic seemed to be thrown out the window as he stood there standing only inches apart from from Adam. Adam, a guy he had just met, and he was already thinking of how fluidly they would move together if he had decided to take him down, right here in the park. All inhibitions would have been lost. Adam would have somehow gotten the sweaty soccer player onto his back, and straddled him to the ground. Their lips mashing together, and hands exploring one another's bodies.Adam’s strong hands running down Spencer’s thin frame, while Spencer’s hands got lost in the other’s hair. He wouldn’t have given a care in the world to be entangled with Adam at this very moment. “I really should go get cleaned up. But we should hangout sometime…” Snapping out of his elaborate wet dream, while awake, Spencer took a breathe. Which also didn’t help his current state of mind, because he practically inhaled only air laced with the sweet and salty smell of Adam’s musk. Taking another breath Spencer tried once again to shake himself out of this trans and respond to the other. But, before he could even comprehend the other’s first statement. It was as if Adam took a page out of Spencer’s book and flat out asked him out for that evening. Taken aback for a moment from such a bold move from the other, Spencer could just return the hypnotic gaze into Adam’s eyes. “Well, I mean I did have plans with this soccer player tonight. I mean, he never really gave me the full low down on what he had planned though...” Spencer said turning away from the boy, and kneeling on one knee in front of him; reaching into his pack. Quickly grabbing his Moleskin notebook, he jotted down his cousin’s address and his own cell phone number, and ripped out the information. Standing back up he smiled looking back into Adam’s eyes.”...but I like surprises.” Handing the piece of paper over to Adam, he looked briefly at his watch. 6pm “So you’ll be picking be up around eight?”

[knockoutlives]

The Death of a Bachelor (Adam and Spencer)

The name “Reading Guy” obviously suggested that Spencer was reading when Adam approached, however, Adam never took note of what the other male was reading in the first place. The comet reference made little sense to Adam until he glanced down to see War and Peace resting on Spencer’s blanket. He had been assigned the book in literature class his Sophomore year of college but he was ashamed to admit he never read the book in full. The demands from his other classes lead him to fumble through SparkNotes to help with his final essay.

“Were you reading for pleasure. Or…?” Not pleasure? An assignment? Spencer looked to be about Adam’s age but there was no way of knowing if he was also a student. Whatever the answer, Adam was impressed that the other male actually took time to read the book.

The goosebumps forming along Adams arms suggested that Spencer also made an impression  when he stepped forward to brush a few grass blades out of Adam’s hair.  The comment about easily taking Adam down was also not missed. Did Spencer really need to get that close? Did he need to to make physical contact with Adam? Did he have to be so provocative?   The answers to these questions indicated that Adam should have been taken aback but instead he was just taken. He found himself attracted to Spencer’s boldness in the same way moths were attracted to bright lights that were sure to kill them.  

“You could but you shouldn’t. This is a family park after all. Wouldn’t want to cause a scene.” Adam gave a sly smile.  He argued against Spencer taking him down right then and there but really found the idea appealing. It’d be another opportunity for Spencer to invade his personal space. They’d cause a scene all right and it would err on the side of “Rated-R”.

“We also wouldn’t want to get you all dirty and sweaty.” Spencer’s getting so close had also made Adam painfully aware of his less than optimal appearance. He needed a shower, a hair brush, and some clothes that suggested he may be a civilized human being after all. Again the dilemma of needing to leave but not wanting to end his time with Spencer resurfaced. Maybe he could have his cake and eat it too.

“Speaking of,” he gestured to himself to emphasize how much of a hot mess he was at the moment. “I really should go get cleaned up. But we should hangout sometime…”  

‘We should hangout sometime’ was a line from a book Adam flipped through a couple years ago during a rare occurrence in which he had time to leisurely read. The idea was that if you asked someone to go on a date directly they could easily say no whereas suggesting the two of you ‘hangout’  is less committal and more likely to elicit a positive response. He had no intentions of leaving things so vague but it was still a nice primer.  Spencer had been bold so far and now it was Adam’s turn to be the same.

“And by ‘we should hangout sometime’ I meant I’d love to see you again tonight if you aren’t busy”. Adam dove back into the other male’s hypnotic hazel eyes as he waited for a response.

[knockoutlives]

The Death of a Bachelor (Adam and Spencer)

Those blue eyes, or were they green? Between those eyes, and that hair. All he could focus on was running his hands through the others dark hair, and that jaw line with the slight stubble. This was someone from his dreams, maybe that was why he seemed so familiar? Spencer closed his eyes and tried to bring himself back down onto earth and away from the fever dream that was making his mouth go dry.

“They call me Adam” If the wink didn’t make his heart beat a tiny bit faster, than the southern accent was sending him into overdrive. His mind was once again moving at more than a mile a minute and he could barely focus on the guy in front of him. Closing his eyes for a mere moment Spencer tried to slow his breathing. What the hell is going on with me?

“Hmmm, Adam…” Spencer said smiling as the boy went to return the ball to the other soccer players.“ I think I prefer WonderBoy, but Adam will do” Hoping that Adam didn’t hear the end of his comment. How much longer can you quote Hercules, before you sound like an idiot?

“... you could take me down right here right now if you wanted.”

There were words coming out of Adam’s mouth, and Spencer was registering them mentally, but the only thing that was registering in his head was the fact that Adam; though not blatantly, was flirting with him. Flirting back at him, with a bit of sass right back at him. A grin crossed his face as Adam finished speaking. “Well, I was just getting to the part about the Great Comet of 1812, when your ball entered my orbit. But, no your ball did not disrupt my time reading that brick of a book.” Spencer said as he once again began to give Adam another once over. It took less than a few seconds but it felt like hours as he began to inspect the other, down to every little detail. The sweat that glimmered across his forehead, and dripped slowly down the side of his face and down his neck.

Spencer should have stopped there because his mind went straight towards what he could do to the other males neck. This of course ranging from soft kisses along his jawline, to leaving a hickey the size of a small country down his neck and onto his collar bone. The other’s body was clad with a white tank top that hugged his body nicely, but due to the amount of sweat Adam had produced during the soccer game was literally see through, and at that point Spencer had to look away from Adam for a moment.

And in the following moments it was as if someone; or something was controlling him. Because even he couldn’t believe that he had stepped closer to Adam and used his fingers ever so lightly to brush a few small blades of grass out of Adam’s brown, almost dark copper locks.

“You know, I could take you down easily right here. Right. Now” He added with a smile as he stepped back, out of Adam’s personal space.

[knockoutlives]

The Death of a Bachelor (Spencer and Adam)

Wow. Hazel. He had seen those eyes before right? But where? Adam could not shake the familiarity but, even with the aid of Spencer’s name, he could not figure out if they had definitely already met. With no new developments in this mysterious case of deja vu, Adam resolved to plainly stare into those eyes for a period of time that was borderline un-natural. In that moment, he decided hazel was his new favorite eye color. If it weren’t for the fact(s) that they were standing in the middle of the park, it was against social etiquette, and his team mates were still waiting for the soccer ball, he  wouldn’t have minded getting lost in that pair of eyes for a while.

Spencer’s follow up statement about being a “big boy” also prompted Adam to pull himself out of the trancelike state. Or more like: pull himself out of Spencer’s eyes so he could do a quick scan over the rest of the other male’s body. Yes he was a “big boy” indeed. God. What an attractive male. Maybe Spencer felt so familiar because he made an appearance in one of Adam’s wet dreams.

Just as Adam had processed Spencer’s statement he was hit with another dose of sass. Spencer merely asked for Adam’s name but the way he asked, with such fierce attitude, amused and intrigued Adam. Rippling pectorals? Who says that? Adam laughed and shook his head at Spencer. A smile spread across his face as he finally had a chance to respond to the other male.

“They call me Adam,” he winked back. He was usually self conscious about his accent. At school he was especially careful to reel it in to more of a subtle trace instead of a bold characteristic. However, based on Spencer’s reaction, Adam could sense it was okay to let his accent slip into it’s natural state. Not overbearing “country hick” but one could definitely tell he was not a Yankee. It still fell into the realm of “charming” for those who were into that sort of thing.

Being back in reality, and not swooning over Spencer’s eyes, made Adam painfully aware that he still needed to return the soccer ball resting under his arm to it’s rightful. He did not want to end his conversation with the other male but it would be rude to keep the ball hostage. Reluctantly, he asked Spencer to “excuse him for second” and turned to face the soccer field to see the expectant faces of a few of the guys who had stayed for the ball.

Adam took one step toward the field and realized he didn’t have to entirely excuse himself from Spencer’s presence in order to deliver the ball back to the field. Obviously, if the ball had been kicked over to this location then it could be kicked back. He waived to the guys to make sure they were paying attention, took one step backwards, then quick stepped forward to punt the ball over to where the guys were standing. Tall Lanky Guy caught it and gave him a thumbs up. Success.

“Anyway,” Adam started as he turned back to talk to Spencer. “You are clearly not a damsel in distress. Hell, I bet you could take me down right here right now if you wanted. It’s just that ‘they' also taught me to do things like check in with people and apologize for my friends’ idiotic actions.” He locked eyes with Spencer once again. “So, what I should have said was: ‘excuse me sir, I apologize if my friends and I disturbed your reading’. Can you forgive me for the mishap?”

There was a small amount of flirtatious cheekiness as Adam spoke. As there was truth in that he did genuinely want to apologize, his sass was not as potent as Spencer’s. Adam didn’t think he could be that sassy and outspoken if he tried. He wanted to carry out this conversation for a little longer. He was not ready to get over Spencer’s bold personality or those hazel eyes.

[knockoutlives]

The Death of a Bachelor (Spencer and Adam)

“And there in the middle, high above Prechistensky Boulevard, amidst a scattering of stars on every side but catching the eye through its closeness to the earth, its pure white light and the long uplift of its tail, shone the comet, the huge, brilliant comet of 1812, that popular harbinger of untold horrors and the end of the world..”

As if he was reading his own story on the page, Spencer looked up to just see amidst the pale blue sky to see a soccer ball, the huge, brilliant soccer ball, fly past him and into the bushes.

“GOAAAAALLLLL” Spencer heard the soccer players cheer, as he looked over towards them. He had gotten a bit lost in Nineteenth Century Russia, that he had completely forgotten the soccer game happening not far from him. Rolling his eyes he looked over to where the soccer ball had rolled and sighed. He had hoped to enjoy some of the muscular men, until upon second glance he noticed that only a few of them were eligible in his age range. The others were simply jailbait, so he had switched focus onto his book. That was until now.

By the time he looked back towards the game to see if they were waiting for him to get their ball. There was a guy walking towards him. Thank god, I didn’t want to move. He thought to himself as a small smile dawned on his face. The smile turned into more of a face of awe as one of the ‘shirts’ made his way towards him and the ball.

The time seemed to slow down in his mind as the stranger approached him. As his features began to sharpen, Spencer’s grin remained in place. The guy acknowledged him and went straight for the ball, but then turned his attention to Spencer. “Hey, are you alright?” The boy said with a southern accent.

There was something familiar to Spencer about this boy, and he couldn’t put his finger on it. The accent? Those beautiful green eyes? Every little detail about this guy seemed familiar, but as soon as Spencer thought he knew who he was the idea vanished into thin air.  

The boy stared at him a moment to long, as if to fill the silence with glances all around him and then landing on his eyes behind the Ray-Bans. Smiling, Spencer rose from the ground to find out that he was just a tad bit shorter than the familiar boy he had deemed ‘Hot Sweaty Soccer Guy’ in his head,

“The name’s Spencer, but my friends call me Spence.” he said removing his Ray-Bans to reveal his hazel eyes, feeling an odd bit of deja vu. The other boy must have felt it too, being as they were both caught in each other’s eyes for a few solid beats. “And, to answer your question I am okay. I’m a big tough guy, I can tie my sandals and everything” he added with a wink. “So, did they give you a name with that southern accent and all those rippling pectorals?”

What was he doing? Where did this courage, and sass come from. This was completely out of character for him. Yet looking into those green eyes, he felt something change inside of him. Something he had never felt before.