Times Have Changed

It had been two long years since Darren's step-brother, Craig, the baby of the Dean/Osbourne family had headed to Ireland and Trinity University to study business without looking back and in that time so much had changed. Craig had settled himself in his new flat in Dublin and decided to re-instate his heterosexuality as soon as possible. He was convinced Sarah was still in love with him, or at least that is what her daily thousand e-mails and texts indicated, so he finally called her back and lying through his teeth said he felt the same. He assured her John-Paul had been a mistake, just a confusion of his feelings, possibly because of the exams and all the stress, because he loved her always had and always would and he was regretting his choice not to marry her and have her there in Dublin by his side, even if she had crawled back to Rhys since he left, in fact he was just lonely and scared to be on his own, he knew John-Paul would still care about him, but he would never be able to forgive him. So, within two months of Craig having arrived, the all too gullible Sarah had welcomed him back into her life and bed with open arms, she had dropped out of HCC and moved to be with him and re-established her modelling career over there.

Meanwhile, John-Paul had overcome the back lash of their secret affair and the resulting relationship. He enrolled on a teacher training course at HCC, moved into the halls of residence to escape his hectic family lifestyle to concentrate on his studies, made new friends and more or less got over Craig, thanks in part it has to be said to the friendship developing between himself and Darren. Despite all the 'queer' jokes and general digs Darren threw at John-Paul he had to admit he actually quite liked him and he certainly respected how he stood up for himself when Craig was too scared to show any backbone and he would even go as far as to say, but never openly that he could see why Craig had found him so attractive, it was something about his eyes. His eyes, those wonderful, glossy pools of blue, whenever you looked into them it was as though you were falling into his very soul, but it also helped that he was a laugh to be around even if he did support the wrong footie team. John-Paul had reached a stage where he was content in being single; he had his friends and family, his studies and his DJ jobs what else could he possibly need?

Darren however was out on the pull and drowning his sorrows every other week trying and failing spectacularly to erase the impact Zoe had had in his life. The only problem being that Darren seemed to be finding women less and less attractive, but he put that down to not wanting the complications of a relationship. He was getting his life back on track, he had his job, regained his parents trust just about, been able to spend more time than previously with his mates and he had John-Paul. The time they spent together was different than when he was with the other guys, they would do ordinary things like go to the cinema or watch the footie, but he could talk to John-Paul about anything without feeling stupid and he knew he would listen. He could talk about his love successes and disasters and John-Paul wouldn't be offended they were all girls or embarrassed if he sometimes got over emotional, Darren had even felt comfortable enough to ask John-Paul about his love life and offered to go out with him on a night out into Manchester to check out what the gay scene had to offer, but he drew the line at hearing about Craig and their sexual exploration, because sometimes even though he knew this was weird he felt a little bit jealous. Darren in his own way had been a major support to John-Paul during the Craig saga, so now it was his turn to return the favour in his time of need.

"Right. That is enough. Do you know what you need?"

"What's that then?"

"A holiday. Somewhere warm with a pool and loads of half naked women for your benefit."

"Ha that would be wonderful, but have you seen the negative figures in my bank account I think Frankie and dad would kill me if I told them I was off on holiday."

"Okay so how about just a weekend away in this country? You know you and the lads booking a hotel and going out on the pull and drinking every night."

"So are you up for this then?"

"Erm… well I didn't think it would be my kind of thing I was thinking maybe you, Rhys, Gilly, Zack and Kris."

"No, come on I need someone to keep me sane with that lot. Please, John-Paul? We will do a gay night if that helps. Please?"

"That is a nice thought and all but you don't have to, I can't imagine the others being too thrilled at that idea."

"Well, if they object me, you and Kris can go they can do what they like."

"Only if you're sure."

"Course I am."

"Okay so where were you thinking of going then?"

"That's the spirit! I was thinking Blackpool, because it has a bit of everything for everyone, or so I've heard."

"Yeah it does, but so does Brighton and it has a better beach, which means we get all we wanted."

"Cool. Brighton it is then. I'll round up the guys. How does next weekend sound to you?"

"Bit short notice don't you think? Make it the one after and you have yourself a deal."

"Ok the weekend after next it is. Do you want another drink?"

"Yeah go on there I'll have another beer and have one for yourself. Cheers."

"Cheers!"