---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AJ looks around in the club. It looks different with the light on, and no people. He tries to act normal, to look cool and clam on the outside, but inside he is burning up. His hormones are running loose, breaking down every single barrier in their way.

He had thought that was it, outside the club. He had seen his life pass before his eyes, and he had accepted death. He had left everything behind, every thought, every worry, everything. The only thing that had been on his mind when the bat had came down against Justin's head had been that he would never be able to say hello to the owner of a pair of blue eyes, never again look into them again and drown.

But here he was, standing in a club, right next to those very blue eyes.

And he had no idea what to say.

"Thanks" Kevin said, looking at blue eyes' friend.

"It's ok. You should stay here tonight though, it'll be safest. I don't know why they came after you in the first place, but I don't think they are going to give up quite yet. I'm Mickey by the way, and this is N-Zee" he says, pointing to blue eyes.

AJ looks at blue eyes, N-Zee, and smiles.

"Thanx man. I though that was it."

N-Zee looks at him and smiles, staring into his eyes.

"Don't mention it. Just do me a favor. Try to stay out of Lion territory that late at night. Crime runs wild in there. It's not good. But as Mickey said, you'll be safe here."

AJ looks around, pretending to study the club. He had thought his hormones were running wild before, now they had lost their mind.

The only thing on his mind right now was to push N-Zee down on the nearest table and screw the hell out of him. 'now that's a thought'

"We were here yesterday, and almost got robbed right outside. That doen't sound very safe to me" Justin says, looking at Mickey.

"I know" he answers, and when he sees the guys' confused faces he goes on.

"We ran into them when we left, told them to leave. Glad we did. If we hadn't, N-Zee wouldn't have followed you around and brought me in on it when you crossed into the Lion part of town."

"You followed us?" Kevin says, looking at N-Zee rather confused.

"Wouldn't want you to get killed. That would bring too much unwanted attention on us again. Had enough of that last year during the gang wars."

AJ felt dissapointed. He had actually thought that N-Zee had followed them around because of him.

There had been something at the concert, that he knew.

But when he looked at him now, all he saw was someone he would run away from any other day.

Something was not right here, but he didn't know what.

What was N-Zee hiding?

Didn't the others know he was gay?

Was he gay?

"So, sit down't, make yourself at home. Drink what you want, we own the place. Oh, and N-Zee, you might wanna feed your dog. She's been alone up there all day. AJ, you can go with him and keep an eye on him. I swear to God, that dog is gonna die of starvation someday."

"Not funny Mickey" N-Zee replies, but he gets up and looks at AJ.

"You wanna come?"

********************

He couldn't believe it.

Here he was, walking next to one of the Backstreet Boys, and he had nothing to say.

He had dreamed about this moment, fantaziced about it. Made up entire converstations between him and AJ. The words he would say, the things he would do.

Right now he felt like a kid meeting Santa Claus. Wanting to sit on his lap, but a bit afraid at the same time.

He smiles to AJ as he opens the door, petting Mercy as she tries to knock him over when he enters.

"AJ, this is Mercy. Don't worry, she is the worst watchdog in the world. The only good thing is that she would probably lick thiefs to death."

AJ smiles at him and sits down on his knees to pet her. N-Zee leaves him there and goen into the kitchen to get Mercy's food.

He wants to come up with something to say, something good.

Everything in him tells him that AJ is gay, that all he has to do is kiss him.

But then there is that little voice in the back of his head that tells him that it is just not meant to be.

He hears footsteps behind him and turns around to look into a pair of brown eyes.

"I think she is hungry" he says with a smile.

"I bet she is." he replies, putting the dog food on the floor.

"You wanna see the rest of this place? It's not much, but it's home"

AJ looks at him and smiles again. God, those smiles alone are enough to make life worth living.

"I'd love to"

"Well then" he says as he leads the way into the living room again.

"This is where I relax. The tv works fine, I even have a dish. Don't pay for it, but hey, that's the perks of being a criminal. I even have a computer, but don't tell Mickey, it used to be his."

AJ laughter tells him that he has the same kind of humour he has.

He is starting to enjoy this, and something in him tells him that all he and AJ are ever meant to be are friends.

Best friends.

********************

AJ laughs a lot as he follows N-Zee around. He likes the place, and the dog. The place is perfect for a single man, and N-Zee makes it very clear the he is not seing someone.

"You think it's that hair?" he says, pulling his hand through those bleached locks.

"Gotta be" he answers, and laughs again, as N-Zee tries to give him a I'm-hurt look.

Everything seems so great. He feel like they can talk about anything now. Like he has known this guy all his life, like they have been friends for years.

Maybe that is all they are supposed to be, friends.

He smiles.

He can accept that.

 

Return to The Story Index.