FicWad

Melissa looks carefully at her face in her pocket mirror, checking to see if any lipstick has been smeared. Because she and Chris has kissed at least twice since she applied lipstick on just before they left. She then wonders if it’s a good idea that she took a long jacket instead of a heavier coat. For some odd reason, the temperatures went up since that day in the grocery store. The weatherman said that it’d be up to forty-one degrees in the afternoons, and lows have been down to thirty-one. But then he said that after tonight, the temperatures would go down again. So, for children, that means that snow may return. Because the cold rain bullshit yesterday has pretty much been bullshit.

Melissa sighs and puts down her pocket mirror. She has on pants, so she figures that it wouldn’t be problem standing out there in a line while the temperature is about thirty-five degrees. Yeah, I think she’s gonna freeze. At least she has gloves. “I think I look okay,” she says to no one in particular. Chris, who’s driving the SUV, glances at his girlfriend and smiles.

But Sid, who sits behind the two along with Craig and Jim, simply raises an eyebrow. “Why do you feel that you need to dress up for this?” he asks.

Well, Melissa turns around and replies, “What I’m wearing is casual.”

“Pfft. What I saw when we came to your apartment is definitely not casual. I mean, none of us are really dressed up for this thing, and all we got are shirt and jeans. /You even got your hair in a bun/.”

“You know that the only reason she’s dressed up like is to prove to all of us that she is in fact not a man.” And that was Corey, who is stuck sitting back in the cargo area. Melissa sighs exasperatedly at that and glares at the window.

“Don’t even listen to him, Missy. I think you look beautiful,” Chris says, smiling. Melissa grins back at her boyfriend.

Corey groans, exasperated at how pretty much small his space is. There’s also the risk of being stopped over by the police because you can’t really have someone sit over in the cargo area. Plus, he’s pretty much drunk, having drunk three beers before they left, and so that he made sure Corey came with them, Jim decided to drink three beers as well. “Still say she’s a man,” he mumbles. Jim hears that and grins, trying not to laugh.

“How are you holding up back there?” the tall man asks his friend.

Corey sighs. “I can’t even move that much, man,” he mutters.

Jim can only smile faintly. “Maybe we can trade places?”

Sid blinks at that. “Jim, there’s no fucking way you can fit in there, man.”

Corey tries to ignore the fact that Jim’s willing to break his back for him. “Sid’s right, dude. You’re better off where you’re at.”

Chris looks into the rear-view mirror. “Well Corey’s the shortest, so he’s the only one that can fit in there,” he says.

“I got a better idea. How about we switch places with Melissa so that I won’t have to hear her whore mouth,” Corey retorts.

While Melissa has to bite her lip to avoid shouting back at Corey, Sid laughs. “But she’s a lady, man.”

“So?”

Craig looks around the car. “Didn’t you say you’re picking someone else up? How is that person gonna fit in here?”

“Wait, who are we picking up?”

Chris replies. “Well, then someone’s gonna have to sit on someone else’s lap.”

Sid blinks and shakes his head. “Yeah, no, man. Last time I sat on Craig’s lap, he almost died. I don’t sit on people’s laps anyway.”

“I’m not doing that, either,” Craig replies.

Chris rolls his eyes. “Well one of you will have to sit in the cargo area. Someone that isn’t Jim.”

Well, Craig and Sid glance at each other, before looking at Corey. And Corey decides to say, “Just so you know, I tend to fart in here.”

Sid sighs just as the SUV stops. “Fine.” He gets out of the car, shivering a bit, and he opens up the cargo door, trying very hard to get in and shut the door with out kicking Corey. He accidentally kicked him anyway and Corey pretty much told him to fucking watch it. The DJ already feels uncomfortable where he’s sitting at, and he sighs. “So who are we picking up anyway?” He can’t see the house because of where he’s sitting, but Corey can just a bit.

“Why does that house look familiar?”

Suddenly, the door opens, and when Melissa looks over, she smiles. “Hey! You look so pretty tonight.”

The person she just talked to is none other than Brenna, who simply climbs in and sits next to Craig. Well, she had thought long and hard about coming with them. She had figured that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if she went with them, and her sister even made her go, saying that she’ll watch October. So yesterday, she went and called both Melissa and Joey. “Hey,” she replies, smiling. “Thank you,” she says to Melissa.

Sid grins. “Holy shit, what made you decide to come see us?” Corey grins and waves at their friend.

She shrugs. “I dunno. Plus, my sister made me go, so...”

“Awesome!” Then Sid looks over at Jim and back at Brenna. “Oh, Bren, this is my new roommate Jim. Jim, this is Paul’s wife Brenna.”

She smiles at the tall man and says, “Nice to meet you,” shaking his hand.

“Nice to meet you too,” Jim replies, returning the handshake.

Corey grins and speaks, “You’ll have to forgive him. I got him a bit intoxicated.” Jim snickers at that, brushing his own hair back as he just slowly stops snickering.

“M’not intoxicated,” Jim mumbles, still smiling.

Corey blinks. “Shut the fuck up! Yes you are, man!”

Brenna raises an eyebrow at Corey. “You look intoxicated yourself.”

“Actually,” the former radio deejay begins, “I am.” He gives her a silly smile. “And it’s /nice/.”

“Oh wow.”

“Oh yes.”

She looks at Sid and Corey being cramped up in the cargo area, and she raises an eyebrow. “Aren’t you two seriously dying over there?”

“Yes.”

Sid shrugs. “We’re almost at the place, anyway.”

Jim grins. “If it takes any longer, they might be squished into one thing. Like Marshmallows.”

Corey groans and rubs his eyes. “Oh my god, Jim. Shut the hell up! That was not even funny.”

“It was funnier in my head.”

“All right, that’s it. You can’t talk anymore. I’m serious. Everything you’ve said since we got in this car has been too weird for me,” He opens one eye at his friend and raises an eyebrow at him, “And you can wipe that smug look off your face because it’s not getting you anywhere. Just because you get to sit at a seat doesn’t make you better.”

Jim’s smug turns into a sheepish grin, and he snickers. “Actually, it makes me a lot better than you,” he teases.

“Now you’re just being annoying.”

Brenna listens in on their entire conversation, smiling at the two, before she sits back. Melissa sighs, glancing out at the window as they arrive downtown. “I think the others beat us to the place already,” she says quietly. Charlie is taking Mick, Joey, and Shawn there. Lorraine wanted to come, but unfortunately she wasn’t feeling well. Again.

Sid sighs, unable to take the back pain. “I just wonder what’s gonna happen with you-know-who. Like, I mean, is he gonna deny that he planted those roaches in the Safari? Because we all know he did it.”

“I still don’t know why we’re all going,” Corey speaks. “It’s not going to solve anything or bring the Safari back, now is it? We all know why this shit happened in the first place. We really don’t need to keep going over there.”

“I know, but still. Maybe there’s a way to keep him off our backs, and I dunno. This may be the only way to do it for right now.”

Corey rolls his eyes, and he’d lean back and watch the lights, except the cramped space prevents him from doing that.

___

.

Shawn, Joey, Mick and Charlie have been in the parking lot for at least fifteen minutes, now. The oldest of the four can’t really help but stare at the dark, two-story building, which oddly enough had a sign that said, /Christmas Party/, and he also watched as the party-goers wait in line after they go up the very short flight of stairs. Shawn sighs, hating that they’d have to wait outside for this. The neon sign almost near the top read “Flashing Lights,” and the color of the sign changed continuously from orange to yellow to green to light blue and so on. Below that are three neon lines the goes around the building, changing in color along with the sign. But the building itself is pretty plain. But we all know that some plain exteriors have elaborate interiors.

Almost none of the guys have been near it or inside it before, and those who did go out to clubs other than the Safari or the gay club that Sid works in, would usually go to the now-closed down one. The Safari was never a thread to Flashing Lights simply because the clubs had different audiences that they target, so why would Geraldo want to shut them down for any reason (The thing with Nathan and Joey still seemed like a stupid reason), and it’s never gonna leave Shawn’s mind.

Mick looks at his cellphone. It’s eleven o’clock, and he sighs exasperatedly. “Where the hell are the other guys?” he asks.

Joey sighs at that question. “They’re picking up Brenna,” he simply replies, and Shawn looks up at that.

“You guys finally convinced her to come out with us?” he asks, feeling somewhat relieved that she’d decided to show up.

“Pretty much. I just couldn’t have her stay in the house anymore.”

Mick closes his eyes, already tired, and he just wants to get this over with so he can sleep. But then he remembers that he was going to try that.../thing/...and Joey was going to help him out with that. Well dammit. “My back hurts.” He then turns to his left, and he just happens to see Chris’s SUV pull up. “There they are.”

Shawn sits up. “Cool.” He takes a deep breath. “Let’s do this,” he says, pretty much to himself as he gets out the car, shivering just slightly as he sees his air in the cold. The others come out as well and walk up to the SUV. Most of the passengers have already come out and started talking to the others. Jim, however, has to walk to the back and open the cargo door to let out his roommate and his friend.

And as soon as the door opened, Sid nearly fell out. “Oh thank god,” he almost sobs. “I thought I was gonna die in there!” He tries to stand up and leans back, cracking his back as Jim smiles and shakes his head. “I’m gonna hurt tomorrow.”

Corey comes out and rolls his eyes before he glances at Jim and smiles a bit.

Charlie stands by Craig and Melissa and he shrugs. “Kinda glad mom isn’t here. I really don’t want her shouting at me because I’m also here to see the ladies.” Craig simply stares at the guy before he moves away and walks over to where Sid is.

Melissa chuckles. “Well, maybe you’ll get your chance.” She turns to Mick, who’s just walking towards them. “Charlie might get someone’s number over here, right?”

Mick simply stares at her and then at Charlie before he replies, “Nope,” and walks away. Because why in the hell would someone want to call Charlie? I mean seriously.

Chris shivers, wondering why no one is going inside yet. “Can we fucking go in already?”

Melissa grins and walks over to him, wrapping her arm around his. “Of course.”

Well, oddly enough, as soon as the security guard saw the group, and their invitations, he let them in pretty quick. And the surprising thing after that was the fact that there was a booth for the coats, and they were giving numbers for when they were leaving. The interior surprisingly doesn’t look all that tacky, and it isn’t large and spacey, but not cramped, either. Even though the lights, the disco ball and some of the walls change from one color to another, it’s bright (but not too bright) so people can see. There’s the dance floor in the middle, the DJ over at the other side of the entrance and a bar on a side, and are sitting areas at the outer walls, as well as upstairs.

Well the group decides to head over at the sitting area, and already several wishes that they had earplug to block out the music. I’m sorry, but Daddy Yankee’s “Pose” can really make people’s ears bleed. Chris looks over at the area after he sits between Melissa and Sid, and he sighs. “Well, I’m bored already.”

Sid grins at him. “That’s why we get drunk, dude.” He then frowns. “I really don’t wanna buy their drinks, but would they have searched us if we brought our own beers?”

“Probably.”

“They could at least play some better music.”

“Does jungle music count as good music?”

Sid simply stares at Chris. “Okay, if I play a certain type of music, Chris, why would you ask a question like that to me?” Brenna and Jim chuckle at that, while Craig smiles and shakes his head. Corey is seated between Brenna and Jim, and he sighs.

“Well, I’m drunk as hell and I’m still bored,” he mumbles. He looks over to Shawn. “What are you gonna do, man?”

Shawn shrugs. “I dunno. I don’t even know where his office is or some shit like that.”

“Does he even have an office?” Joey asks.

Mick and Charlie are at the other end, and unsurprisingly, they can’t really help but check out the girls. They don’t even care that some of them dress like it’s still summer. They also don’t care if two of them are all on each other and drunk. No, they aren’t making out, but the two men wish they were. “The girls wearing next to nothing are definitely looking for a fuck,” Mick says, smirking a bit.

“Yeah, but I’m not looking for that, you know?” Charlie replies. “Like I’m still a gentleman. I’d like a number, you know?”

“They’re not gonna give you their number, dumbass.”

Joey listens to Mick the entire time and rolls his eyes. Shawn sighs and shakes his head. “They look only a few years older than my daughter,” he says. Corey, having a teen daughter, nods at that as well. And really, what father wouldn’t be worried about his daughter prancing around wearing next to nothing when they get older?

“Thankfully, Angie is either in bed or watching movies. Hopefully not with some guy,” Corey says. Jim looks over at him and smiles gently at how his friend is looking over the welfare of his child.

Mick simply stares at Corey and Shawn. “You two are really freaking me the fuck out. I’m here to look at chicks and you two are worrying about if your daughters are gonna club. Jesus Christ.”

“Yeah, well, if you ended up getting kids, especially a daughter, eventually you’ll feel the same way.” He pauses. “Loser.”

Jim glances at Corey again and asks, “You want me to buy something for you?”

Corey glances back at Jim for a moment before he shrugs. “Jack and coke, and they better serve that or I’m gonna be pissed.”

Jim chuckles at that response. “Sure I’ll see if they have that. If not, what do you want?”

Corey sighs. “Whatever you’re having.” He pauses. “You’re not getting some girly drink are you?”

The tall man snorts. “/God/, no.”

“Good.” He then grins as Jim stands up. “No beer. We already had that.” Four bottles plus two glasses of eggnog. Hey, it’s Christmas season.

Jim smiles. “No beer,” he repeats. At that, he leaves, accidentally bumping to someone, but quickly recovering and walking over to the bar.

Joey decides that this is a good time to say something. He turns to Mick and asks very quietly, “Why are you even looking at the women?” Mick’s eyes gaze from Jim to his roommate. “Shouldn’t you be concentrating on whether you want guys or not?”

Mick rolls his eyes. “I am thinking about that. The women are just hot, though,” he whispers, not wanting anyone, especially /Charlie/, to hear.

Joey slowly shakes his head. “Well why don’t you concentrate on any guy around here that you’d want?”

Mick shakes his head. “I highly doubt any of the guys here like other men,” he points out.

“Whatever. Fair enough.”

Suddenly, a familiar man in a suit walks over to the group. Shawn looks up and sighs when it’s none other than Geraldo’s bodyguard Maurice. “Geraldo would like to invite you and two other people to see him in his VIP room.”

Shawn raises an eyebrow at that. “Um, okay,” he replies, standing up and walking over to the guy.

Joey suddenly speaks, “I’m going, too. Mick and I are coming.”

Mick blinks. “Um, no I’m not!”

“Um, yes you /are/.” Joey then stands up, and Mick mumbles some really bad words before he gets up and follows the three out.

___

Maurice walks the three up the stairs, and once they got there, he leads the three over to the other side until they see a sign read /VIP/. A guard standing outside the door simply opened it up for the four. Shawn, Mick and Joey can only exchange glances with each other before they followed the guy. Suddenly they all stop when they hear shouting, and then they blink when a blond woman storms out of the room. Maurice instantly recognizes the woman coming towards them. He tries to stop her and see what’s up by grabbing her arm. “Hey, Stella, what’s your pro—”

“Fuck off!” she shouts, and then she sighs when she sees who it is, sniffing. Well Shawn, Mick and Joey can clearly see the woman’s tear-stained eyes. She speaks more quietly, “I’m sorry, Maurice...” She sighs again, wiping her eyes as she tries to remain calm, and she continues to walk on out of the VIP room, probably leaving the nightclub period.

Joey, Shawn and Mick exchange glances at each other again before the four walk over to the room. They blink at the actual room, because it looks a bit of a mess, and it looks like someone threw a bottle of some alcoholic beverage into the wall. Probably the Stella woman that just left. There were also shards of glass from wine glasses, probably thrown in Geraldo’s direction. Geraldo himself has been standing there, rubbing the back of his head at the mess.

He glances at Maurice, Mick and Shawn, but as soon as he sees Joey, his expression hardens and he asks, “The hell is he doing here?”

Joey blinks. “Me? You said you wanted some of us to come here,” the drummer retorts.

“Yeah, but not you, Girly Legs.” He turns to Maurice. “Get him the hell out of here.”

Shawn glares at Geraldo and speaks, “He’s staying, or none of us are.”

Joey sighs. “You know what? Fine, Geraldo.” He steps back, shrugs and places his hands in his pockets. “I’ll leave, what-the-fuck-ever. Obviously he doesn’t want me polluting his VIP room with whatever I have, so I’ll just wait for you guys outside.” At that he walks out, trying not to fume and/or punch a woman in the face.

Shawn shakes his head and glares at Geraldo. “You know what, you really know how to welcome people around here,” he mutters.

Geraldo shrugs. “It’s my fault. I should’ve told Maurice to tell you guys not to bring Joey. I’m not gonna kick him out of the club, though. I just hope he isn’t stupid enough to hit on any of the guys in this. So, you two sit down. I’m...” he looks around the room, “I’m trying to get someone to clean up this mess. Relationships are pretty awful sometimes.” He glances at Shawn. “You got a girlfriend?”

“She became my wife, for sixteen years.”

Geraldo blinks. “Well shit. Pretty nice.” He turns to Mick. “You, whatever your name is?”

“It’s Mick,” the largest man replies, “and no I’m not with anyone.”

“Good. Stay that way.”

Shawn tries not to sigh as he wonders where the hell is this going.

Meanwhile, Joey has been standing by the rail, very clearly seeing the disco ball hanging from below as the third or fourth song since the group arrived starts playing. He lost count, and he doesn’t care. He seriously doesn’t even know why he’s fucking here to begin with. He didn’t really feel like going back downstairs to deal with the other guys. He probably should at least talk to Brenna sometime, but...

When he turns to his right, he blinks a bit as a man standing by him has bee looking at him. He sighs. “Is there any reason why you’re staring at me?”

The man replies, “No, not really. It’s just I haven’t seen you around.”

“Yeah and you’re not gonna see me around again after this,” he mutters, staring down.

The man shrugs. “Well, maybe...maybe you’d like to have some fun with me for a bit? Because you look like you’re in a bad mood, and I’d like to take that away.”

Joey knows exactly what the man wants, but he slowly turns to him. “I’m trying to figure out why would you offer someone to sleep with you when he could be very straight. You should do that somewhere else.”

The man chuckles. “Well, aren’t you Joey? You slept with me friend a couple weeks ago, and he told me how good you were,” he confesses. Joey sighs. Of course word gets around.

Part of him would tell the man to fuck off because he isn’t in a good mood, but the other part of him wants it because having no sex lately has been the reason why he’s so cranky. “Fine,” Joey speaks. “And where do you wanna go?”

___

Jim had come back with two glasses set them on the little table for him and Corey. But he also had to get one other, so he told his friend that he’d be back and went out to fetch a third one. Otherwise it’d be a disaster if he carried three. Actually he was going to carry all three, but the bartender convinced him to make a second trip instead. When Jim returns for good, Corey has already sipped on his Jack and coke. “Thanks,” the latter speaks. “Why do you have two glasses instead of one? And what did you get?”

Jim shrugs and smiles. “Well, I didn’t like what they had—beer, Smirnoff and some of those girly drinks, so I got Jack Daniels. Not with coke, just straight up.” He looks at Corey, hoping that he doesn’t mind.

Corey slowly smiles at the tall man and mumbles, “Copy-cat.” Jim snickers at that, and Corey then sets his drink down. “Still doesn’t explain why you got two.”

“It’s a buy a drink and get one free thing, or some shit like that. Didn’t include the mixed stuff, so I could only get you one of that.” He looks at the second glass and shrugs. “The bartender convinced me to get the second one.”

“Why did you let him do that?” Corey asks, smiling as he shakes his head.

“I don’t even know,” he replies, chuckling as he sits back.

“Well, we can split, then.” Corey says.

Sid blinks at the two. “Hey Jim, are those drinks expensive?”

Jim glances at his roommate. “What? No, they’re not, just fifteen dollars. I guess because it’s a Christmas thing?” Corey grins at that answer. “And then you can buy a regular drink and get one free.”

Sid grins, along with Craig. “Good, I’m getting something.”

Chris shrugs, deciding to get something as well. He turns to Melissa. “You want something?”

“Nah, not right now,” she replies before she stands up so that the other three can leave.

Sid turns to Brenna and then asks, “You want anything?”

“Nope, I’m good,” she replies.

Sid grins. “Good. I’ll catch you women later.” That didn’t just mean Brenna and Melissa either. Well he leaves, and Melissa sits back down.

She grins at the woman next to her. “So how is everything? You’re all right?”

“I’m a little bored,” Brenna confesses. She’s used to sitting next to her late husband and watching them and his friends shout and laugh and everything.

Corey hears this, and he laughs. “Well fucking awesome! You’re bored just like all of us. Maybe we can rent some movie when we get back or some shit like that.”

“I think most videos stores are closed by now.”

“I got some things.”

“Maybe we can sneak in Sid’s shit, like that lesbian drama he watches,” Jim speaks, coking his head to the side a bit.

Corey simply bursts out laughing at that. “Oh my god. Please tell me you haven’t been watching that.”

“I was bored.”

Corey suddenly changes the subject. “All right, you and me. Let’s play a game.”

Jim simply stares at him, before he chuckles. “What?”

“No, seriously, let’s play a game.”

“Hide and Seek?” He then snickers.

“No, goofball. We’re not playing hide and seek. The fuck are you, ten?”

“I dunno.”

“No you gotta point to a person, and that’s the person you’re shagging. Some shit like that. Someone I used to stay with did that.”

“That’s not a pretty fun game,” Jim says, and just to be silly, he gives Corey the puppy look. “I don’t wanna shag people.” Corey sighs and rolls his eyes.

“Be serious. You need to fucking close your eyes to do this, or it won’t be a fun game. It’s only fun, you’re not gonna shag them for real.”

Jim sighs exasperatedly. “That’s just like Hide and Seek!”

“No it’s not!”

“Yes it is!”

“Just close your eyes.” Jim giggles, but closes his eyes anyway. Corey grins at the guy. “And stop laughing, you’re making yourself look stupid.” Jim just laughs more.

“Can I open my eyes now?”

“No, now stop laughing! Be serious.”

Jim tries to stop laughing, but then he speaks in a somewhat grave and slow voice, “This is as serious as I can be.”

“Okay, now I want you to extend your arm out and point to wherever, and when you’re ready, open your eyes. Trust me, this shit is hilarious.” Corey can’t help but snicker at this point, and Jim sighs.

“Fine.” The tall man does as he’s told and he points to a random spot. Corey finds himself laughing, and when Jim opens his eyes, he’s dismayed to see that he pointed to a rather fat man, grabbing a bite to eat. The tall man glares at the laughing Corey and speaks, “Fuck you.”

Corey just laughs harder. “I love this game, man.” He sips his Jack and coke again. “Maybe you’ll actually pick someone that actually looks pleasant this time.” Jim rolls his eyes and sighs as he tries again. He closes his eyes and points to a random direction. Corey blinks. “Wow, Jim. She’s pretty hot.” When Jim opens his eyes, he blinks at the woman he pointed at.

Because that woman is none other than Cristina. And she blinks back at Jim before grinning. “Hey, James!” She exclaims as she walks over to sit down next to him.

Now unsurprisingly, Jim is pretty much at awe of how she looks. Her tear-shaped silver earrings, along with her read lipstick, and her choker, silver dress and black stockings seem to radiant some kind of femininity in some way. “Hey, Cris,” Jim replies, smiling. “How is everything?”

“I’m awesome!” She then blinks and takes a closer look at Jim. “You’re drunk,” she says, her smile fading a bit.

Jim sort of feels guilty for that, and he certainly hopes that he doesn’t say anything that’d mess up their friendship because of his inebriated state. “Is it that obvious?” he asks gently.

“Kind of.” She smiles again. “But I’m glad you’re having a great time. I didn’t think you’d come here, though.”

“Oh, we’re just here for somebody.” Now, Charlie, Melissa, Corey and Brenna simply stare at the two people, and especially at Cristina. Jim glances at them before he clears his throat, having forgotten about them instantly. “I guess I should introduce everybody.”

“I’d love for you to do that.”

“Well, um, this is my friend Corey.” Jim then gestures to Brenna. “This is...um...I forgot your name already.”

“It’s Brenna,” Corey simply speaks.

“And that’s Melissa.” He stops right there, but then remembers Charlie at his other side. “Oh, and this is Charlie. And this is Cristina Scabbia.”

Charlie can only grin. “Hi, Cristina.”

Melissa grins as well, but for a different reason. “It’s nice to meet you,” she says, shaking the Italian woman’s hand.

“Likewise,” Cristina replies, smiling gently. Brenna and Corey simply wave, smiling faintly.

Jim clears his throat, feeling somewhat shy again. “So, you...you wanna walk around while we talk or...?”

His female friend lights up at that. “I’d love to James. I just hope that you don’t trip and fall down again.”

“Nah, I’m not gonna trip.”

Cristina raises her eyebrow at that. She then giggles. “Ten bucks say otherwise.”

Jim sighs and rolls his eyes. “Deal. Let’s just walk around. I haven’t heard from you all week,” he says as he stands up, taking the woman’s hand. Cristina shakes her head before following, but smiles. He also takes his glass before he walks out with her. In his inebriate state, he really forgot to say anything else to the others.

Charlie simply moves closer to Corey, and he whispers, “How in the name of almighty fuck does someone like Jim get with someone like /her/, man?”

“I have no idea,” Corey simply replies.

“Why can’t I be as lucky as him, man?! I mean, I can’t ever have a woman that gorgeous?”

Corey sighs irritably. “Shut the fuck up Charlie!” He rubs his head before he takes off his hat and runs his fingers through his short hair. “Jesus fucking Christ.”

Charlie simply glares at the jobless man before he sighs. “I’m getting a drink. Anyone coming?”

Melissa replies, “Nope.” But she stands up and says, “but I do have to use the restroom, I’ll be back.” At that, she leaves, and after Charlie goes to the bar where Craig, Sid and Chris went to, Brenna and Corey are left alone.

He puts his hat back on and sighs, before he turns to the wife of his late friend. “So how are things?”

Brenna shrugs. “You know what, I’m getting there,” she replies, smiling faintly. “I mean, like I’m...I’m trying to get through things, and it’s really hard for me. Especially when I look at the girl.” She sighs sadly and shakes her head. “But, you know it’s her first Christmas, so I’m happy for that.”

“And I’m gonna give her the best Christmas present she’s got,” Corey replies, grinning.

Brenna smiles at that, but then the smile fades. “I’m sorry you lost your job, though.”

Corey sighs and shrugs. “Yeah, well.” He doesn’t say anything else for a bit. “You know the radio deejay in there now? I was thinking about it and I would really want to fuck her.”

Brenna rolls her eyes and tries not to laugh. “Oh god...”

“No I’m serious! She is one hot woman. I didn’t think about it at first because she basically stole my job, but man...”

Brenna nods. “I think Cristina is gorgeous,” she says nonchalantly. “Really. Charlie’s right, Jim is one lucky guy.”

Corey sighs at that as his smile fades. “Yep. She’s fuckable.”

She then looks over at Corey, seeing the expression on his face. She really isn’t sure of how to say this. “You seem jealous.”

Corey shrugs. “Not really. I mean, Cristina’s hot and all, but she isn’t my type.” He then wonders why she wouldn’t be his type, but then he decides to forget about that. “I can’t be jealous of Jim because he landed some hot chick from Italy while I’m single.”

Well, Brenna raises an eyebrow at that answer, and she stares at the small table, unsure of how to say the next thing as Corey begins to lift up his glass to his lips. “Um, actually I was talking about you being jealous of /Cristina/.”

At that point, Corey freezes and looks up at that comment, with his eyes on the dancefloor, and his glass never touches his lips. He slowly swallows and sits his glass back down. “What do you mean by that?” he asks quietly, his eyes never leaving the dancefloor.

She answers, “Because, I mean you were so happy with Jim until she came, and now you look a bit irritable. Like two boys playing baseball and then a little girl steals one boy’s heart. And then the other boy gets mad about that.”

Corey doesn’t look at Brenna or say anything to those words, pretty much because he really doesn’t know how to respond to that. He snorts. “You know what? You should be a comedian or something, Bren, because that was, um, that was just fucking hilarious.” He chuckles lightly again, and he takes a drink, still not looking at his friend. He believes that the reason he’s irritable is simply boredom, and he’s trying to figure out why Brenna would say that he’s jealous of Cristina for taking Jim away from him. That’s just ludicrous. But then again, he was feeling okay until Cristina came and, well, took Jim away from him. Maybe the alcohol is making him think strange things.

Brenna sighs, knowing that Corey’s avoiding this conversation, and she simply sits back. “How long have you two known each other?”

“Since ’92, and then he left around 2000, came back recently.” Corey simply replies quietly. He then shrugs and speaks a little louder, wanting to change the subject, “You know, there’s only one person that I am jealous of right now and it’s that radio deejay.”

Brenna raises her eyebrow. “Really.”

“Oh yeah. Maybe she and I can have angry sex. Wonder if she likes angry sex...”

“Oh, well you’ll never know.”

Corey laughs at that. “I love angry sex, man...” He then sighs again, unable to get the niggling thought out of his head. “I need to smoke,” he says softly, “but I don’t wanna stand outside in the cold.”

Brenna turns to Corey and replies, “Well, there’s actually a smoking room upstairs.”

Corey blinks at that. “Wait, really?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know where it is.”

“S’okay, I can just ask someone,” he replies as he finishes his drink and stands up. He looks down at the third glass of Jack, and decides to take that as well. “Well, I’m at the smoking room if anyone needs me.”

“Okay.” Brenna smiles.

Corey smiles back. “See ya.” At that, he leaves to go up the stairs.

Soon, Melissa returns and sighs as she sits down. She turns to Brenna and smiles at her, and the other woman smiles back.

___

Meanwhile, Shawn and Mick both sigh as Geraldo takes out a bottle of bourbon and pours some into his glass. Geraldo looks up at the two and asks, “You guys want anything to drink?”

Shawn shakes his head no, but Mick replies, “Yeah, you got a beer?”

Geraldo blinks and replies. “Well, duh.” He turns to Maurice. “Hey, give, um, what’s your name again?”

“Mick.”

“Give this guy a bottle of beer.” Maurice simply leaves the room before Geraldo turns back to the two men and sits down. “So what can I do for you guys?”

Shawn raises an eyebrow. “Um, you’re the one that invited us,” he simply replies. “I was going to ask why you wanted us here.”

Geraldo smiles. “Well, Christmas is my favorite holiday, and I’d like to share that joy with people.” He pauses. “By the way, I’m sorry about your Safari. Hate to see something like that close down. What caused it?”

Mick and Shawn simply exchange glances before Shawn glares at Gerlado. He replies, as calmly as he can, “Well, you’re the one that should know that, since you know, you pretty much /planted the roaches./”

Geraldo glares at them when Mick says, “Yeah that really was a shit move you did there.”

“First of all,” Geraldo begins, “What re fuck makes you think that I planted roaches into your crummy little venue club?! For all we know, you probably stored some pig head or some shit in there.”

“The Safari has been a very clean place since the pig heads incident,” Shawn replies, trying not to even wonder how Geraldo knew about that, “And we haven’t seen any roaches until that day, especially that many at this time of the fucking year.”

Geraldo sits back. “Well, it’s not my fault your friends are a bunch of shitheads who want to rile me up. People should know not to make me angry.”

“What the fuck did they ever do to you, Geraldo?” Shawn asks angrily and yet tiredly.

___

Thankfully no one came in to use the restroom the entire time Joey and his friend were in their stall. For one thing, the guy was pretty much fucking Joey hard, and for another thing, the guy tended to be vocal. Joey is a vocal person during sex as well, but not as much as this guy. The man’s voice started out as low and soft, but soon it became pretty loud. As for Joey, who lets out higher-pitched moans when the man’s cock hit his spot, the guy is just thankful enough that he doesn’t scream like that. Thankfully the drummer is enjoying the sex despite the annoying sounds, and his voice comes out as squeaks and whimpers when he’s near his release. When he finally does climax, one can hear him gasping and whining at the sensation.

Thankfully, the guy brought a condom and some lubricant as well. But then as soon as it was over, he immediately pulls out of Joey and disposes the used condom in the toilet. And after he pulls up his pants, he simply walks out of the stall, leaving the drummer there and saying not a word. After the man walks out of the restroom, Joey waits a bit before he finally pulls up his pants and walks out of the stall.

Now, you’d think that Joey’d probably feel hurt that the guy didn’t even stop to ask if he was okay, or if he could walk. But no, Joey is fine with this. He’s always been fine with it. He doesn’t want guys talking to him and asking him if he’s okay. Because he’s fine. He really hates it when the guys stop and ask if he wants to stay for breakfast. Because he doesn’t. He doesn’t want to be asked if he wants to do anything later. Most of the time, he doesn’t. Joey rinses his mouth out for sucking on the man’s cock to get it hard, and then he fixes his hair before he sighs.

He figures that Shawn and Mick are still in the room with that asshole. So, after he makes sure that his clothes are fine, he heads out of the restroom and back toward where the VIP room is at, just as the next song begins to play.

___

Brenna and Melissa are talking about how much Melissa loves Chris and their history. It kind of hurts Brenna because she knows that those two are going to live long lives together with Melissa’s son, and maybe with any future children. Still, she supports the woman, smiling and being as excited about it as she can. Brenna just happens to look to her left, and she sees Jim with Cristina walking back towards them. Melissa grins when she sees them and waves hello.

Jim notices that Corey is no longer here, so he just smiles at the two women. “Hi ladies.”

“Hi, James,” Melissa replies.

“Um, you guys know where Corey went?”

Brenna remembers where Corey told her he’d be and she responds, “Oh, he’s in the smoking room upstairs.”

Melissa blinks. “There’s a smoking room?”

“That’s what people say.”

Jim nods at that answer, and despite smoking with his friend right before they left for this, he suddenly gets the urge to smoke again. Well, he’s always smoked like how many cigarettes a day? “Well I’m gonna head back there and smoke as well,” he says to no one in particular. He turns to Cristina and asks, “You wanna come?”

Cristina shakes her head and replies, “Nah, I’m okay here.” The two exchange smiles before the tall man steps back from them.

“Cool, I’ll be back,” Jim says as he turns around and heads up the stairs.

Cristina waves back before she realizes that she’s with two women that she barely knows. Brenna and Melissa exchange glances at each other before Melissa speaks, “Hey, you know you can chat with us until Jim comes back,” smiling. “Sorta glad I stopped smoking, right, Bren?”

“Oh yeah, it can kill you,” Brenna adds.

Cristina hesitates for a bit, but then she figures that maybe it’s okay to speak to some of Jim’s friends, so she sits down next to Melissa. She knows that she’s going to be asked where she works and whether she and Jim are together. It’s something that she’s used to because it’s happened so many times. As long as she doesn’t get asked to count to one-hundred in Italian, it’s fine.

___

The room is somewhat darker than the rest of the nightclub, but even the walls in this room change color. There are about a couple other folks in there with a bar, and even two of them are just laughing their asses off about nothing. The room makes the music sound duller, but then there are speakers so you can sort of hear the song. Jim slides the door open before closing them, looking for his friend. It doesn’t take him long to find the guy looking at the ceiling while taking a drag off his cigarette. He fishes for his cigarettes and lighter in his pockets, but is dismayed to find out that he left him in his longer jacket at the booth.

He sighs and walks over to sit with Corey, hoping that the latter doesn’t mind giving one to him. As soon as Corey looks down from the ceiling, he blinks when he sees Jim walking toward him. He immediately sits up and brightens as he moves over to give the tall man more room to sit. “Hey dude. Coming here for a smoke too?” Corey asks with a very slight slur.

Jim scratches the back of his neck as he sits down. “I actually forgot to bring mine,” he replies.

Corey chuckles. “I got some,” he replies as he takes the packet out of his pocket and gives it to Jim. Jim takes one out and puts it to his mouth before Corey hands him the lighter. After the tall man lights his cigarette and exhales the smoke. He hands the packet and lighter back to his shorter friend.

“Thank you,” Jim says quietly.

“No problem.” Corey then sits back again, looking over at the couple other people in the room, but not really. He raises the cigarette to his lips and takes a drag of it, blowing the smoke afterwards. He looks at the glass and then he speaks, “I drank half of it. The rest of it’s yours.”

Jim looks over at Corey and smiles a bit. “Thanks.” He pauses for a bit, before he looks over at the man. He’s really glad Corey came with him tonight, and he actually hopes that they spend some more time together after this, or whenever. He realizes that he’s really dedicated to keeping the jobless man’s mind off of being unemployed for a bit, and just generally making him happy. “I actually came by just to see you again,” he speaks quietly as he looks down at his knees. Corey slowly turns to Jim with raised eyebrows. Jim continues, “And, um, I just wanted to tell you that m’just really glad you’re with me, you know?”

Corey simply blinks at that before he whispers, “Yeah, m’glad I’m with you, too. Thanks for putting up with me lately.” Jim smiles back before Corey sighs. That niggling thought in his head just won’t leave him alone. He sighs and decides to just say it, “So how are things with you and Cristina?”

Jim looks over at him and shrugs. “S’all right,” he replies, smiling. “I mean, I haven’t seen her in a bit so we were just walking around and talking about things.” He chuckles. “She even tried to get me to dance. She’s adorable...” Corey’s smile fades.

“I see.”

“But yeah, things are great.”

Corey turns away from the guy before he takes another drag. He doesn’t even know why he’s asking this or why he’s nervous about it. “Are you guys thinking about dating?”

“Nah,” Jim immediately answers, the alcohol in his system making him slowly shake his head. “We’re just friends, you know? I mean, I really wanted to date her, but I think it’d complicate things. We’re better off just friends. Of course,” he pauses, “if she thinks that we should be more than friends, I’m okay with that.” Jim feels kind of giddy at the thought.

Corey bites his lip at that. “Oh,” he whispers.

Jim takes a deep breath, and then he glances down at the half glass of Jack. He decides to take a sip of it and sighs. “You okay?” he whispers to Corey.

“Hmm? Oh yeah, dude. M’great.” He takes one last drag of his cigarette before he gets rid if it by pressing it against the ashtray. Some of the people are beginning to leave, but he knows others will show up. Either way, Corey wants to leave. So, he stands up and looks down at Jim. “So, m’gonna go back downstairs.”

Jim blinks at that, wondering if he upset or bored Corey in anyway that the guy’d want to leave him. Maybe it’s just the alcohol in his brain that’s making him think this way. “Oh, okay,” he can only reply, looking down at his cigarette.

Corey nods for a bit, and wonders if he should actually go or not. He looks around the room (feeling a bit dizzy doing that) and sighs, deciding to just leave. “Welp, Shawn, Mick and Joey are probably still talking to that guy. So, if they come down, I’ll call you so we can leave, okay?” Jim nods as he looks down at the ashtray, before he looks over at Corey for a moment. Corey gives Jim a subtle smile and reaches over to ruffle his hair, and the latter simply tries to move away from it, smiling a bit in his inebriated state. The shorter man sighs. “Well, see ya.” At that, he turns and walks out of the smoking room, almost tripping over one of the low tables.

Jim waits until Corey is almost out of the room before he whispers, “Bye,” as his smile slowly fades. He then sighs, trying not to shake the niggling thought out of his head that maybe the guy is avoiding him, and he honestly doesn’t know why he’s thinking this way, other than the alcohol in his brain. He raises the cigarette to his lips again.

___

Shawn and Mick sigh exasperatedly at Geraldo. Mick suddenly doesn’t want to drink his beer anymore, and Shawn just wants to leave. He knew that this visit was a bad idea, and he knew that the meeting probably wasn’t going to go well when Geraldo kicked Joey out. Shawn glances at the clock. He could be home sleeping next to his beautiful wife right now. For real. “Can you at least tell me why you’re so mad at /Joey/?” Mick asks. “Because he only slept with your brother, you know?” Shawn glances at Mick as the latter pauses. “Wait, no, Joey said that your brother made the first move.”

Shawn sighs. “Basically we really want to know why you’re worked up over something like this.”

“Yeah, I mean if I fucked your /girlfriend/, then yeah you’d have a good reason to get mad at us,” Mick muses, and then he starts thinking about the blonde that stormed off. But then he remembers what Joey said earlier and stops thinking about her.

Geraldo scoffs. “You even think of fucking Stella and I’ll sic someone on your ass.”

“Yeah, but didn’t you guys break up?”

The other man almost growls and stands up. “You know what? You people are not gonna fuck up my life anymore than you already did!”

Shawn groans. “How the hell did we fuck up your life?!”

Mick sighs and rolls his eyes. “It’s because his brother is now a fag and Geraldo can’t live with it.”

“No really, what’s the real reason for trying to take us down?” Shawn asks, glaring at Geraldo.

Geraldo sits back down. “Your friend fucked my brother.”

“Well wouldn’t that be the other way around?” Mick points out. “Because I can’t see Joey fucking anyone. Know what I mean?”

Shawn simply blinks at Mick, Geraldo does too, only in disgust.

___

Back downstairs, the three women laugh at whatever they were talking about, and pretty soon, Corey comes back to sit by Brenna. The woman looks over at Corey and smiles. “Nice smoke? Jim was looking for you.”

Corey nods. “Yeah I spoke to him,” he simply replies, wishing he had another drink.

Melissa grins and Cristina simply smiles. “Well we’re just talking to Cristina while we’re waiting for the guys.” Melissa says and then pauses. “They’ve been gone for awhile.”

“Whatever. Shawn needs to hurry the fuck up so we can get out of here.”

Melissa ignores that and turns to Cristina. “He can be grouchy at times. So, um...” She sighs, unsure of how to say this. “Well we’ve talked about Milan, what you do, your plans, our plans. I can’t take it anymore, talk to us about Jim, please?” She feels giddy and Brenna smiles and shakes her head. Cristina sighs, because she just knew they would ask about that.

“Melissa’s been wanting to talk about that for a long time,” Brenna whispers to Corey. Corey can only shake his head and glance at the dancefloor.

“I just wanna know how they met.”

Cristina sits up. “We met at an antique shop,” she replies. “And he tripped and broke his gift, so I offered to buy another for him.”

Melissa simply stares at Cristina for a moment. She then slowly smiles, trying VERY hard not to say that an encounter like that was so adorable. “And you guys clicked like that?”

Cristina shrugs. “We’re friends,” she simply replies. She then smiles, staring at the little table. “He’s a really nice guy, he’s cute and shy, and even silly at times, and I have to get him to break out of his shell at things.” Melissa grins. “And he’s just fun to be around. But I don’t know if we’d work as boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“That’s true. Being friends is nice.”

“Yeah, I want to take things slow, and if we end up feeling something more, then that’s great. He’s one of the few guys I’ve ever been comfortable with, you know?”

“We’ve only met him a few months ago, and he really is nice,” Melissa speaks and smiles.

Brenna shrugs. “I’ve only met him a few hours ago.”

Melissa takes a quick glance at Corey before turning back to Cristina. “But this guy knew Jim since they were in their late teens/early twenties I think.”

Cristina blinks at that and looks over at the guy. “Oh wow, then you really do know Jim more than all of us,” she says, smiling.

Well, the conversations really made Corey uncomfortable, and the thought that he’s been having just wouldn’t stop. Maybe he is jealous of Cristina, and maybe he is irritable because the woman pretty much grabbed Jim’s attention. He couldn’t stand to be next to the guy when they were in the smoking room. He wonders where the other guys are. He tries to smile and look over at the women. “Yep, I know him more than anyone else.” He sits back and thinks, turning away from the women. “Yeah, he’s pretty much nice and silly, and fun to be around with once you get him to break out of his shell.” He pauses. “Shy, too....gentle...” His smile slowly fades as he says this. He sighs. “Anyway, he’d be great for you, you know, if you guys decide to go at it.”

Melissa grins and turns to their new female friend. “See?”

Cristina smiles a bit shyly and Brenna nods.

Corey lets out a shaky sigh, and he seriously wants to get out of here right now. He has a good idea of where the VIP room might be, and he wants to tell Shawn to hurry the hell up. So, he stands up and simply says, “Excuse me ladies.”

Melissa blinks. “Where are you going?”

Corey simply replies, “I’m off to plow your mother and see what the fuck’s taking Shawn, Mick and Joey so long.” And at that, he walks off, and Melissa simply shakes her head.

___

Jim has done nothing but watch people come in and leave the smoking room, and the bartender really doesn’t pay attention to anybody. He really wants to go back to his true home—Jacksonville, and he hates that he has to deal with everything that he’s dealing with right now. Thankfully Uncle Scott as since gone back to Wisconsin or wherever—Jim’s too drunk to care; he only wishes that the guy died. But then he figures if the guy died then he would’ve lived life unpunished. He hates his mother for not believing him that day when he was twelve. He hates that his father treats him like crap, and he hates that his sister is never around to take care of her pregnant daughter. He’s pretty much had to.

He hates the conversation that he and Corey had last weekend. He hates that Corey suddenly didn’t want to really hang out with him anymore, at least to him. The guy could’ve stuck around. Then again, he feels guilty for leaving him to hang out with Cristina.

He sighs miserably and finishes his cigarette, setting it on the ashtray and stands up. He notices his drink and takes a long drink of it until the glass is empty. He begins to walk out, but then he notices that his shoe is untied. He really can’t figure out how he didn’t know that, or how anyone else didn’t notice. He takes a quick look at the three women about to leave out, not paying attention to anyone else coming in, and he sits down again to tie his shoe.

He’s just finishing up tying his shoe when he notices that someone has walked up in front of him. At the same time he stops and looks up, the person’s hand is on his shoulder, and he blinks when the person’s none other than Corey. And the tall man’s eyes widen even more when he realizes that Corey is closing in on him and the man has rested his leg on the couch trying to straddle him. And Jim finds himself releasing his shoe laces and sits back just as the shorter man moves in even closer and cups Jim’s cheek with his hand.

Corey’s lips touch Jim’s. He has straddled the tall man’s lap completely, and his heart races. He’s unsure of how in the hell he ended up back in this room, back to Jim. He told himself he was going to see Shawn at the VIP room, but for some odd reason, his feet took him to this room, to Jim. He doesn’t know why he’s kissing him, he just knows that it feels so surreal and awesome and that the feelings and desires that he was denying himself of could probably only be summed up into a kiss, and he could just lose himself into it right now and die happily.

Jim’s heart beats rapidly and he has almost panicked when he’s kissed. But he finds himself relaxing some, and he closes his eyes, feeling the strange warmth over that he never knew he had been craving for. It feels even more surreal to Jim, but he pulls Corey in closer so that the kisses can be deeper.

But Corey breaks the kiss, and he opens his eyes just as Jim does. Jim’s eyes widen a bit again, trying to figure out why the shorter man just did that. Corey is trying to figure out if this is real or if someone has spiked his drink. He hesitantly touches Jim’s lips with his thumbs, and the latter’s stomach is fluttered with butterflies as his breathing shortens. Neither of them says anything.

The tall man’s eyes (and maybe the alcohol in his brain) draw Corey toward the man again, and he kisses him again as they both close their eyes. Corey gently takes the tall man’s hands and squeezes them gently. He entwines their fingers together as he pushes his body against Jim’s, and they both slowly lose themselves into the increasingly deep kisses.

___

Joey looks up from his shoes and blinks when he sees Mick and Shawn come out of the VIP room. Obviously the two don’t look really happy. Geraldo kept telling the two guys that the reason that it was on was because of what happened between Nathan and Joey. And Shawn started pointing out that Geraldo wanted to take him down anyway, and he asked why in the hell would he want to do that when Flashing Lights’ targeting audience is not the same as the Safari’s at all. Most of the people who’d go to the Safari would not step in Flashing Lights at all. The Safari really was no threat to Flashing Lights as much as another nightclub that shut down.

Geraldo pretty much kicked them out after that, telling them that he’s going to take them down. Yeah, the meeting has convinced both Shawn and Mick that the guy is pretty crazy. Mick glances at Joey and smiles a bit.

Joey then sighs and asks, “How did it go?”

“He kicked us out,” Shawn mutters. “This was a fucking waste of time, and if I don’t get the hell out of here I’m going to scream.”

Joey shakes his head at this. “Well, I knew it wouldn’t go well at all.”

Mick shrugs. “I think he’s psychotic.”

Shawn shakes his head, trying to calm himself down. “You guys can stay, but I’m getting the hell out of here. Charlie’s gonna have to chase the girls the next time.”

Mick blinks. “What? I’m not staying here. Fucking wait up—”

“We’re not staying here, but Mick and I are going somewhere else,” Joey speaks.

His roommate turns to him. “Really?”

Joey simply stares at Mick at such a dumb question.

“Oh...”

Shawn raises an eyebrow. “Oh, all right.” He steps away as he begins to walk down the stairs. “Well I’ll see you guys sometime, then.”

“See ya,” Joey speaks as Shawn disappears. He sighs and turns to Mick for a moment.

Mick simply bites his lip and glances at the disco ball. “So, I guess we’re doing the thing now....?”

“Well, unless you’re chickening out now, yes,” Joey simply replies, not saying much else. He wishes that Mick would just say that he didn’t want to do this so that they both can go home.

Mick nods, feeling a bit nervous already. “I don’t wanna go to the club Sid works at, because it’s too....weird.”

Joey sighs. “I told you, we’re not going there. I know another place. I just hope it’s still open.” He tugs the larger man’s shirt to get the guy to follow him, and he seriously hopes that some good comes out of this. “I know Shawn doesn’t wanna talk about what happened, but maybe you can feel me in on the way to the place.”

“Whatever,” Mick replies, following the drummer down the stairs. “I still think that guy is psychotic...”

Joey looks over at Mick, and then he smiles faintly. He sighs then. “Very.”

___

Corey finally breaks the kiss after what seemed like an eternity. His eyes remain closed as are Jim’s, and he finds himself touching the tall man’s cheek with his lips while he has his hands in the hair. Jim almost nuzzles against Corey before the latter slowly pulls back completely. They both open their eyes and stare into each other’s, and Corey moves in closer so that their foreheads can touch, even though Jim almost kissed him again. He looks up at the tall man and he slowly giggles in a low tone. “Smile,” he whispers. “Wanna see you smile.” Neither of them still knows how they ended up like this. Or why they can’t pull away.

Jim slowly does as Corey tells him, and gives him a cute smile. “M’smiling,” he whispers, his speech slurred slightly due to him being intoxicated.

Corey slowly and hesitantly runs his hands up and down Jim’s chest, and Jim closes his eyes again, loving how the man’s hands feel against him. Corey watches Jim, suddenly feeling aroused and nervous at the same time. “You like it?” he whispers. “The kiss? You like me kissing you?” Jim looks into Corey’s blue eyes again, and he nods.

“Yeah,” he whispers.

“Can we kiss again, this time with tongue?” Corey asks.

Jim nods and parts his lips, and Corey leans in and strokes his tongue against the tall man’s lips while they both close their eyes again. Jim then slides his tongue out so that they’ll touch. At the feel of this, blood rushes to Corey’s groin, but he tries very hard not to give his arousal be known. The fact that he is aroused now is surprising to him. Meanwhile, Jim finds himself longing for Corey more and more. He realizes that this is what Corey wants, and feeling even more desperate to have the man by his side and for them to be close friends again, he’d gladly give himself to him. In fact he wants it just as badly.

“Did you like that?” Corey whispers.

“I like everything,” Jim whispers. Corey licks his lips, feeling a bit nervous still, but then he finds himself sinking down and pressing himself against Jim’s body, letting their crotches touch. Jim’s stomach twitches at this, and he takes a deep breath, his heart racing once again. He exhales shakily and Corey bites his lip at the feeling.

“What do you want?” he whispers.

“Um, I wanna make you happy,” Jim whispers, tilting his head back as he closes his eyes. Corey looks up at his friend. Jim continues, “Because I don’t like how fucked up your life is lately, and I owe you.”

Corey blinks at that, and he unintentionally presses his hips against Jim. “You don’t owe me anything.”

“For leaving you. And I thought I said something to upset you earlier when you left me here.” He wraps his arms around Corey, loving the warmth that the two are radiating from their bodies.

“You don’t owe me for saying something to upset me.”

“I meant when I left.”

“You talk too much.” Corey sighs and nuzzles against Jim as he hums, the alcohol in his brain unable to actually comprehend anything that the tall man just said. He turns his head and plants tiny kisses on Jim’s neck, and Jim parts his lips in pleasure.

And then Jim says it, “I want you.”

Corey pulls back from Jim, surprised. He wants it too, but he hasn’t anticipated Jim feeling the same way. “You want me?” he whispers.

“Badly...” Jim presses his hips up against Corey’s slightly, and the latter lets out a trembling sigh. “Wanna do everything with you, and make you feel so fucking special...wanna touch you...”

As much as Corey wants to fuck Jim’s mouth right now, he keeps wondering why Jim’s so into making him feel good. But he loves it so bad. He loves that Jim’s willing to stick around for him, and that they miss each other, and Jim’d do everything with him. As far as his intoxicated mind is concerned, this is no different. It’s just another thing they can do. “I wanna feel special,” he whispers hotly, his eyes locked with Jim’s, and he slowly uses his hand to unfasten his jeans. He looks up at the man almost shyly and whispers, “Touch me?”

Jim blinks at Corey and down at his unfastened jeans as their stomach are both filled with butterflies again. Jim nods and slowly snakes his hand under the jeans. Corey shivers when he feels the hand on his clothed cock. Jim breathes in and out more rapidly, as does Corey, and the former snakes his hand through the boxers, his own cock twitching when he feels the soft flesh that he’s caressing. “So soft,” Jim murmurs.

Corey lets out a soft and low moan, and he tilts his head back, losing himself into his pleasure. “Of fuck yes,” he breathes as he presses his cock against Jim’s hand. Jim leans in to press soft kisses on his neck, and Corey whispers, “Make me feel good, James.” He swallows, the butterflies jumping around his stomach. “God, make me feel so fucking good...”

A loud laugh from outside the smoking room stops the both of them, and Corey turns around to see that although no one else is in the room, two people are about to. He gently takes Jim’s hand away, having forgotten that they’re in a very public place.

“We should go...” Corey whispers, and Jim nods, both of them feeling nervous as the former gets off of his friend.

“Somewhere private,” Jim murmurs.

Corey looks over at him, and he takes his hat before grasping Jim’s hand, standing up and pulling the guy with him. He fastens his jeans, before he looks up at his tall friend with desire in his eyes. “C’mon,” he whispers, as he walks backward before turning around and walking out of the smoking room. Jim clutches the man’s hand and follows.

___

Corey was going to take Jim to one of the restrooms, but Jim finds a closet in a much quieter and more secluded area. Corey wants to ask the tall man how he managed to find secluded areas like this, and it doesn’t take him long to figure out that Jim probably had some experiences with other people in these nightclubs, whether it was his friend’s choice or the choice of the people he dated. It kinda makes Corey frown, but there’s nothing he could do about what Jim did in Jacksonville.

Jim manages to get the door open despite it being locked and he opens it for Corey, who simply goes inside. He takes Jim’s hand and slowly pulls him into the closet before he shuts the door. The shorter man finds a light switch and flips it on, and he takes off his hat and sets it down on a box. They both stare at each other before they each lets out a little giggle at what they’re about to do. They’re both nervous, and yet they both want this.

Corey smiles gently as he leans against the door and whispers, “S’been a long time since we did this together.”

Jim’s heart races slightly as he sits down on one of the boxes. “It is,” he whispers. “I missed kissing and touching you.”

Corey almost smiles seductively as he cocks his head to the side, digging his thumbs into his pockets. “Well, we’re in a private place now,” he whispers. “And you want me, and you wanna make me feel good...”

Jim bites his lip and whispers, “C’you come to me?”

As Corey grins and walks over to his tall friend. “Shit, I’ll do more than just come to you...”

Jim blinks at that and shakes his head as he gently pulls Corey closer to him. Corey smiles and moves in, brushing the tall man’s hair back so that he can see his eyes. He leans in to kiss him deeply, wanting to straddle Jim’s lap again. But then, as soon as Jim leans back, the box opens inwardly due to the man’s weight, and the two men go down with it. Corey blinks and swears, but then smiles a bit when he sees Jim chuckling drunkenly.

“Jesus!” Corey speaks as he stands up and pulls Jim up with him. “Don’t need to be sitting on boxes. You’re heavy.” Jim snickers at those words.

“Should sit on the floor,” he murmurs.

“All right then.” Corey finds a good spot and gently sits down, pulling the tall man with him. Jim smiles and sits down in front of the shorter man, before he leans into kiss him gently. Corey closes his eyes and wraps his arms around Jim’s neck. Jim leans back some, spreading his legs apart so that Corey can move in closer. The shorter man is on his knees between Jim’s legs, now, and he deepens the kisses, inserting his tongue into the man’s mouth again. Corey slowly takes off Jim’s scarf and lowers a hand down to the man’s buttoned shirt, and he begins to slowly unbutton said shirt. Jim’s stomach twitches, and he almost breaks the kiss to look down at what his friend is doing. Corey breaks the kiss and opens the man’s shirt up and is surprised to see nothing on his chest and stomach still. He’s equally aroused, and he begins tracing his fingers down on the man’s chest and down to his stomach. Jim pulls his stomach inward, and he breathes somewhat shakily at the feeling.

Corey smiles faintly and begins rubbing the palms of his hands over the man’s nipples, and Jim closes his eyes and tilts his head back. Corey leans in to kiss Jim’s lips again while he continues to tease the man’s nipples. Jim pulls back and turns his head so that he can kiss his friend’s neck, and Corey ends up tilting his head back to give Jim more room.

Jim’s soft kisses on one side of his neck brings out a soft moan from Corey, and then the former decides to take thing further and slowly slides a hand from under the shorter man’s shirt. Corey gasps at the feel of the hand on his skin, and he presses himself against that hand. Jim kisses Corey’s throat a little more firmly, and in response Corey finds himself breathing heavily at the feeling.

Jim teases Corey’s skin with his tongue, and Corey lets out another moan, almost shivering in pleasure. Jim is basically drinking in his friend’s pleasure and wants nothing more than to do anything to get more out of him. He slowly unfastens Corey’s jeans, and as soon as the latter realizes what the man’s doing, he almost whines and presses himself against that hand, wanting it on his half-hardened cock so badly. When Jim finally does trace his fingers against Corey’s cock, the latter lets out a relieved moan, and when the tall man begins to slowly stroke him, Corey desperately clings to Jim’s neck, combing his fingers through the hair.

Jim almost purrs at how nicely the man’s fingers feel, and Corey begins to slowly rock his hips in time to his friend’s strokes. “So perfect,” Corey breathes, gently nuzzling against the side of Jim’s head as he begins panting softly. Jim thrills inwardly at what he’s doing to his friend, so he tightens his grip on the man’s cock but continues to stroke him slowly. Corey whines and begins fucking Jim’s hand. “Oh god, Jim!” Corey moans in a slightly higher pitch, and butterflies flutter in Jim’s stomach in response.

Jim stops kissing his friend’s neck so that he can whisper, “Lie down,” and he removes his hand from the man’s cock. Corey almost whimpers and lets go of Jim so that he can lie down on his back. He pulls Jim towards him, desperate to have the man’s body on top of his own while he spreads his legs for him. Jim supports himself on his arms and then his elbows to avoid crushing his smaller friend, and then he gently lies on top of Corey. He leans down, closes his eyes, and kisses his friend deeply, and Corey wraps his arms around the man’s neck, stroking his friend’s hair. Jim soon leaves the man’s lips and begins kissing his jaw and then down his neck, and Corey presses his head against the hard floor, letting out shaky sighs.

Jim once again teases Corey’s neck with his tongue, and he reaches down for the man’s cock again, stroking it a little faster than before. “Oh fuck!” Corey moans a bit loudly, wanting to take off his shirt now because it’s becoming warm. Corey doesn’t know if Jim read his mind or not, but he’s thankful when Jim lets go of Corey’s cock for a moment, to push his shirt up. Corey immediately sits up a moment to take off his shirt, and Jim blinks down at the man’s tattoo-covered chest and stomach, having already seen the man’s tattooed covered arms. Corey lies back down and pulls Jim with him, just as Jim begins examining the chest tattoo, as well as some of the others. “I have an addiction to tattoos,” Corey whispers, smiling up at Jim and brushing his hair back. Jim smiles back again and notices the pierced nipple, and then he leans down to plant a gentle kiss on the chest tattoo. Corey shivers at the feeling of the cold ground on his back mixed with Jim’s warmth.

Jim then moves from Corey chest to his nipples, planting kisses on one and then on the pierced one, tugging the ring. Corey hisses, and shudders, delighted that Jim remembers what he likes. He soon looks down and sees his tall friend kissing down to his stomach, and his exposed cock becomes even harder in anticipation. He can only breathe Jim’s name as the latter takes hold of the hem of his jeans and pulls them down just slightly. He lifts his hips up to help Jim, and he reaches over to nudge down his boxers. Jim’s heart races as he pulls down as well. He wets his lips and slowly lowers down, taking his friend’s cock in his hand, and he gently takes it into his mouth, sucking it gently.

Corey gasps and blinks in awe at what’s happening, and he lets out a low whine, reaching out to his tall friend’s hair and trying not to lift his hips just yet. He lies his head back down on the floor, combing his fingers though Jim’s hair as the man’s hot mouth leaves him breathless. Jim relaxes under Corey’s hand in his hair, and he soon begins to slowly bob his head up and down, teasing the man’s cock with his tongue. Corey lets out trembling sighs at the feeling, feeling dizzy as he keeps his eyes closed, and he soon lets out another soft moan.

He begins to slowly lift ups his hips, which makes Jim pull back slightly. Corey in response cups the tall man’s cheeks and slowly guides him back down, trying to assure him that he won’t hurt him as he gently rock his hips up. He notices that Jim’s had his eyes closed the entire time, and as he continues to stroke Jim’s cheek and hair, he whispers, “Please look at me.”

Jim feels warmth flow through him at the gentle gestures, and he slowly opens his eyes to look over at Corey, his heart beating faster. Corey in response bits his lips at those eyes, and he tilts his head back, closing those eyes again and trying very hard not to tell Jim that he looks adorable right now. Jim soon begins to bob his head faster, sealing his lips around Corey’s cock, and the latter groans in a higher pitch, arousing Jim even more. The tall man moves his hands from Corey’s hips up to his chest, playing with the man’s nipples, and soon one of his hands move up to the shorter man’s lips.

Corey cries out at the sensations, before he willingly takes two of Jim’s fingers into his mouth, fighting the urge to want to suck off Jim after this is over. He fucks Jim’s mouth gently, and Jim quickly adapts to bobbing his head in time with Corey’s hips. He presses his own cock against the floor at the sight of Corey sucking his fingers, and he presses his tongue against the man’s cock.

The sensations soon send Corey closer to the edge, and he takes Jim’s fingers out of his mouth, whimpering, “I’m getting close, Jim!” He grips his tall friend’s hair, and the latter moans at the feeling, preparing himself for the shorter man’s release as he sucks off the tip of his cock.

Corey climaxes, gasping and letting out a whimper as he thrusts up in his friend’s mouth, and Jim blinks before he swallows in the man’s seed. Corey almost sobs at the overwhelming sensation and bites his lip. Jim slowly pulls off the softening cock, licking his lips, but then he’s pulled up toward Corey and is kissed harshly.

“So amazing,” the shorter man breathes before kissing Jim again, moaning in his mouth as he tastes himself. He grips Jim’s hair again before he pulls back, his eyes brimming with lust. “You lie down now,” he whispers, and Jim blinks at that, having not expected to have Corey do anything to him.

So, he lies down on his back, and Corey sits up and pulls his boxers and jeans back up, not fastening the jeans right now. He climbs on top of Jim and immediately reaches for the man’s jeans, unfastening them. Jim is kissed again, and is already dizzy from what’s about to happen, as well as the alcohol in his brain. He shudders and lets out a shaky sigh against Corey’s mouth as he feels the man’s hand on his cock, and Corey beings stroking it gently but not too slowly.

The sensation becomes overwhelming for Jim already and he moans in a high pitch. “Corey...” he breathes, trying not to rock his hips. Corey teases the head of his cock with his thumb, and he lowers down to kiss at his neck, nipping it gently as he presses his hips against Jim’s.

“M’sorry,” Corey breathes between kisses on Jim’s neck. “You’re so...” another kiss, “fucking amazing and I,” a kiss to his throat, “wanna lick and suck you.” He quickly descends down to his friend’s chest, and he slowly sucks on one of his nipples, teasing the area around the bud with his tongue. Jim lets out trembling sighs, closing his eyes at the hot tongue, and Corey thrills inwardly as he moves into his other nipple, biting it gently and loving the fact that he still remembers what Jim likes. He closes his eyes and lets his lips guide him, and he presses kisses down the man’s stomach, his lust taking over him completely as he spreads Jim’s shirt apart even more. He uses his tongue to tease the skin on his ribs and Jim almost writhes against the feeling.

Jim flutters his eye open for a moment while he sighs shakily, and he bites his lip when Corey tightens his hold on his cock. He combs through the man’s short hair and releases his lip to let out a soft whine. Corey looks up at his friend, loving how the man sounded just now, and he dips his tongue inside his navel. It produces a ticklish effect on Jim and he almost whimpers, loving the feeling. Corey decides to stop playing with Jim’s navel and proceeds to pull down Jim’s jeans slightly so that his cock can be fully exposed. And then he nudges down his boxers. Jim, despite being extremely nervous, lifts his hips for Corey. The shorter man takes his friend’s cock into his hand. He looks up at Jim, whose eyes are closed and whose breath comes out shakily, and he gently takes his cock into his mouth, sucking on the tip of it.

Jim gasps at the hot tongue on his cock, and he lets out a trembling moan. Corey smiles at that and closes his eyes for a moment, letting his tongue tease the slit. He slowly looks up at his friend and relishes in how into it Jim is, and he lowers, taking Jim further into his mouth as much as he can until it’s down to his throat. Jim lets out shaky sighs and bites his lip, trying not to make another sound. Corey is kind of disappointed, having always loved the moans and groans Jim always made for him. So, to tease him, he slowly pulls off, and Jim blinks, whimpering at the cool air on his shaft.

“Please,” he begs Corey, taking his hands and trying to pull him close. His craving for his friend’s mouth is actually beginning to mix with another niggling thought in his head that he can’t seem to get out. Well, Corey smiles gently and leans down to flicker his tongue against the tip of Jim’s cock, before he takes him in again. Jim lets out a shuddering moan, loving the hot mouth again, and he begins to slowly comb his fingers through the man’s hair again.

Corey begins to bob his head up and down the man’s cock, flattening his tongue against the cock as he seals his lips around the shaft. Jim whimpers in a low pitch and swallows, and Corey looks up at him again, reaching up over to play with his nipples by running his thumbs around the skin around the buds. Jim lets out a silent cry before a groan does escape from his mouth, and his friend begins to bob his head faster.

In response, Jim lets out a higher-pitched moan and almost bucks his hips before thinking that he may have hurt Corey. Corey had to pull back some, but he takes Jim’s cock back over to his throat again as the latter begins panting. “Oh god,” the tall man moans airily, and he says it again and again. The hot mouth on his cock and the warm thumbs against his nipples overwhelm Jim, making him even more dizzy and unable to think. But that little thought in the back his subconscious, the one that’s basically calling him an idiot for doing this, is becoming penetrating.

Corey thrills completely at the sounds, watching Jim cover his eyes with the palms of his hands and he pushes one of his hands against the man’s hips, to keep them down. Jim groans a bit loudly, and he moans out again, curling his toes in his shoes. Corey smiles and massages what he can’t reach of Jim’s cock with his hand, and that causes Jim to whimper.

“M’close,” he breathes, his hands still covering his eyes, and Corey looks up at him before bobbing his head even more. Having never tasted any man’s release in a very long time, Corey suddenly remembers that he should probably brace himself.

Jim shut his eyes and finally releases his seed inside Corey’s mouth, and he lets out a gasp and sob before panting heavily as he sinks down against the floor, moaning softly. Corey swallows the man’s release, trying not to gag at the taste before he pulls away, and he slowly leans down to clean up Jim’s cock with his eyes closed, reminding himself to wash out his mouth later. Jim moans softly once more.

As his eyes are closed, Corey doesn’t see Jim finally removing his hands from his eyes while still breathing heavily, or the fact that his friend’s eyes are now red and teary. Jim sniffs at the orgasm he’s just experienced as well as that thought in his head completely taken over his mind. He covers his mouth with both his hands, closing his eyes again and letting regret take him over.

Corey slowly kisses his way up Jim’s body, and when finally he sees his friend’s face, he gasps. “Oh fuck, Jim, are you okay?” he whispers, stroking the man’s hair tenderly. “Did I hurt you or anything?” The alcohol in his brain begins to really convince Corey that he had hurt Jim in some way.

But Jim manages to calm down and breathe deeply, and he removes the hands from his mouth and murmurs, “M’fine.” He breathes again. “Fine. Just overwhelming...”

Corey reluctantly takes Jim’s word and smiles, wiping the tears away. “Glad to hear it,” he whispers, and he leans in to kiss his friend on the lips deeply. Jim finds himself returning the deep kiss, and Corey inserts his tongue in the man’s mouth so that his friend can taste himself. They both end up moaning very softly into the kisses, and Corey pulls back, wanting more. “God, just can’t stop kissing and being all over you,” he whispers, stroking Jim’s cheek.

“Me either,” Jim whispers, closing his eyes and sighing deeply.

Corey takes a second to look at Jim, before he leans into kiss him again, humming softly as Jim pulls him closer. “Dun wanna leave,” Corey murmurs against Jim’s lips, and Jim combs through his shorter friend’s short hair, not wanting to leave either. His friend’s warmth and the kisses makes him lose himself into Corey, and the thought in his head that troubled him earlier leaves his brain for now.

___

Meanwhile, Melissa drives Chris, Craig, Sid and Brenna home. She’s on her way back to Brenna’s house, and the reason why Melissa is driving because Chris is pretty drunk right now. On a side note, Charlie was the one who drove Shawn back to his car, so that he could drive back home. Brenna looks against the window, before turning to Sid. “So where did you guys go again?”

Chris grins as Sid laughs. “Okay, this bartender, right? Turns out she also works at The Garden, one of the gay clubs, and she does these things for a living.”

“What things?”

“She juggles bottles,” Chris speaks.

Melissa raises an eyebrow at that. “Is that why you guys took so long coming back here?”

Sid replies, “Hey we were fucking bored.” He then snickers. “Oh, and Charlie was trying to flirt with her too.”

Melissa just shakes her head. “Well, Brenna and I met Jim’s female friend. I think her name was Cristina or something.” Cristina stuck around with the women, until she figured that Jim was probably too drunk and decided to leave. So she left as well, hoping to see him again soon.

Sid blinks at that. “Oh my god, she was there?!”

“She’s gorgeous,” Brenna speaks.

“From what Jim told me.” He then grins a bit mischievously, and Brenna and Craig simply stare at him.

“What are you about to do?” Craig asks.

Melissa grins. “Oh, we should totally get them together!”

Sid laughs. “I’d totally setting them up.”

Brenna blinks. “Okay, I’m not sure that either of them would like that.”

He then glances at her, before he sighs. “Yeah, you’re right.” He rests his head against the window. “Damn. I wish I could’ve been there. Maybe I’ll ask him about it as soon as he or Corey calls me. I don’t even know where they went.”

Chris looks out at the window. “Yeah.”

“But man, I’m so pissed off. You know what Shawn told me before we all left?” Everyone except for Melissa glance at the DJ. “Okay, you know that bodyguard that took him, Joey and Mick up to the VIP room? Well, Geraldo kicked Joey out of the room.”

“What?!” Chris exclaims. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

Melissa shakes her head. “That is so awful.” She sighs. “We’re never gonna get the guy off our backs, are we?”

“Doubt it,” Sid sighs. “I’m so fucking pissed off at that.”

“So what are we going to do?”

Chris sits up again and replies, “We just need to worry about ourselves for now. Next time Shawn needs us, we’ll be there. I just hope we don’t have to go back at that place again.”

Sid nods and closes his eyes during the rest of the ride to Brenna’s house, itching for a smoke.