Hello Readers! This is my third story and a sequel to Living Colour. Marco is in first year university – out and confident, and enthusiastic to jump right in as always. He never stops to think that someone might be watching him…

FYI - I always choose the names of the titles/chapters very deliberately (and have been trying to use song titles too). Some are obvious and some are less obvious, so if any reviewers want to comment on the chapter titles/why they think I chose it, I'd be interested to see what people think. If it's obvious - it's obvious.

One More Colour

Chapter 1: Man in the Mirror

Marco leaned out his residence room window, taking in the brilliant autumn reds and oranges of the changing leaves falling over Mont Royal. The crisp Montreal air cooled down the stuffy dorm room now filled with all things Marco – Diesel jeans folded neatly in the cupboard, Sarah Jessica Parker pin-up (she's so glamorous), all the necessary hair products lined up neatly on the dresser, soccer trophies, and of course…shoes. Pairs and pairs of funky shoes. Couldn't leave home without them. He looked at his framed pictures from graduation – capped and gowned Paige, Ellie, Craig, and Alex smiling up at him. Him and Ellie at graduation – he would miss her so much, if she wasn't moving into a room right down the hall from him at this very moment. A picture of him and Dylan staring at each other from the Bollywood Dance a year ago -how did Craig get that picture anyways? I mean, just because they weren't together anymore, doesn't mean he couldn't have a picture – he was his first love after all and beautiful to look at if he did say so himself. Dylan's American hockey scholarship is what broke them up a year ago, not any big fight, so why shouldn't he show off his handsome ex? At least it's a good way to out himself quickly to the new masses - so not interested in re-entering the closet. Marco opened the door to his room.

McGill.

He saw Ellie approaching with some new overly friendly faces.

"Kim, Andrew, Lisa, this is Marco….we were just going down to campus to grab a bite to eat. Wanna come?"

"Hey guys…sure, I'll come."

The group began the steep walk down the infamous McGill hill, towards the hopping Montreal night life. "Ell – can you believe we ended up on the same floor in res? It's too crazy…I think we're meant to be together," Marco beamed blabbering on in his effusive way.

Ellie affectionately put her arm around him, "Definitely Marco…you know it's true love." They smiled knowingly at each other.

"So…you guys are together, I assume," Lisa half asked, half stated. The others looked at them with interest.

Ellie gaped, "Me?...and Marco? Together? I don't think so," she couldn't help but laugh.

"Now that hurts," Marco teased, "come on, Ell…you and me, don't you remember? You don't think we'd still make a cute couple?" The others looked on in confusion as Marco and Ellie were clearly involved in some inside joke.

"Sorry…I mean you guys just looked so comfortable together…so I just figured," Lisa explained.

"No worries, Lisa. If you don't know, it's easy to mistake us – Ellie's my best friend. Ellie's boyfriend, Craig, is also one of my closest friends. And I'm," Marco looked at Ellie and shrugged his shoulders, "well, I'm gay."

"Oh - That's cool…and that explains it. Fun…gay guy on floor…always good to have around."

"Definitely," Marco smiled, relieved and happy.

The dinner crew at least seemed relaxed and cool. Lisa and Kim were from Vancouver, and already seemed comfortable prodding Marco about being out in highschool – "No I don't have a boyfriend, but I have had a boyfriend, Dylan…who I'm still friends with." Kim and Ellie were both going to be studying psychology, Andrew (but he prefers Drew) was on exchange from a small town in Tennessee. He was quiet - until the topic of the World Cup came up – he thought he was the only North American who was actually a soccer fan! He and Marco argued about who the strongest team would be in the next Cup. Later Marco whispered to Ellie that you had to swoon over his sweet Southern accent.

By the time Ann, their floor's floor fellow, convened their first floor meeting, Marco had managed to come out to most people he'd met. He had mastered the fine art of casually slipping comments into conversation, and so far, so good. "You're from Toronto? Are you a Leafs fan?" – Well, I wasn't…but my ex-boyfriend is sort of a hockey star so I got more into it. "What clubs are you joining?" - soccer house league, drama club, Queer McGill. It was easier than he thought.

Ann was a bubbly and warm fourth year student in charge of making sure the 36 new students on her floor were getting all they could out of McGill. "As you may have heard, at McGill we have res with no rules," she was interrupted with woohoos and applause. "Well, there actually are two simple rules – don't fuck with the fire equipment and respect other people…So what that means is don't blast your music if someone next door has an exam the next day, be a good guy and get your sick floor mate take out dinner, and most of all, respect differences and diversity – that means no sexism, racism or homophobia. Our residence director, Professor Jim, teaches engineering and is also gay," Marco couldn't help but notice the two husky football guys chuckle, and also the glare that Ann gave them as she continued, "He asks us floor fellows to let you know that. It is our goal and our job to make sure that everyone is respected and comfortable and I take this very seriously…" Marco smiled to himself as Ann finished her speech and each person gave a quick introduction to themselves. Marco was a pro at the circle introduction.

"I'm Marco. What can I tell you? I'm from Toronto and I went to the same highschool as Ellie. I'm Italian…and I make a mean tiramisu that I'll bring to the first floor potluck. And like Professor Jim, I might as well tell those of you who don't know already, that I'm gay." Marco looked around to mostly calm but interested faces, "I've been out for a long time, three years now…so it's not really something I'm going through, but if anyone wants to talk about it, you don't have to be uncomfortable, 'cause I'm not…And most importantly, I'm a huge soccer addict."

Mission accomplished.

Marco just beat the line up as he rushed into the showers before dinner, and a few others headed into the showers behind him. "I'm not going in there with him." Marco heard someone say as heturned around to see the two football guys – what were their names again? - Rich and Joe or something like that…maybe Dick?

"What are you looking at?" Rich glared at Marco. Drew and another nice guy, Dan were in line behind them.

At first Marco was too stunned to react, then somehow, an image of Dylan's eyes piercing through the guy who dared to call him Homochuck, grounded Marco in his moment. He sized Rich up and down with a sneer, "Don't flatter yourself, hunny," Marcoanswered calmly,as he turned and walked into the shower stall.

He smiled proudly to himself as he heard Drew and Dan enter the other two stalls before the dicks, laughing out loud, "Well we'll just go in front of you then."

"Nice one, Marco," Dan spoke over the stalls. "And don't worry about those jerks. Most people aren't so lame."

"Thanks…and I wasn't worried. But it's nice to be supported."

After supper, Marco was mulling over his first day's calculus homework, when he was interrupted by a knock on his door, "Hey Marco? You busy?"

"Oh, hey Drew. Just trying to work through these calculus problems…can someone remind me why I felt I should take math in university again?"

"I know. I was just wondering if you wanted to look at problems 6 and 7 with me…a little bird named Ellie told me you'd be able to help."

Marco blushed at the compliment, "Well, I hope I live up to expectations…let me take a look at the problems first. Here…come on in while I work through them."

Drew surveyed Marco's room - soccer trophies, so many shoes, pictures – "hey is that your ex?" Drew pointed at the picture of him and Dylan.

Marco looked up, "Yeah. That's Dylan…We broke up a year ago when he got a hockey scholarship to a school that's closer to Tennessee than Toronto," Marco laughed, "but we're still in touch. He's a great friend and he was really my mentor when I was coming out."

Drew nodded. His bright green eyes had this quiet intensity that intrigued Marco. Not that he was crushing on a straight guy. Cardinal rule – no crushing on a straight guy friend. But damn that southern drawl was cute.

"What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?...You mentioned someone the other day?"

"Me? Who – Jennifer? No…she's sort of my ex..Things didn't work out and I was coming here…So anyways, calculus?" Drew quickly changed the subject.

"Sure..so question six…"

Before he went to sleep that night, Marco felt an urge to tell Dylan about his crazy day - outing himself and the shower incident. Quite a full day.

From: Marco at McGill

To: Dylan on the Ice

Subject: Marco and Dick in the Shower

Hey Dylan – how's it going? Gearing up for hockey season? I haven't written in a while but today I just had to write…it's been a crazy day. So it's been great at McGill so far – Ellie's on my floor and I've had no problem coming out to the many cool people I've met. It was easy – though I did get a funny look when I said I liked the Leafs because my ex-boyfriend was a hockey star!

But the story I really want to share has to do with the subject above (don't get too excited…it isn't erotica). There are these two not-so-cool hot shot guys – Rich (I prefer Dick) and Joe who wouldn't take a shower because I was going into the stall beside them. When I turned around, Dick asked me what I was looking at in that 'what-are-you-looking-at' kind of a way. I was so surprised by the blatant homophobia that I almost didn't respond. But then – Dylan you'd be so proud – I just looked Dick up and down and was like, "don't flatter yourself, hunny." And Dylan, let me tell you, Mr. Beer Belly leaves much to be desired.

I remembered how you stood up to Jay that day in the library…You continue to inspire even from far away.

On a happier note – lots of cool people on the floor. I'm intrigued by this straight guy from Tennessee. He has these sparkling green eyes, quiet, thoughtful personality, and I'm a sucker for that Southern drawl. But don't worry – I know better than to crush on the straight boy next door.

Hope there are some cute guys on your team too...

Platonic kisses, Marco