Fate Meets Destiny: Chapter Eleven
Title: Fate Meets Destiny
Author: bbmgirlfan
Pairing: Ennis/Jack (AU/AU)
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: just playing with the boys, they don't belong to me
Summary: Jack and Ennis grew up together and even went to the same college before moving back home to take over each family's business. They became roommates but that's all they were! Or, is it?
Chapter Eleven
Sunday afternoon found Jack curled up in one of those comfy chairs at Barnes & Noble with his feet resting on the ottoman. Next to him was a stack of books from the the gay and lesbian section.
Jack had left Ennis still sleeping this morning, had gone for a walk and a swim and had come back to find the house deserted. After a shower and a breakfast of eggs and toast, Jack decided to be gone when Ennis came back. He knew they were going to need to talk at some point, but he hoped he'd have at least a day or two to get over the embarrassment.
Jack saw Ennis as a kind of sexual connoisseur who could use him to add another new experience but valued their friendship too much to do it. He saw himself, on the other hand, as a gay newbie with a nerdy junior high crush on his best friend. He felt embarrassed that he wasn't as worldly as Ennis--did Ennis ever even have crushes?--so he wanted some space before they had to talk.
And, like the college student he used to be, he figured he might as well continue his research on what it means to be gay. As he picked up his book on gay erotica and began to read, the family occupying the chairs around him decided to leave. He glanced at the cover of his book and decided there probably was a connection between their leaving and his reading material.
Jack had been there about an hour when the cute guy with the round glasses he'd seen as he was walking in came over and sat down next to him. Jack looked up and said hi to beautiful eyes and a wide, friendly smile.
"I've read all those books you've got there!"
"Oh, you have? I haven't read any of them yet. I'm kind of a newbie." Jack confessed.
"Oh, really? I just came out to myself about a year ago. I'm John."
"I'm Jack."
"Well, how 'bout I give you the official welcome?" John offered. "Um...welcome to the world of all things gay. I hope you'll enjoy your stay!" Jack laughed as John looked particularly pleased with the rhyme.
"I'm sure I will. So does Gay World come with a tour guide?"
John's eyes widened and so did his smile. "Absolutely. I am both the official greeter and the activities director."
Jack couldn't think of what to say next so John rescued him. "Would you like to go out to dinner sometime? It comes with the tour!". Jack said he would like that and they exchanged information, making plans to go out on Friday night.
Jack found out that John was a writer who had just recently moved to the beach and who tried to stick to a strict schedule of writing during the week and taking the weekends off. "I have trouble with deadlines!" he confessed.
They talked for a while longer and then, both settled in to read for a while. About an hour later, John said he had to get going but would call so they could decide where to go for dinner. Jack watched as John arranged his books neatly on the table, threw away his empty coffee cup and left.
Oh my god! I. have. a. date. with. a. guy!!!
I kinda like him. I mean, he's not Ennis. But I like him.
What am I going to wear?
And then, suddenly, John was back! "I was wondering ... Um, I was just about to head over to Columbus Theatre to see a movie. I thought maybe you might like to come, too? It's ... it's kind of a chick flick," he warned, "but I'd like the company if you'd like to go."
So Jack found himself walking to the movies with Cute Writer John!
Do guys hold hands at the movies? I don't think I'm ready for that yet. Might let him buy me popcorn, though. I wonder if he'll offer.
While eating the big tub of popcorn that John bought, they laughed and talked all the way through the coming attractions. Jack realized he was having fun!
As John walked him back to his car after the movie was over, Jack realized he was looking forward to their date. "I'm glad I met you today, Jack!" John told him when they arrived at his car. In response, Jack surprised him with a hug. "Me, too, John!"
Jack put the top down and sang along with the radio all the way home. So far, he was enjoying his gay world tour!
~~~~~~~~~~
It was Monday night and both Jack and Ennis were moving dinner from kitchen to table. Ennis had made a big pot of spaghetti, Jack had poured the wine and buttered and warmed the bread and each had served themselves a plate of spaghetti and drowned it in parmesan cheese. They decided to sit out back.
The large screened porch had a big wooden farmhouse table and they sat there where they could enjoy the balmy breezes.
Neither had felt inclined to start with deep conversation so at first they just ate and talked politely about how their work day went. Business had been a little slow for Jack at Sun, Moon and Stars, but not overly so. It was typical for Monday. Jack did tell a funny story about a teenage customer who had wanted to cast an aphrodisiac spell on a classmate and refused to believe that Jack wasn't selling "magic".
Ennis talked about the "suits" who often came in at lunchtime and said it had been a fairly typical day for him, too.
"So can I ask you a question?"
Jack leaned back and took a deep breath, knowing that Ennis's question would probably launch the Big Discussion. "Sure."
"How do you know ... how do you know all of a sudden that you're gay?" Ennis asked.
"You know, from what I've read, so far, a lot of people have a sort of catalyst and a moment of realization that has something to do with being attracted to someone of the same sex." Jack glanced at Ennis. "You already know I'm attracted to you..."
"And maybe I have been for a while," Jack continued, "but I didn't know it until recently. When you went on your summer trip, that was really the first time we've been apart for more than a week since we met!" Jack took a big sip of wine before glancing again at Ennis, who was leaning forward and listening intently.
"It surprised me to miss you as much as I did. And to feel, like, overwhelmed with happiness when you came back!"
Ennis smiled. "I felt like that, too!"
"You did?"
"Yep. I remember hugging you and feeling like I was hugging sunshine," Ennis confided.
"Hmm. That's nice to know!" Jack said before continuing with his explanation. "Well, I had been feeling lonely but when I thought about going out and trying to meet a girl, I just couldn't get excited about it. And I started thinking about how the way I felt about girls didn't match the way other guys say they feel."
"Hmm."
"But I didn't know for sure until I kissed you at the party." When Jack chanced another look at Ennis to see how he was responding to all this, he was just listening, didn't look uncomfortable at all and seemed completely accepting. That made it much easier for Jack to continue.
"I have NEVER been that turned on before! Obviously that, and what happened between us later that night, is what sex is supposed to feel like." Jack said.
Ennis said that he thought, too, that that's what it should feel like and everyone had a right to enjoy it to the fullest. "Thank you for telling me all that, Jack. It's an honor that you trusted me that much!" He said, too, that he hoped that someday Jack would find someone wonderful.
"Well, actually, I met someone yesterday at Barnes & Noble and we're going out to dinner on Friday!"
TBC