YA LGBT Books discussion
Tales told - a.k.a free reads
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October 2013 M/M Story Challenge - guys in crate- STORIES
Nice piccy will definitely try to write something for this and the girls. They're both inspiring. :)
Great picture. Kind of reminds me of the backstage area of our high school theater. Trying to catch one of those plot bunnies jumping around me right now. XD*gears turning*
Marc wrote: "Great picture. Kind of reminds me of the backstage area of our high school theater. Trying to catch one of those plot bunnies jumping around me right now. XD*gears turning*"
Oh yeah, that's possible too. Someone asked me on the girls' thread where these guys were. I suggested could be a storage unit, or a closet in a house under construction, or one being torn down, or part of an unfinished basement or trailer...
It's kind of nice that it's not clear, because it opens the field.
Marc wrote: "Great picture. Kind of reminds me of the backstage area of our high school theater. Trying to catch one of those plot bunnies jumping around me right now. XD*gears turning*"
Dang, I was gonna do that. Can I still do that, or are you doing that?
Jane wrote: "Dang, I was gonna do that. Can I still do that, or are you doing that?..."
Even with the same setting, they'll be different stories, guaranteed. We had one month with three two-guys-dancing-at-a-wedding stories, and they were all good. You should go for it, if that's what inspires you.
Kaje wrote: "Jane wrote: "Dang, I was gonna do that. Can I still do that, or are you doing that?..."
Even with the same setting, they'll be different stories, guaranteed. You should go for it, if that's what ..."
YAY! I've already written a few pages for it, it's gonna be long--possibly novella length, probably like 3 short chapters. I don't know if I should post it here or under my writing--do you think it would be a hassle posting such a long story here? Might be a few days before I post it though, due to school.
They are both such great pictures! I hope I have time to do my stories for both! I already know what I'm doing for the other one too!
Jane wrote: "Kaje wrote: "Jane wrote: "Dang, I was gonna do that. Can I still do that, or are you doing that?..."
Even with the same setting, they'll be different stories, guaranteed. You should go for it, if..."
You can do it either way. I've posted up to 6,000 words here on threads, but it has to be broken up and it can be a pain. I'd say, if it's over 5K you may want to put it in your writing pages, where the sections are a lot longer, and then post the link here.
mmm, I will have to think a while about this one and catch up with some free time! but I like it, definitely good material! I hope that many of you will contribute a story! :)
looking forward <3
Okay, so I haven't caught that pesky plot bunny quite yet (fickle, little tings, those), but I'm gonna do a micro story, Hemmingway Style (for sale: baby shoes, never worn - a story in six words!)Highschool sucked! BUT: Romeo chose me!
Nice :)Moving back home has been hit or miss,
But it doesn't get better than this.
When he heard I'd got here
Andy found me, no fear,
And we started back up with a kiss.
Kaje wrote: "Nice :)Moving back home has been hit or miss,
But it doesn't get better than this.
When he heard I'd got here
Andy found me, no fear,
And we started back up with a kiss."
Sweet <3 Love that they found each other again!
Marc wrote: "Highschool sucked! BUT: Romeo chose me!"LOVE that! <3
Marc wrote: "Okay, so I haven't caught that pesky plot bunny quite yet (fickle, little tings, those), but I'm gonna do a micro story, Hemmingway Style (for sale: baby shoes, never worn - a story in six words!)..."
Cool! :D
Kaje wrote: "Nice :)Moving back home has been hit or miss,
But it doesn't get better than this.
When he heard I'd got here
Andy found me, no fear,
And we started back up with a kiss."
I love a good limerick... And clean as well! Lol. Its great.
Macky wrote: "I love a good limerick... And clean as well! Lol. Its great..."Well, we are YA, and I must set an example ;)
** OUCH!!! As you kissed me you stepped on my foot
So you squeezed me and on me did put
Another hawt kiss
That stopped a pained hiss
When my tootsies got smooshed, stomped and cut.
Kaje wrote: "Macky wrote: "I love a good limerick... And clean as well! Lol. Its great..."Well, we are YA, and I must set an example ;)"
But of course.... :D
Macky wrote: "** OUCH!!! As you kissed me you stepped on my foot
So you squeezed me and on me did put
Another hawt kiss
That stopped a pained hiss
When my tootsies got smooshed, stomped and cut."
That was so sweet! Made me laugh after a long day...thanks! Wish I could write poetry--it's harder than it looks! So, good for you!
Lol, thanks Jane. If it made you smile, that's warmed my cockles! ;)
Macky wrote: "** OUCH!!! As you kissed me you stepped on my foot
So you squeezed me and on me did put
Another hawt kiss
That stopped a pained hiss
When my tootsies got smooshed, stomped and cut."
lol. Made me laugh. I saw that the one guy had his shoe on the other guy, but didn't really think about that. That poem is so cute. ^^
The awkward fumblings of first love ^^
Haha! Ahh memories... If I can remember back that far! ;)
Macky wrote: "** OUCH!!! As you kissed me you stepped on my foot
So you squeezed me and on me did put
Another hawt kiss
That stopped a pained hiss
When my tootsies got smooshed, stomped and cut."
Mmmm! that was cute <3
Lol. Thanks Riina. I'm still pondering on a story, any ideas for you hun? Look forward to seeing yours if you have. :))
Macky wrote: "Lol. Thanks Riina. I'm still pondering on a story, any ideas for you hun? Look forward to seeing yours if you have. :))"Sadly not yet! I think I have to start brainstorming :)
I was too engrossed in reading the C&R series in one week, that I simply have no room for anything else ... well I might as well get started tho :)
Hope to read from you too!!! Excited :)
C&R is enough to distract anyone. Lol. We can get excited together. :D
We had to sneak awayTo be together in the silence
In a far off, abandoned place
To forget about the sirens
Now it's just you and me
They will never break us
We'll show them what were made of
We'll never let them shake us
It may be dark right now
But someday the sun will rise
Until that fateful moment
Let me be your light
** Who Ya Gonna Call? **BARNABY
Things have been quiet here just recently. Milly has been particularly happy about it because she gets to have "a well earned rest," Jonas is just glad of the peace and quiet and Henry and Dead Eye go off to play poker. Have to say that never goes well.Two stubborn men with tempers to match!
Me? Well I'm easy either way, bein' the owner of this town I have to say one side of me welcomes it but the other worries that too much quiet means the old place is falling out of favour and me and my motley crew will be out on our ears. I do wonder what will become of us if that ever happened. Anyhoo that's not goin' to happen tonight now, is it so I'd better do a quick tour of the town to make sure everythin's hunky dory. You never know someone might turn up and we don't want to be caught slackin'.
TOMMY AND CLARKE
" Aww man, you're not chickening out are you? "
Tommy turned to his friend with disappointment in his eyes. It was Friday, after school and they'd just loaded up Tommy's car with their gear. The trip had been planned for weeks but suddenly Clarke didn't seem as excited as he had been when the 'rents had finally agreed to let them go camping without supervision because two months earlier they'd turned seventeen and like everything else they did together, shared the same birthday.
Tommy's mom and dad had been really cool about it, Clarke's mom not so much but after reassurance from his dad that the boys had enough emergency money and supplies to last them at least a month, she'd finally given in. Tommy guessed it was because she was a single parent, Clarke being the center of her world, so he kind of got it. Cell phones were fully charged, gas filled to capacity and two more full cans were stashed in the trunk of Tommy's car as back up so it was all good but now Clarke seemed to be having second thoughts.
" No Tee, its not that. I'm just stressed about leaving mom.You know, being on her own ..." his voice trailed off.
Clarke climbed into the passenger seat and turned to look out the window where she stood waiting to wave them off. Actually after talking to Tee's dad she'd mellowed big time and after convincing him she really was okay with it they'd spent the rest of the evening vegging out on the couch, watching re-runs of Firefly and stuffing their faces with bowls of hot buttered popcorn whilst they both drooled over Nathan Fillion.
He'd come out to his mom when he was 16 and she hadn't batted an eyelid, just told him she'd already guessed, didn't love him any less for it and that was that but Tommy was a different matter, how could he tell his friend that he thought about him all the time and dreamed about kissing him every night? How was he ever going to break the news to his straight BFF that he was gay and in a constant state of teenage lust around him.
What Clarke was really bothered about was the fact that it had suddenly hit him that he and Tommy would be alone together, sleeping in the same tent up close and personal, with no parents around who never thought twice about walking in on them when they where staying at each other's houses and no friends around to distract Tee from seeing the geeky look of adoration he knew was plastered on his face when he snuck glances at Tee when he wasn't looking. That was the scary crap!
" Okay then Cee, let's get this show on the road...thought you were spazzing out on me there for a minute dude." Tommy bumped shoulders with his friend, leaning over him to wave to Mrs Peters before he put the car in gear as they pulled away from the sidewalk. " Whoooooo! Willowbark Bend here we come! "
Clarke shivered but it wasn't the thought of Willowbark Bend, one of the haunted ghost towns in the state making him do that. Oh no, that was going to be a walk in the park compared to spending a whole weekend with the guy who he could only look at but not touch. This was so not a good idea.
BARNABY
I love this old town. When it became a ghost town and a tourist attraction part of me wasn't really that happy but I s'ppose I saw the sense in it. Willowbark has a lot of history and I guess visitin' was a way to celebrate our past however violent and harsh it had been. It was a time when someone could kill you just fer lookin' at em wrong but it also built character and whatever you say you have to tip your hat to those folks who made it through! Bit different from living nowadays ain't it?
Built pre gold rush in I846 everythin' was preserved so that people could see just how the pioneers who founded the town survived in bygone days and we have all the requisite old buildin's a town in the good old Wild West would have needed in "them thar days."
A sheriffs Office and jail, the towns general trading store, Mercantile Bank, Post Office, Land Office, Railway Depot, fancy schmantzy two storey hotel and of course the place every cowboy and drifter made for..."Potter's Dance Hall Saloon" which ( without upsettin' all the rest of the folks who help me keep this town up and running,) is my guilty pleasure because it brings in those pesky phantom lovin' guys and gals who come a runnin' to get their ghostly thrills!
We had our fair share of shoot outs and outlaws too. Our claim to fame was a visit from Doc Halliday and the Earp brothers, just before the gunfight at the OK Corrall. They stayed at Millers Hotel and visited Potters Saloon , where a shootin' broke out between the Doc and two ornery cowboys who didn't live to see the day when they accused the Doc of cheatin'. The faded blood stains are soaked into the wood floors and the card table still has Wyatt Earps initials carved into it as he sat watchin' Doc fleece the poor suckers outta their hard earned cash! Unfortunately the barman and a saloon gal also got killed in the ruckus when one of the cowboys pulled his gun but was too slow on the uptake to outshoot a man who was so quick on the draw. Ahhh, those were the days!
We ain't situated that far from Tombstone to be honest and unfortunately that was partly to blame for the demise of Willowbark Bend. Folks where more obliged to visit the well known town where a famous gunfight was held so poor old Willowbark slowly sank into oblivion whereas Tombstone thrived and grew into the place it is today.
Now Willows only draw is that folks think it's haunted and since the popularity of all these here ghost hunting programmes that's who we mainly get now. Scores of eager beaver paranormal investigators with their top of the range ghost hunting equipment or groups of young scared kids creepin' in at midnight hoping to catch sight of a gun totin' outlaw or some demonic entity! Makes us all laugh I'll tell ya but it keeps the town standing and will do until they find something else to scare the beejaysus out of them.
TOMMY AND CLARKE
It had just reached dusk when Tommy parked up on the outskirts of the town. All was quiet except for the odd click of the engine and both boys were surprised to see just how beautiful the ghost town looked as the sun sank behind it. Tommy turned and looked at Clarke, his breath catching at how gorgeous he looked in shadow. He couldn't stop staring at Cee's perfect profile and his gaze lowered, lingering on a pair of lips that for over a year now had driven him crazy with thoughts of nibbling on ears and necks and soft but hot kisses. Feeling his stare Clarke turned.
" What? Have I got something on my face? Quit staring I'm getting a complex here! "
" Nah, I was just thinking any ghosts we might have got to see will have taken one look at your scary mug and done a runner already. "
Tommy jumped out of the car hoping that Cee hadn't noticed his slip up. He thought he'd gotten away with it because he wasn't quite ready yet to out himself to his buddy. Hell, he wasn't a hundred percent certain that Cee was gay but he had his suspicions and he was going to do something about it this weekend, but not just yet. He'd know the right time.....
" So Quasimodo, what do we do first, set up the tent or explore whilst its still light enough? "
" Ha Ha Dickwad. " Clarke sniggered and gave Tee the finger. " Lets go look for some spooks and see what happens when they see your shit for brains face. "
Tommy relaxed. Slinging his arm across Clarke's shoulders he marched them up the long street, enjoying the excuse to touch Clarke as they made their way up the long street, throwing good natured insults at each other.
BARNABY
Havin' done a satisfactory walkabout of the place I guess I should warn the others I've just heard a vehicle arrive. I wonder who it will be this time? Are we going to be inundated with those darn trailin' wires and video cameras or is it just going to be prowlers with torches? You just never know these days. Personally I prefer the lone wanderers who still come in with that air of excitement and anticipation. Milly is the same, she loves it when you get that proper heart stopping reaction from just a few creaks and sighs. She said she'd been discussing it with Missus Farnsworth at the town store. The professionals are too well prepared, they take all the fun out of it and some of the stupid questions they ask... Well, we just piddle our sides laughin'. Who asks a spirit " Do you know you're really dead? " that one gets us every time! I do quite like those EVP thingamabobs they use though. Find those kinda fascinatin'! Mind you I don't reckon Wyatt will be sayin' much see in' as how he's supposed to haunt The OK Corrall!
It looks like they're makin' their way up here so I'd better go do the honours and take 'em through their paces. I like the look of these young fellers, they look to be respectful of the place. Yep, you can always tell and if I'm not wrong the way they keep lookin' at each other, there might be more than ghost hunting happenin' in the old town tonight. Oh Milly is going to love these two young 'uns.
TOMMY AND CLARKE
Clarke could feel his heart beating fast as Tommy put his arm around him and pulled him into his side. All he could do was hope that Tommy thought he was trembling so badly because they were making their way to the saloon, which was reputed to be the most haunted building in Willowbark but it was the feel of Tommy's warm, lean body against his that was causing the reaction. God he loved it when Tee hugged him like this but he knew it was only platonic and that made him feel even more pathetic. It took all of his willpower not to turn in Tees arms, grab his faded T-shirt and just kiss the shit out of him but over time he'd learned how to quash those urges so he dug deep and stopped himself. His head was telling him this friendship was too important to mess up even though his heart was telling him different.
Tommy stopped dead and pointed towards the saloon.
"Hey Cee. Did you just see the saloon door swing wide open then? I swear to god I saw it move on its own."
"Yeah and Billy The Kid just popped his head out and waved!"
"No honestly Cee I saw the doors swing open and close again. You saying you didn't see it? Come on man you must have."
Clarke didn't want to tell Tee that the reason he didn't see anything was because he was totally distracted by thoughts of kissing him but he could tell that Tee wasn't bullshitting. He knew him and it was becoming obvious by the look on his face that he wasn't just trying to psyche him out. Tommy had definitely seen something and the choice now was do they go and check what was really going on or turn tail and get the hell out of Dodge?
** WHO YOU GONNA CALL PART 2 **TOMMY AND CLARKE
This was wack! Tommy was wishing now that he'd never suggested coming to Willowbark Bend. He hated Clarke seeing him like this. It was difficult enough trying to convince himself that he'd just witnessed something unexplainable but how was he going to get Cee to believe him?
" I guess there could be someone here other than the two of us. I mean the place is pretty notorious. It could just be local kids or it might be some professional paranormal team off the TV like those TAPS guys from Ghost Hunters... Or those investigators from Paranormal State? "
Clarke wanted to agree but they both knew the truth. There were no other kids, nothing to show that a TV show was being filmed and the eerie silence in the town spoke loudly. They were on their own. Something strange was going on and Clarke was sticking by his buddy.
"I believe you man. We didn't come here expecting to just sit around a campfire singing "Cumbaya" and roasting Smore's. We came hoping to get some spooky action and we're getting it so lets go see if it really is something weird or just a gust of wind that made that door open on its own. You know I've always got your back dude and I know you've got mine."
Tommy's heart skipped a beat as he threw his arm around Cee again only this time he hung on a little bit tighter as he steered them towards the unknown.
" Okay Casper... Let's go hunt some ghosts!"
" Casper IS a ghost you dork....! "
Twenty minutes later and they were still no nearer. Only a gale force wind could have made that stiff, heavy door move and this particular evening there was barely a breeze present. Weird!
The old building was unnaturally quiet, not even a creak or a groan which was REALLY odd and the feeling they weren't alone was palpable. Clarke was sticking as close to Tee as he could, purely because he was so creeped out.
There were two rooms, the main one contained a large semi circular bar that was set up exactly like the ones in cowboy movies. To the left was an old stage flanked by dark red velvet curtains, to the right, a saloon door leading into a smaller room with a smaller bar. Both kitted out with old wooden tables and chairs. In the back room was a full length portrait of an imposing older guy with longish hair, handlebar moustache, beard and a buckskin suit. The eyes seemed to follow you around as you moved making Tee shudder.
Suddenly the silence broke, making both of them jump.
"OMG! Can you hear that?" Clarke grabbed Tees arm.
Tommy stopped. "Ssssh!" He cocked his head and listened. "It's faint Cee but yeah, I hear it. It sounds like some type of old fashioned music and its coming from the other room.You up for this buddy.."
I'm up for anything if it keeps me this close to you " Yeah sure, just don't go wandering off without me man okay?"
Tommy chuckled and taking hold of Clarke's hand tightly began to lead them back to the main room but on the way he stopped at one of the tables, reaching out a hand to trace the four carved letters..WBSE. His fingers tingled and he wondered who'd carved it because it looked old. Clarke tugged his hand and pointed at the floor.
" Tee look at the large stain on the floor. It looks like ... Blood!"
Tommy nodded. " Think you're right Cee but its faded now. Whatever happened here was sad dude but it was a long time ago so it can't hurt us now. Come on Babe lets go check out who's yanking our chain."
Babe! Tommy seemed oblivious to what he'd said so Clarke kept his mouth shut... But Babe Do you call a friend that? Could this mean what he hoped it did? They were so going to discuss this later but now wasn't the time.
Back in the main room they followed the sound of the honky tonk music into a small tight passageway behind the stage where a single bulb hung from the ceiling and it was lit! This sorta confirmed their suspicions that this was possibly a set up but there was still that subconscious jittery feeling saying " but what if its not?"
BARNABY
Milly? Jonas? Henry? Deadeye? ...SHOWTIME !!!
TOMMY AND CLARKE
The guys made their way down the passage until they came to two doors. One opened into what appeared to be an old dusty room complete with dressing table, half empty pots of stage makeup and fancy costumes that had once been vibrant but were now faded. Feather boas and old yellowed corsets hung from a hook on the wall and a strong smell of roses filled their nostrils. Just before they closed the door they heard a soft sigh and a woman's whispered laugh.
" Shit Tee what was that?"
" I don't know Cee but I think we're going to find out... "
Behind them the second door creaked, opening slowly and the guys found themselves looking into the back bar room once again, only this time the room wasn't empty and try as they might neither Tommy or Clarke could move. They were frozen on the spot, forced to watch the scene before them play out!
The music they had heard was playing in the background. Behind the bar a guy wearing a waistcoat was polishing glasses whilst he flirted with a lady dressed in a tight corset and a bright flouncy skirt, her makeup was heavy but you could see how pretty she was underneath. Two grumpy looking cowboys were sat at at the carved table playing what looked like Poker against two chairs that appeared to be empty but Clarke got the feeling that whether you could see them or not, someone was sitting there. Suddenly one of the guys, who was wearing an eye patch, flung his cards on the table and started yelling and pointing angrily at the empty chair opposite him, only nothing was coming out of his mouth, the only noise being the tinkly piano music in the room. The other guy joined in, his hand reaching for his gun as the argument escalated. In what seemed like a split second one of the empty chairs fell backwards as if someone had stood quickly and ' eye patch ' drew his gun and fired. Again there was no sound to the gun shots but the boys watched in horror, as in slow motion a bullet flew from his gun ricocheting twice off the bar and passing through both the barman and the saloon girl who fell to the floor...at the same time the two cowboys appeared to take two invisible bullets as they crumpled and hit the deck. Then as quickly as it had started It was over and the scene wavered, fading away until once again they where just looking at a silent empty room...
" What the holy crap was that?"
Not waiting to find out Tommy grabbed Cee and ran them back down the corridor but in his haste he tripped, pushing Clarke against the wall. Hearts pounding and adrenaline pumping they stared at each other panting heavily as Tee placed his arms above Clarke's head. The air around them was electric, the smell of roses suddenly surrounding them and before he could straighten up Tommy felt a small hand in the small of his back push him further into Cee's space. OMG! This was it... the time he had been waiting for. It was now or never so he moved in towards Clarke and kissed him. Man it was sweet and Clarke was responding, the kiss deepening as they melted into each other.
Breaking the kiss, all a dazed Tommy could say was
" Babe, you're standing on my foot!"
Clarke looked down, laughed and launched himself at Tee to instigate the next lip lock and thoughts of ghosts, bullets and blood stains disappeared completely as two lots of long awaited feelings took over, transporting both of them to a place where nothing existed except Tommy and Clarke and sweet hot kisses.
That is until they heard the deep chuckle and a voice whisper in their ears
" About time boys... About time!"
Then they were outta there holding hands and laughing as they ran like the wind down the street until they reached the car, bending to get their breath back unaware of the transparent guy in the buckskins watching them with a smile on his moustached face.
Two more kisses later and they were still trying to get their heads round what had just happened but whatever the explanation was, all they knew was that something momentous had happened to them in Willowbark Bend and despite being scared shitless they kinda felt privileged. This was one story they'd be telling for years.
Tommy took Clarke's face in his hands and grinned.
" Just wondering Cee ... but how about coming back here for our honeymoon?"
EPILOGUE BARNABY
Ahhh! Another satisfying nights work and I am so proud of my bunch of misfits. We don't let everyone see what we showed the boys tonight but we all felt this was special and my Milly does like to do a bit of matchmaking. Jonas is cleaning up the bar and Dead Eye and Henry are still trying to finish that confounded card game! I said it would be the death of them! Haha!
As for me! Well I'm going to let Jonas serve me a well earned shot of whiskey, but before I do I must make sure we're ready for tomorrow night.I do believe someone is coming from something called ' Fact Or Faked.' Now that should be a laugh. Personally I prefer that silly film Ghostbusters. Like they say ...Who you gonna call?
RIP BARNABY P POTTER. Founder of WILLOWBARK BEND... BORN 1820...Died 1877 aged 57.
Oh Macky! Naughty Ghosts =D !!!All in all: That was sweet. And a very fun idea. Tho I want more of Tommy and Clarke ;) I like that they don't need any words and just know what they have now <3
thank you for sharing :)
Thanks Riina. That sneaky Barnaby and his motley crew got in my head... and haunted me! LOL. It wasn't supposed to be as long as that. Haha ;)
I love long!! Thanks so much Macky. Sweet and fun.
Thanks Kaje, time was moving on so thought I'd better get cracking. :)
Romeo, my Romeo [Limerick]There once was a boy called Brad,
The perfect Romeo to woo Juliette,
But when the lights died,
He kissed me with pride,
"I love you, Tim, never forget!"
Marc wrote: "Romeo, my Romeo [Limerick]There once was a boy called Brad,
The perfect Romeo to woo Juliette,
But when the lights died,
He kissed me with pride,
"I love you, Tim, never forget!""
Aw, cute :)
*** Through a Door, Darkly ***Caleb paced, as well as he could in the narrow space. Three steps forward, pivot, three steps back. The close presswood walls brushed his shoulders. The nylafabric shorts swished against his thighs, and his retro sneakers squeaked annoyingly. Three steps. Pivot. Three steps. He counted them under his breath, to keep his claustrophobia at bay. Owen was late. Which was scary, because Owen was never late.
They'd done this once already, breaking the rules to meet here. The fifth day of his Sequestration Week. The second day of Owen's. It was forbidden, of course, to talk with anyone this week. They were supposed to keep to their rooms, or their private library cubicles where all the information they could want, to make a life-determining decision, was theoretically at their fingertips.
Owen claimed the data was all massaged within an inch of its life, stacked cold, orchestrated to tell them whatever would steer them in the correct direction. Caleb was never sure if Owen was brilliant or just paranoid. Paranoid and late. Three steps. Pivot.
He heard Owen before he saw him, just a brush of crepe-soled shoe against smooth concrete. It was enough for him to take a breath and plaster a calm expression on his face before Owen swung around the door-frame into the storage. “Oh, thank Krypton!”
Caleb started to tease Owen for taking the cartoon deity in vain, but his words were swallowed in Owen's hard kiss. Owen pinned him against the wall, his mouth hot and eager. Caleb wasn't about to argue. He closed his eyes, put his hands on Owen's strong, wiry forearms, and let himself drown in the kiss. So, so good.
After a while, Owen had to break away for a few fast breaths. “Sorry. I'm so glad you're still here. I was worried you wouldn't wait.”
Caleb raised an eyebrow, aiming for skepticism. When had he ever not waited for Owen in the freaking last four years?
“Worried you wouldn't be able to wait,” Owen clarified. “This is your last SW Day. I wasn't sure if they might be hanging around watching you.”
“Not till tonight.” Caleb's stomach lurched, and he was glad he hadn't eaten any of his lunch.
“Of course.” Owen moved closer, pulling Caleb against him. His arms were strong and comforting, and for a change, Caleb let himself just wallow in that. Owen kissed his neck, his ear, and then whispered, “Are you ready?”
“No. Not even slightly.”
Owen hugged him tighter. “Are you...” He paused, tried again. “Have you changed your mind?”
“Have you?”
“No. But you know I meant it when I said it's your choice. Whatever you do, I'll do.”
Caleb wanted to shout that it wasn't fair, for Owen to put his future in Caleb's hands like that. Not when they both knew that if Owen was alone, if he didn't love Caleb almost as much as Caleb loved him, his path would be crystal clear. He'd made his decision years ago.
Ninety-nine point nine percent of guys opted for the safe and easy decision. The logical one. The contribute-to-modern-sane-society one. They'd take the amygdala-receptor-blockers, accept the anti-testosterone autoimmunity, and leave their Sequestration Week a peaceful and productive member of the Greater Western Alliance. The City Mothers would welcome them, and all the benefits of high-tech modern life would be theirs.
But Owen was never going to be one of them. Unless Caleb asked him to.
Caleb squeezed his eyes shut tighter and buried his face in Owen's neck. He had one more day—less than a day—he had a few hours to nerve himself up to leave the City forever with Owen, or to take the Adult Transform, and then go out into the City and wait, and see if Owen would actually follow. “We shouldn't have to choose,” he whispered, or maybe whined, against Owen's warm, familiar skin.
“Better than having them do it to every one of us by force, like Greater China does.”
“Well, yeah.” Caleb brushed his mouth over Owen's neck, feeling the rasp of light stubble against his lips. “I just wish we knew more about what's beyond the Door. I wish we could trust what we think we know about Outside.”
Owen raised a hand to cup the back of Caleb's head against him, and his voice took on the crisp, perfectly-unaccented tones of their favorite edu-vid narrator. “Life outside the Cities has declined to nineteenth-century levels. Death rates are high, illness sometimes goes untreated, work is physical, hard and unending...”
Caleb snorted. “And yet you'd choose it.”
“Over tiny, predictable, constantly-supervised lives? Yeah, I would. D'you know how many cameras and sensors I passed in the three corridors and the stairwell to get here? And that's in the maintenance levels only. There's even a full detector system in the bathrooms, 'in case there is a medical emergency'. There's probably a computer record somewhere of how many zits you have on your ass today.”
Caleb opened his eyes. “I don't have zits on my ass.”
“Wanna show me?” But Owen dropped the suggestive tone before they could take it further. “No time. Crud.”
“And that's another thing.” Caleb pushed him away and leaned on the opposite wall, to put a foot of space between them. “You know that one report said there were actual gay-bashings out there. That it's turning into macho hetero land. It's not going to do us much good if we leave together, because we love each other, and then someone beats the crap out of us, because we love each other. If we stay, we can get married next week. Or, you know, whenever.”
Owen shook his head. “I told you, the best info says that's exaggerated. There are ten guys for every woman who leaves the city. If we're gay, we're not competition for those women. Mr. Lucas says that the City Mothers are just trying to keep gay guys inside, because we tend to be a good fit to the new social matrix.”
Caleb gritted his teeth. He hated when Owen quoted Mr. Lucas. If the Great Outside was so wonderful, why wasn't Mr. Lucas there. In his mind, he knew it was health problems that kept their teacher tied to a high-tech home. But in his heart, he wanted to shove the guy out the door to Outside first, like a test canary, and reel him back in later for a firsthand report before gambling Owen's future on this.
“It's not forever,” Owen said softly. “We can petition to return.”
“Yeah. With penalties and augmented testosterone-blockers and end up taking Viagra if we ever want to get it up for the rest of our lives.”
Owen met his angry gaze, and his blue eyes were steady and sorrowful. “I wish...” The buzzer in Caleb's pocket-com went off. “Crap. Shards! It's late. We have to go back.”
Caleb dove into his arms. Too late for fighting, arguing, second thoughts. Too late for anything except this, the feel of Owen's arms, the live heat of his body and the wetness of his mouth, the force of a kiss so hard that Caleb could only hang on and go with it. Owen pulled back just enough to whisper against his mouth. “You choose.”
Caleb broke free, panting. But in the end, under Owen's hopeful, painful gaze, there was only one choice. “I'll see you Outside,” he said. And he ran, away from his lover and the tight wooden space and his last chance and choice, toward the rooms where his clothes would be waiting.
He let himself through the access hatch with the code key Owen had given him a week before. It got him through a second hatch, and then a service door. He dropped it back into his pocket, switched off the scrambler device on his belt, and began to walk down the corridor, like he'd just been to the library cubicle. The door of his bedroom opened silently and he shut it behind him. In his closet, the two hangars awaited him ominously. He pulled each outfit out, and laid them on the bed. A slick new tracksuit and silk shirt for City life, or rough jeans and T and jacket, in preparation for Outside.
Caleb was pretty athletic, and four years of tagging along in Owen's wake had forced him into shape. But he liked his city toys. He liked soft body-stretch fabrics, and conditioned air, and cruising the InfoNet. Sure he loved running and climbing too. He'd gloried in the fact that he and Owen had been the only two in his HighSchool Podgroup to make it to the top of the cliff-climb on their senior trip. But Owen'd had his eyes fixed on the Outside since they were kids, and Caleb had always gone both ways. If only he'd been born three days younger than Owen, instead of three days older. If only it had been Owen who had to choose first. He could follow Owen Outside, but could he lead the way there?
He stood for a long time, staring at the bed, until another soft alarm-sound forced him to reach out. His hand slid across fabrics, soft, harsh, cotton-tough, silk-smooth. And he chose.
***
Owen paced around his tiny room. He could do a circuit, although he'd had to put his chair up on the desk, to make it possible. Six steps took him around the room. And around, faster, faster, until he found some relief from the whirling of his thoughts in the whirling of his head. Only a few more minutes, and he'd stand before the Arbiter and make his choice, and be shown through the Door.
For Owen, it had never been difficult. He was a climber, a scrapper, addicted to the adrenaline highs of whatever extreme sport he could manage to find. He'd been wearing jeans for days now, announcing his choice to anyone who asked. He was going Outside. But the thing that had him pacing, sick and dizzy and cold in his gut, was the question of whether he would find Caleb there.
If only they would tell him what Caleb's choice had been. But they wouldn't. It was all part of the government's policy of InfoFlow. Whoever controls the database, controls the people. Men were much less likely to choose Outside when they were no longer allowed to do so in groups. When the risky decision was made by you and for you alone... well, it was no wonder that most guys stayed with the safe and familiar. So they wouldn't tell him where Caleb was now. Not until he came out of Sequestration.
What if he chose wrong? What if Caleb had gotten sick, or scared, and opted for the City? What if he'd been persuaded by his sister's recorded messages of love and support and you'll-be-welcome-home-forever-after-your-shots? What if he'd been coerced? Caleb was scary smart. The City probably didn't want to lose him. Owen had figured out that they weren't putting in a big tailoring effort on his own behalf. They'd probably breathe easier with him Outside, truth be told. And his sister wasn't a Council Aide. But Caleb's was.
There was a chime, and the door opened. “Ready, Owen?” The monitor's brow creased in a frown. “I see you are. Are you sure? Last chance to change your mind.”
Owen bit his cheek hard enough to taste blood. Go big, or go home. “I'm sure.”
“Follow me, then.”
There was a line of young men in the anteroom. Owen took his place, noting that he was the only one dressed for Outside. The guys ahead of and behind him drew back slightly, as if afraid his decision might contaminate them.
In turn they stepped forward, and spoke their choice to the Arbiter aloud. The boys who were staying in the City rolled up a sleeve, to accept the hissing injection of the nanobots and immune stimulators that would forever alter their brain chemistry. Once it was done, one or more of their female family members came forward to hug and congratulate them on joining the low-aggression society of the future. They left the room, chatting, smiling, while inside them, the medical miracle of Male-Aggression-Syndrome-Blockers began to take effect.
When it was Owen's turn, he stepped toward the med team and the Arbiter.
“You've chosen to leave us.” The Arbiter's voice was emotionless. Even at a point-one percent departure rate, he was clearly old enough to have seen a lot of teen boys go through the Outside door.
“Yes, Sir.”
He wondered if he would get another lecture, another attempt at persuasion. But apparently, if you got this far, they figured you were hopeless. The Arbiter waved him right, instead of left. As he crossed toward the marked door, his sister came out of the audience to him. He stopped.Alia looked at him for a minute. “So you're really doing it.”
“Are you surprised?”
“Not a bit.” She came over and hugged him hard. For a second he buried his face in her hair and almost changed his mind. She was ten years older, and had raised him through his teens. Unless he changed his mind and accepted Fixing, or she braved the red tape and dangers of Outside, this might be their last time face to face. He breathed in the vanilla and rosewater scent of her. And let go.
She stepped away from him. “Good luck, Owen. I know you'll do well. Let me know, if you can.”
“I will.” He had to ask. “Do you know, did Caleb get in touch at all?” If he'd changed his mind and stayed in the City, surely he'd have asked Alia to get word to him. Unless he was ashamed. Or coerced.
She shook her head.
“Okay. Take care, then, sis. Don't keep feeding that guy Rogi unless he gets himself a job.” Her boyfriend was a bit of a deadbeat. Owen wished he could have stood the thought of staying to help her. His throat ached.
“You live your own life. I can handle mine.” She gave him a misty smile. “Give my love to Caleb.”
There was certainty in her eyes, and it helped. Owen tried to remember that, rather than the fear and misery in Caleb's in that storage closet, as he turned and let them open the white door, and close it behind him.
Getting Outside wasn't a matter of just one door, of course. There was a hallway, a little shuttle-pod, and then a staging room. The guy there looked pleased to see Owen. It was probably a damned boring job, most days.
Owen had to ask, “So, did you let anyone else Outside recently?”
The guy just grinned without answering. He got Owen his pack of supplies, enough equipment to survive Outside, for a while. Owen hefted the pack, and slung it on his back. The weight was comforting.
The guy said, “Now, you'll want to get away from the door fast. There's some deadbeats from Outside who hang around, waiting for the newbies. They'll grab your gear if you let them.”
“I thought there were, um, police patrols out there.”
“Sure. They have police. Some are good. Some can be bribed to look the other way. It's a much rougher world.”
Owen unslung the pack, rummaged in it, and found the regulation knife. Eight inches of stainless steel blade. He repacked the rest and kept the blade in hand. The guy nodded. “You look like you can use that.”
“I've practiced.” He had, ever since he'd known what his choice would be. He'd made Caleb practice too, but Caleb wasn't as good. He was fast, but he always held back. Owen had a rush of nausea. What if Caleb had made this choice, and then someone jumped him outside the door? What if he was already dead? Why in hell hadn't Owen been the older one. “Let me out. Now!”
“Keep your shorts on.” The guy unlocked the inner airlock door, and Owen stepped through fast. The door closed behind him. For a moment, as he stood there, trapped between the thick metal blast-doors, he had a flash of claustrophobia. What if the worst of the skeptics were right? What if instead of a real Outside, they just gassed everyone stubborn and recalcitrant enough to take it this far?
Then the outer lock opened.
It was night outside. The lights of the City behind him were bright, a mile behind the Walls, but ahead the darkness closed in. It was cold too, and Owen shivered in his jacket. He'd researched, and known it would be near freezing at this time of year. He'd deliberately spent as much time out in parks and open spaces as he could in the city, for years now, but this felt colder somehow.
There was a lighted path, moving away from the Wall. Owen debated whether to follow it, or strike out away from it. If there were robbers waiting, they would probably expect newbies to stick to the path. But then that was also the logical place to find Caleb. In the end, he set out parallel to it, making his way as quietly through the brush as he could.
He'd gone less than a hundred meters when someone said in his ear, “No further.” The order was enforced by the touch of steel against his neck. He froze, cursing internally. So much for his pride, and his preparations. And Caleb would have been worse off.
He said, as calmly as he could, “What now?”
“Now you hand me that knife, and head to the path. Go into the light.” The man behind him snorted in amusement.
Owen held his right hand out, and the hilt was taken from his fingers. He began walking slowly toward the path. At least the guy hadn't hurt him yet, so maybe Caleb was all right. Maybe... As they hit the path, he felt a rough hand grab his ass-cheek.
“Nice butt. Are you gay or straight?”
“Celibate,” he choked out, jumping away from the touch.
The man laughed. “Ain't none of us that out here, boy. Keep walking.”
The path wound through the trees for almost a klick. The man didn't touch him again, but whenever he tried to pause or look back, a sharp poke from the knife and a “Keep going” made him change his mind. Eventually they came to a small building, built of real wood. There was a single window with yellow light streaming out, and the door stood ajar. “Go on in,” he was ordered.
Cautiously, Owen stepped through the doorway. The front room was full of men. They were all dressed warmly but roughly, and all had beards and long hair. Three lounged on crudely-built wooden chairs while another four sat on the floor, playing cards. They all looked up as he entered, and the biggest man unfolded his legs and got up off the floor to loom over Owen.
“Hey. You caught one.” He peered at Owen, who tried to stand tall and look unimpressed.
“He came right to mama.” The man behind squeezed in past Owen, sheathing a knife as he did so. “Wasn't doing too badly though. He was off the path, at least.”
“Hm.” The tall man took Owen's chin in his rough fingers. “What's your name, boy?”
Owen shook his hand off, although not hard. “Owen, sir,” he said, aiming for deference but not fear. “What's yours?”
The man gave a shout of laughter. “I like you. I'm Eric. You can call me Boss.”
“Boss of what?”
“Of this crew.” He waved a hand at the other men, a couple of whom gave toothy grins. “Which you may, just may, be invited to join.” He nodded to one of the seated men. “Check his pack.”
Owen didn't protest as the pack was lifted from his shoulders. None of that mattered right now. He swallowed, tried to choose his words carefully. “I'm looking for someone.”
“Out here?'
“Yes.”
The man with his pack interrupted to say, “Standard supplies, Boss, except they're skimping on the antivirals again. He's got three doses.”
“Bastards,” Eric said. “Well, divvy it up like usual.”
Owen looked away, refusing to get distracted by the sight of his supplies being split up and packed away. “This guy I'm looking for. He's young, like me. A newbie. He'd have come Outside three days ago.”
“Three days?”
“Yes.” Owen's heart was pounding. “Have you seen him?”
Eric shook his head. “Hey, Gulliver. Who was on the Door three days ago?”
A short stocky man glanced up from the cards. “Kane's crew had last week.”
Owen gritted his teeth. “What does that mean?”
Eric patted his cheek with a sharp little slap. “Pushy boy. The weeks get divvied up, from crew to crew. Recruiting and supplies. It's a gamble, you know. Waste a week and a lot of times no one comes out. But sometimes a newbie appears like manna from heaven. Or at least, like a med kit and fresh meat.”
“You need the med kits?” He didn't want to think about the “meat” comment.
“Yep. Some of that crap is real expensive to trade for. They do you pretty well when they push the chicks out of the nest. Although they're starting to short you on some of the good stuff. Or someone is skimming it at the door. Who knows. The effect is the same.”
“Look,” Owen said desperately, “I'll give you my pack. Everything in it. If you help me find my friend. He'd have come through on Thursday. He's about my size, a little shorter, skinny, dark hair.”
A blond man laughed. “You don't need to describe him. Not like a lot of newbies come prancing out the Door these days.”
Eric said, “Kid, we already have your pack.”
“Please.”
“If he came through on Kane's week, they'll have him in their crew. He'll be fine. I'll send word you're looking.”
“I need to see him.” To be sure he's all right. To know I didn't kill him with my damned insistence on taking this path.
Eric's eyes narrowed. “Boyfriend?”
Owen jerked his chin up. If these guys were homophobic backsliders, it might be wrong to admit it. But he remembered the grab on his ass. “Yes.”
“Hm.” Eric smiled, and then licked his lips slowly. “What will you do for me, if I go looking? Cute kid like you?”
Owen swallowed.
The blond guy said, “Give it a rest, Boss, or I'll cut your bossy balls off.” He stood and draped his arm over Eric's shoulders. “I'm this guy's partner in every sense. Don't worry. He won't touch you. He's mine. But Kane might not want to give up your boy.”
“He'll have Caleb's supplies. What else would he want?” The sympathetic look in the blond man's eyes made Owen feel sick. “No, dammit.”
“Listen, don't panic.” The blond slapped his arm. “Kane's okay, mostly. And that crew has a couple of wives who rule the guys with an iron hand. Just... sometimes they slip a bit. We'll send someone to inquire.”
“Maybe they'd trade? Me for him? You could ask?”
Eric said, “You'd do that?”
“To keep Caleb safe? Sure.”
“What makes you think we're better than them?”
The blond punched him in the ribs, hard enough to make him grunt softly. “Eric, I swear, quit teasing the kid. We'll go hunting wild dogs or something, as soon as our week is up, and you can kill something then. Work off the testosterone.” He turned to Owen. “The crews do vary. You got lucky here. We're mostly the good guys, other than Moose over there.” He waved at a heavyset man, and there was some good-natured hooting and pushing. “I'm Dave, by the way. Anyhow, Kane's is far from the worst. Most likely if they want to keep your boy, it won't be for anything worse than his labor.”
“Then what do we do? Rescue him?”
Eric shook his head. “We trade for him. Less risk. We don't want to start a feud.”
“But... if I don't have my pack, I have nothing to trade. Except me.” Which would put them in different places again, although he'd feel better if Caleb was with these guys. Probably. If they weren't lying. He rubbed his forehead.
Eric frowned at him. Dave put an arm around Owen's shoulders and stared at the crew boss. After a while Eric sighed. “So now what, Dave. You want to keep them as pets?”
“They'll work,” Dave said. “Won't you, kid?”
“Sure! Anything.”
“I've got a good feeling about this one.”
Eric sighed again. “Well, keep that good feeling above the waist, or I'll cut your balls off. All right. Lucas?”
The man who'd captured Owen said, “Yeah?”
“You do it. Take the kid's knife, the rope and stuff, two of the ready meals.”
Dave said, “You think that will be enough?”
“Ah, mother. All right, take the antivirals too. But keep them in reserve. Buy the kid for us. And take this one along to make sure you're getting the right guy. Gulliver, Corby, go as security.” He waved at the door. “And David, how about we take a walk down to the stream and you thank me nicely?”
Dave laughed. “Go on, kid. Stick close to Lucas. I'll keep this guy happy.”
Lucas hefted a cloth bag, and gestured to Owen. “Come on, kid. Time for a lesson on the way things work around here.”
***
Caleb sat in the dark, flexing his fingers. His hands ached, and his empty stomach growled. All he could think of was that today was the day Owen would have walked through the Door. And probably right into the arms of waiting men, just like Caleb had. Different men, even though he'd begged these guys to wait for him. Until they'd gotten tired of his asking and gagged him. They'd come hours from the Door before stopping for the night. He didn't know the way back. He might never see Owen again.His eyes filled with tears, and he blinked hard. Never give up. That had always been Owen's motto, but he was adopting it as of now. Maybe Owen had escaped his welcome committee and was even now looking for him. Or maybe he himself would soon get the chance to get loose and go find Owen. He rubbed his wrists, where the dirty frayed ropes were tight, and flexed his fingers again.
Three days of peeling potatoes and scrubbing pots and cleaning muddy boots had left his fingers raw. His mouth still tasted of the dirty rag they'd used as a gag, and although it was gone now, his tongue was thick and dry. But it could have been much worse. He'd caught a couple of the men looking at him, sideways and hungrily. But the Boss had growled at them not to touch the kid if they wanted to come home with the crew. And no one had. He was cold, sore and hungry, but nothing more.
The door to his shed opened. The shape of the man filling the doorway was already familiar. Pete was the biggest guy in the crew, but also the quietest. Caleb thought he wasn't very smart, but Kane seemed to trust him with prisoner control. Although given that Caleb was the only prisoner at the moment, it wasn't a very demanding job.
Pete came over, bent and untied his wrist-rope from the post, holding the end. Caleb shook out his hands, torn between relief and fear. He'd never been let loose after dark before. “What's going on?”
“Shut up. Stand up.”
Caleb did so. His left foot tingled with pins and needles and he stamped it, wincing as the rough, cold gravel bit into his bare skin. His new boots had fit one of the other guys.
“Go ahead of me.”
Apprehensively, Caleb limped over and out the shed door, with Pete's bulk close behind him. There was a man holding a powerful flashlight, standing in the clearing. He could make out nothing of the man, as the light hit his face. He had the impression of a couple of other guys, further in the shadows.
Kane, standing closer to the building, said, “So, you seriously want to bid on this kid? He's not that pretty.”
The stranger said, “Pretty enough that Ellie won't be happy if you bring him home with you.”
“He peels potatoes pretty good. She'll appreciate the help.”
The stranger said, “Sure. So, kid, is this the guy?”
Caleb said nothing, confused. Then he heard Owen's voice, at the stranger's shoulder. “Yes, it is.”
Caleb lunged forward, and was brought up short by Pete's tug on the rope. “Owen!”
Owen's tone was disdainfully cool in response. “He's pretty skinny but he might be worth keeping. Worth something anyway. If they want a trade.”
Caleb gasped a painful breath. Owen? He wanted to run over, wanted to cry, wanted to know why Owen just stood there, behind the light, sneering at him. All he could do was keep quiet and wait.
Kane said, “What's your offer.?”
“The kid says he knows him, he's a decent worker. We lost a couple of guys last year so we're short. We'll give you this newbie's knife and nylon rope for your kid.” The stranger seemed barely interested. Caleb could only hope that was a ploy.
Kane snorted. “He's worth more than that.”
“Black market back in town, yeah. But Captain Rufus is getting good at tracking that stuff down. He might make you cut the kid loose when you hit town, before you can sell him. Why not turn a profit now, while you can?”
“For that kind of crap offer, I'll take my chances.”
The stranger pulled out something silver, that caught the torchlight. “We'll toss in a couple of ready-meals. Our boy came through with the beef stew. How long since you had real beef?”
“Our kid had the chicken,” Kane said in a grudging voice. “Crap. It's still not worth it.”
The stranger shrugged, the pack glinting in his hand. “I'm not authorized to go higher. We don't need the extra hands that badly. And maybe if Rufus rescues him, he'll throw his lot in with us for free.” He turned away, moving the light off Caleb's face. Through the bright blue afterimages, Caleb strained for a glimpse of Owen. All he could make out were moving shadows.
Don't go! Don't leave me here! He clenched his teeth to keep from crying out.
“Wait.” Kane made a sound like a growl. “Feckit. All right. The knife, the nylon rope and the tenselon cord, fishhooks, all the meals. You get the kid.”
“Deal.” The stranger stuffed the silver package into a bag and tossed the bag at Pete's feet.
“Check it,” Kane ordered.
Pete didn't let go of the rope around Caleb's wrists as he bent to the bag. Eventually he said, “All here, boss.”
“Let him go.”
Pete carefully untied the rope, and gave him a shove. Caleb's first step was tentative, stumbling, stubbing his bare toes. His next was faster. The last three he ran. Then Owen's arms were around him. He smelled Owen's familiar skin and sweat, and felt his fingers fumbling with his wrists.
“Damn,” Owen muttered, his voice hoarse. “I can't tell...”
“We'll worry about that later, kid. Come on now, back away from the stationhouse slowly.”
Caleb let Owen guide him into the darkness, not caring about anything, even when a boot landed on his toes. He was out and free, and Owen wasn't letting go. It was almost a dream. After a few minutes they stopped and the stranger turned the light onto the ground near their feet. It was enough illumination to show Caleb their faces, but there was only one he wanted to see. He turned in Owen's arms, searching to meet his gaze.
“Ah, thank Krypton and all the druids.” Owen put a hand on Caleb's cheek.
Caleb's laugh bubbled free, crazily. “You are such a freak.”
“You're one to talk.”
Out of the darkness, the stranger said, “We've got a bunch of walking yet to do. And there's always work tomorrow. We need to get going. Owen, kid, you should kiss your boy now, and let's move.”
Caleb closed his eyes and took a deep, free breath. And Owen proved that he could sometimes follow orders.
####
Marc wrote: "Romeo, my Romeo [Limerick]There once was a boy called Brad,
The perfect Romeo to woo Juliette,
But when the lights died,
He kissed me with pride,
"I love you, Tim, never forget!""
Oh SO CUTE :)
(( i love Limericks!))
My story for this month's m/m picture prompt is on Wattpad and I don't feel like posting the whole thing here because it is currently 5 chapters. It's not quite done yet, I'm estimating another 2 chapters, and maybe an epilogue, but the chapters are really short. I'm so happy right now though, because my story, Backstage Kisses, has gotten 499 reads right now, and is sitting at Short Story #172 and Romance #638!!! So, if you have an account, can you please vote and comment to tell me what you like, and maybe what I should fix? Here is the link; http://www.wattpad.com/story/8917417-...
Ooh, there's my 500th read!!!
Also, I am currently having a "cover off" for the story on my Facebook page (TheWittyRomantic, under my Wattpad username), so I would appreciate it if you could follow this link https://www.facebook.com/thewittyroma... and vote on which cover you like the best!!!!
Wow - congrats on the writing, and thanks for giving us the link.
Jane wrote: "My story for this month's m/m picture prompt is on Wattpad and I don't feel like posting the whole thing here because it is currently 5 chapters. It's not quite done yet, I'm estimating another 2 c..."Yay Jane!
Julia wrote: "Jane wrote: "My story for this month's m/m picture prompt is on Wattpad and I don't feel like posting the whole thing here because it is currently 5 chapters. It's not quite done yet, I'm estimatin..."Thank you (both of you) :) and I sent you that message you asked for Julia
Jane wrote: "Julia wrote: "Jane wrote: "My story for this month's m/m picture prompt is on Wattpad and I don't feel like posting the whole thing here because it is currently 5 chapters. It's not quite done yet,..."Yum
There are no constraints on length or format (limericks, haiku, novel? Go for it. Post here or give us a link.) You can make these guys anything you wish from vampires to aliens to just experimenting friends to two F2M trans guys, wherever your plot bunny leads you, just keep it YA and some LGBTQ content. Have fun.