As the car pulled up to a stylish downtown brown stone Jake couldn't believe this is where he was going to be living. It looked like it had been there for years with trails of ivy running up the building that looked like scars that had healed over time. The building
was very well taken care of though, clean and manicured incredibly well, it
could only make Jake wonder who was fitting the bill for all this. The car finally came to a complete stop and
as Jake got out a tall hunky man slid over to him. "You must be the new guy," he said. Jake stopped for a moment taking him all in. Tall
and buff in a tight tank top that Jake wondered if it was any tighter would he
be able to breathe. Jeans that hugged his hips and thighs, weathered leather sandals, and a hair band holding back a
billowing main that went down to the middle of his back. "Yeah, I'm Jake it nice to meet you." "I'm Jeremy it's nice to meet you too. Do you have any bags in the trunk we need to
get out?" "No I just have my pack here,
it's all I've got," Jake said sounding a little sadder than he meant to. "Cool,
I like to travel lite too, never know where your gonna end up right?" "Uhh, Yeah totally, that nomad lifestyle is
just hard to break." "Well let's head
upstairs and I'll show you your room.
We're on the third floor, hope you don't mind the stairs." "Nah, I'm
good. I've been cooped up in that office
since early this morning so it'll feel good to stretch my legs a little bit." As they got closer to the door Jake noticed it
was surrounded by ornate carvings, mixing together some kinds of symbols and
what looked like all different kind of monsters. It gave the build a little air of mystique
that Jake liked. Once inside they headed
towards the stairs trotting up to the third floor seemed like a hike up the
side of a mountain tiring Jake out and testing his endurance. Jeremy was bounding up the stairs three at a
time like some kind of cliff hugging goat, it made Jake wonder how long he had
been here if he was so used to taking the stairs with such ease. They stopped at the third-floor landing and
Jeremy motioned to the only door situated at the back. "Are we the only ones on this floor?" Jake
questioned. "Yeah, the building is
basically just a downstairs flat and ours upstairs. It seems like no one is ever there or its
empty so we never have to worry about making too much noise." Jake walked through the door and was amazed, there
was a large central community space and a kitchen in the back. Along the walls to the left and right were
doors, 4 on each side. Jeremy pointed to
the door on the back left and said "You're over there." They moved towards the door and went
inside. It was a nice room with an
entrance to the terrace to the right, there was a nice bed that looked very
comfy, a TV and a PlayStation with a stack of games, and a closet that had
clothes in it. Jake pointed to the
cabinet and games, "Is that somebody's stuff they left in here?" "Nope, it's all yours. They try to put a few things in here every
teenager needs, and there should also be a laptop in the desk drawer." Really?"
It's all part of the package, most of us come here with nothing or
practically nothing to our names so consider it a teenage starter pack. Congratulations you are now the proud owner
of stuff!" Jeremy laughed. Jake couldn't
believe what he was hearing. They were
just giving him all this? "OK what's the
catch?" "No catch my dude. I know it's hard to accept help good things happening
to us with our lifestyles, but this is just what it seems. So relax, take a breath, the men in black
aren't coming, you're not going to wake up and have to worry about anything. Get comfortable, relax, its safe here." Suddenly a ringing came from the bad side
table. "Oh right there should be a phone
in there for you." Jeremy said. That's probably Mr. Twitch checking to see if
you made it here ok, you should probably answer that, I'll be back in just a
bit, get comfortable." Jake walked over
to the bedside table after Jeremy left and slowly pulled open the drawer. There sat a new looking phone about to
vibrate itself out of the drawer.
"Hello?" Jake said sheepishly.
"Jake, good you found the phone. Getting
settled in ok?" "Uh, Yes sir I'm in my
room now, Jeremy just showed it to me."
"Good, is everything to your liking?"
"Yes Sir, it amazing. Are you
sure it's all for me?" "Yes, my boy
there has been no mistake, you are right where you should be. I'll call you from time to time to make sure
you're doing ok, and of course if you ever need anything just call, I'll always
be here to help you. Bye for now dear, have a good night's sleep" And just like that he was gone. Jake slowly looked around the room. He couldn't believe all this was his.
"Hey Jake!" Jeremy called out. "Yeah, what do you need?" "I'm going to cook us something why don't you
take a shower and wash the road off while I cook, The bathroom is the first
door on the opposite side of the room."
"Ok that sounds great, what about soap and stuff?" "There's a lot of different stuff in there
just us whatever you want, it's all community product so feel free." Jake looked through the clothes in his closet
and found a nice new pair of jeans and a blue hoodie with nice tribal designs
on it. He rummaged around the drawers
and found boxer briefs that were just his size.
He crossed the living area and went to the bathroom on the other side
and as he did Jeremy said "Take your time dude, I'll have dinner ready when you're
done." "Alright, thanks man," he
responded as he entered the bathroom.
Once inside he looked around and
was amazed how spacious and furnished the bathroom was and at the center of
this marbled museum was a beautiful large bathtub with a shower head over it. Jake went over to the tub to turn the water
on and noticed shining gold flecks in the marble the tub was made out of. Jake slowly undressed and wondered how long
it had been since he was able to just sit in a tub and relax. He added some bath salts and some bubble bath
he found in the cabinet next to the tub and pulled some towels out for when he
was done. Now fully ready for his bath
he eased himself into the tub and melted into the warm water. He sat there and wondered how low it had been
since he was able to just sit in a tub and relax. As he soaked in the tub he's wondered was
this actually real, was this his life now?
He silently prayed to himself "Please let this be real" afraid he would
wake up in the DHS office this all having been a dream. He thought to himself just stay asleep and
slowly he nodded off for a second in the hot water. He remembered Jeremy was waiting and sighed
realizing at some point he actually would need to get out of the tub. He finished up his bath and climbed out of
the tub cleaner than he had ever been before and slowly dried off. He slide into his new clothes wondering if he
had ever felt new clothes against his skin that hadn't been some hand me down
or out of size remnant of a previous foster kid. He stopped at his room and put his clothes in
the hamper in his room and went to the kitchen and found Jeremy. "Did you enjoy the bath?" "Probably more than I should have" they both
laughed. Jeremy handed over a plate that
looked like it was pulled straight out of a picture in a culinary
magazine. "What kind of soda do you
drink?" "Mountain dew if you have it."
"You want regular or Baja blast?"
"Ooh, Baja blast that's my favorite."
They settled in at the table and dug into a delicious plate with pasta,
pork chops, and steamed broccoli with a couple yeast rolls on the side. "Dude this is like the best thing I think
I've ever eaten. Did you cook
this?" "Yeah, I like to cook, it's sort
of a hobby of mine. If you're still
hungry there's plenty left, so don't be shy if you're still hungry." "You mean there's more?" "Yeah dude, don't hold back, just save room
for dessert." "Dessert too? Are you
single?" "As a matter of fact I am, just
haven't found the right guy." "Wait,
you're gay too?" "Yeah, everybody here
is to a degree, either Gay like me, or bi or pan, somewhere on the Kinsey scale
at least. You?" "Yeah, me too. Wait so I get to stay in this beautiful
apartment with new clothes and belongings, a beautiful marble tub the size of a
pool, and a hot guy that can cook? "I
hope I don't ever wake up, cause this dream is to much." "It's real, as soon as you signed the papers
this became your life now, so just relax and get comfortable with it all." Jeremy paused for a second then said with a
sly grin "And you think I'm hot?" Jake
blushed stumbling over his words for a second "Yeah I mean if you like buff chiseled
beef cakes wearing tight skimpy clothes that can cook and are super nice to
boot, but I mean who looks for that." They
both laughed. "Ready for dessert?"
After the meal they went and sat on
one of the coaches in the living area. "So
here's the real question Jake, Do you smoke?"
"Cigarettes maybe once every so often, but not much if at all." "And what about pot?" "Yeah, but I can just not smoke if it's a
problem. I'm not going to let smoking
ruin living in a nice place like this."
"It's fine dude we all smoke pot here and some off us smoke cigarettes
we just ask you go outside on the balcony to smoke a cigarette." Jake reached down and opened a drawer in the table
beside him and pulled a joint out of a jar and said "Feel like sparking up with
me?" "Yeah, that would be great." Jeremy light the joint taking a couple hits
then passed it over to Jake. As Jake drew
the smoke in Jeremy reached over and grabbed a remote and asked "Music,
ok?" "Yeah" "Do you mind Japanese music I have an
appreciation for Japanese rock music.
Anime has totally got me hooked on it.
You watch anime?" "Yeah." The two sat there and shared their favorite
show laughing and smoking. Jake realized
at some point he had taken Jeremy's hand.
He looked over at him and saw he had noticed it too. Jeremy leaned close and asked "Would it be ok
if I kissed you?" "Yeah, I was thinking
the same thing." They drew closer and kissed, gently exploring the others mouth
and lips with their tongues. They slid
down and Jeremy moved on top of Jake. After
making out for bit Jeremy pulled back with a sly grin and said "Your room or mine?" "Mine definitely, I still need to
break it in." They went over to Jakes
room and closed the door behind them.
Slowly taking off each other's shirts, kissing all the way to the bed
and laying down. What happened next was
a flurry of teenage desire and hormones, finishing with an explosion of ecstasy and desire. They lay there gently
holding each other still lightly kissing until they both nodded off. Jake laid there as he drifted off thinking
about how he must have won the lottery.
Even if it all came crashing down tomorrow, Jake would revel in this moment of pure
happiness the rest of his life and thought for the first time he finally knew
what happy and content felt like.