Chapter 2

September 1st, 2003

Classes started on the first day of the month. The day before, Jack had continued to show Ennis around, introducing him to his lecturers and to a couple of people that he figured might be in his classes. He was eager to help him settle in, as he could tell that Ennis was very nervous about all of this, perhaps even a little scared. Jack felt very sorry for him and just wanted to help him.

He knew that Lureen was right to be concerned over how friendly he should be towards Ennis, but he figured that he would be alright. If it did get to a point where he told Ennis of his feelings, then hopefully by then they would be good enough friends for Ennis not to fly off the handle. Maybe he wouldn't get his lights punched out.

He was walking towards campus with his new friend, talking and sensing Ennis becoming more comfortable. Lureen's class wasn't until later, so they decided to leave her where she was and find her at lunch.

They paused on the site where their buildings were, and Jack looked nervously at Ennis. "Um...you gonna be alright?"

Ennis nodded. "Yeah, I guess. Only one class, so it ain't too bad. An' I really like the whole subject, so..." He shrugged.

"Yeah, that's right. Don't worry, Ennis, I'm sure it'll be fine. If you see anybody you know from yesterday, I'd try to sit next to them. And...just keep your head down, you'll be fine."

"Alright. Thanks a lot, Jack. Um...I'll see ya in a couple hours, yeah?"

Jack nodded. "Yep. Text me when you get out, we'll meet up somewhere around here." They had swapped numbers yesterday; Jack took this as a good sign that Ennis was warming to him.

"Sure. Um, bye then," Ennis said a little awkwardly.

"Yeah, see you later." Jack felt the strangest urge to kiss Ennis's cheek goodbye, but he shook it off. What the hell was going on in his head? It wasn't like they were in a relationship.

They turned in the direction of their respective buildings and started walking, feeling a strange sense of loss as they moved further away from each other. Jack headed into his lecture room and took the seat he had claimed last year. He liked to sit about halfway through, with the guys he had introduced to Ennis yesterday. They were a little on the loud and rowdy side, but decent enough. Nobody here but Lureen knew that he was gay, and that was okay for him right now. He didn't want to deal with any backlash right now; he was still getting used to it himself.

He half-listened to the professor welcoming them back for a new semester. He didn't particularly like taking notes, but it was unfortunately necessary. At least it was only for a couple of hours. His classmates were surprisingly well-behaved, so at least they didn't hold things up. People were definitely more mature here than in high school.

As he half-listened, his mind wandered to his new friend, and he wondered how he was doing.

At the next building over, Ennis was settling into a seat at the front. He didn't have the best eyesight in the world, so he thought it would be best to sit as close as possible. He was glad to see that the content of the major was as he'd expected, so he thought that maybe Jack was right; he could settle in pretty well here.

He listened intently as the professor spoke about the content that they would be studying. He loved animals and he knew that a degree would be his ticket out of that ranch. He didn't want to be there anymore. Maybe he could be a vet or something. He'd never spoken about this to his parents, or anyone else, but it was what he wanted. He had a lot of hopes and dreams for his future, but nobody to share them with. Maybe Jack would listen.

Jack was a very interesting person. He came from a wealthy family, had probably grown up with everything he'd wanted. He had a big family and from the sounds of it, he had a big house to live in. And yet...he was perfectly normal. He was nice and very friendly. He wasn't afraid to slum it in a small dorm room, sharing with someone else.

And the way he acted towards him...that was unexpected. Ennis had admitted his background and financial situation, and Jack hadn't held it against him. He had been interested in the ranch and the kind of work he did with his father. There was definitely a divide between them, but Jack made no mention of it. It was as if it didn't matter to him. He felt very lucky at having found a roommate like him, friendly and easy to live with.

Two hours later, the lecture finally finished. He got up and stretched, before gathering his things and heading out of the room. It was nearly twelve and he was due to meet Jack outside so they could go to lunch. As he walked out of the building, he checked his cell to see a text from Jack.

Lu runnin late, see ya outside

He smiled to himself and put his phone back in his pocket. As he walked out into the bright sunlight, he looked up and around; Jack was waiting for him on a bench near where they had parted. He approached him, feeling glad to see him again. Jack looked up and grinned.

"Hey, bud." He stood up. "How'd it go?" he asked, hoping that Ennis was settling in.

Ennis nodded. "Pretty good. Just like how it was back home. I think it'll be alright."

Jack smiled. "Great. You get my text about Lureen?"

"Yeah. So, um...we goin' to lunch?"

"Uh-huh. Come on." They turned and headed for the cafeteria, feeling happy to walk and spend some time together like this.

They headed into the cafeteria and joined the line for hot food; at least it was cheap enough, so Jack didn't need to feel too self-conscious about their financial differences. He was trying his best not to show off too much for respect of Ennis's feelings, but he didn't seem to even notice. They paid for their food and found a table; it was quite crowded but there were a few spaces left. They sat by a window and started eating.

"So," Jack said, his mouth half-full of fries. "You really enjoy your lecture today?"

"Yeah, real interestin'. Sat next to a couple of guys that we met yesterday. They're all real nice." Ennis took a breath. "Thanks again, for showin' me 'round. Don't know what I woulda done if you hadn't been there. Um...it meant a lot, you know." He looked at Jack shyly.

Jack smiled, feeling happy and pleased with himself that he'd managed to help Ennis settle in. "No problem, bud. Just real glad that I could help." He looked into Ennis's deep brown eyes and felt a strange feeling in his stomach. He'd never felt like this before.

They continued with their food, uncertain now of what to say. A thought then occurred to Jack, and he cleared his throat.

"Hey, um...you into sports at all? We could go see a football game or something sometime..." he asked, feeling unsure about what he might be into.

Ennis looked uncomfortable. "Uh...not really, Jack. I just...never was into that kinda stuff back home. Always had to work on the ranch, always a lot to do...never really had the time for stuff like that." He met Jack's eyes, feeling like he'd missed out on something that most people his age took for granted. Not for the first time, he wished that he could have grown up anywhere but Wyoming.

Jack lowered his eyes, feeling a little awkward. "Right. Sorry, Ennis...I just..." He rubbed the back of his neck and looked apologetic. "Didn't mean to make you feel...you know..."

Ennis shook his head. "It's alright, Jack. I just...I know I've missed out on a lot growin' up...but I guess I'm just gonna hafta live with it." He looked down at his food, and then back up at Jack. "You know...a game might be kinda fun, I guess..." Just then, Jack had another idea.

"Oh! Wait a sec...I was filling up my car yesterday and I'm sure I saw this flyer in the gas station for a rodeo. I think it's in Lancaster. It's this Sunday, I think. You wanna drive over there?" he offered. He saw Ennis's eyes light up.

"Yeah, that sounds good. You ever been to a rodeo?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah. Lureen took part in one back in Texas in June, and I went to go watch her. She was really good. Never done it myself, though." He sighed. "So, you wanna go?"

"Yeah, I'd like that. You wanna ask Lureen to come with us?"

"Yeah, if she wants to. That'll be fun." Jack felt his heart lift at having found some common ground between him and Ennis. He had found a way for them to bond, just like he'd wanted. This could be the start of a great friendship. Just as they returned to their food, Lureen joined them, a little out of breath.

"Hey, guys," she said, dropping her bag and flopping onto the seat next to Jack. He smiled at her and kissed her cheek.

"Hey, how'd it go? How come you're late?" he asked.

She waved a hand and sighed wearily. "Professor turned up late, her car broke down...everybody was all pissed at her. Never mind, I'm here now." She looked at Ennis, and took a breath. "Hey, Ennis. How's it goin'?"

He nodded, smiling back at her. "Fine, thanks. Gettin' used to it all, you know? Jack's been a big help." Lureen gave Jack a suspicious look at this. She didn't know if anything was going to happen between them, but she was scared that Jack would put himself out there only to have his heart broken, just like last time. She wasn't sure if he could deal with it.

"Anyway," said Jack. "We're thinking of going to a rodeo in Lancaster this Sunday. You wanna come with us?" He knew that she loved rodeos, and was very good at barrel racing.

She grinned. "Sounds great. What time is it?"

Jack looked sheepish, realising that he had no idea. "Um...I don't know. That gas station where I saw the flyer was a while back. But it's okay, I can look on the internet and find out. I'll call them or something." Ennis nodded as he spoke.

"Alright. Um...how'd yer class go, Lureen?" he asked her, feeling like he should make an effort to get to know Jack's friends. Lureen was nice enough and Jack clearly trusted her.

She nodded. "Pretty good. Really takes it outta ya, though. Gotta watch my weight an' all..." She started picking at her salad and sipping her water.

Jack couldn't help but laugh at this statement. "Doesn't stop you from stealing my food, does it?" he said, nudging her shoulder. She smirked at him. Ennis watched them with a smile, happy to be a part of their lives. They were decent people.

After lunch, they went back for their next classes, and Jack was having a hard time concentrating on what they were being told. His mind was completely focussed on his plans for the weekend with his friends, especially Ennis. This rodeo would give them a chance to bond, and he was looking forward to it. He knew that Ennis was likely to enjoy himself.

He didn't know if anything was ever going to happen between the two of them, but for now he was happy for them to be friends. That was still worth a lot as far as he was concerned. He would like to get to know Ennis better and as far as he could see, they were well on their way.

The next morning was just like the day before. Luckily, all of their classes were held on the same part of campus, so Jack was confident that Ennis wouldn't get lost on his own. He was satisfied that Ennis would settle in okay, despite how scared he must be. He certainly seemed more confident now than he had when they'd met. And he seemed more inclined to talk and take part in conversations with him and Lureen.

Last night, after returning from the diner with Lureen, the pair of them had ended up watching TV in the common area until around eleven, before finally heading up to bed. It had been a great evening and he felt closer to Ennis now.

When they were finished for the day, Jack suggested that they take a walk around town so that he could show him a few places. They walked around the Museum of Natural History, where they were fascinated by the various collections on display, and Jack saw Ennis's interest in the exhibit showing the evolution of the horse. He was pleased with himself for having had this idea. He had a strange need to make his new friend happy; one that he couldn't explain but felt anyway. He knew that if Lureen found out, she would give him a lecture on being careful where Ennis was concerned.

When they got back to campus, Jack showed Ennis the library and other research facilities that they could use. The university had some great facilities and Jack promised Ennis that if he needed any help with using them, he would be more than happy to give him a hand. Ennis, for his part, was extremely grateful towards him for how nice and helpful he was being.

Jack showed him around the library and pointed out the area where his reference books were. His own Psychology area was just a few shelves away, so at least they could stay together when they needed to study. They grabbed a couple of sandwiches as they continued to explore, planning to have a large dinner later with Lureen at the diner. Jack could see the three of them settling into a routine quickly enough. He was glad that Ennis seemed happy to hang around with them and choose them as his friends.

They ended up sat in the seating area on campus, lounging around on a large sofa and talking. There was always a TV on but nobody paid any attention to it. They talked about the upcoming rodeo, Ennis explaining to Jack about the finer points of the different events. Despite having watched Lureen take part in barrel racing, Jack confessed that he still didn't really understand the rules. Ennis was happy to explain it all to him, and Jack listened intently.

"Wow..." said Jack as Ennis finished explaining the rules of bull riding. "That sounds kinda dangerous. Did you ever do that?"

Ennis shook his head. "No, never had the guts. I've done calf ropin' a couple times; that was easy enough. But they keep talkin' 'bout changin' things, 'cos of animal rights an' everythin', so...I don't see how they can keep goin'. But...they're real strict on trainin', especially for bull ridin' 'cos of how dangerous it is. You gotta be real well trained to even get up on the bull, an' the entry fees keep goin' up. My dad used to rodeo, back in the sixties. He says they was real laid back about all that back then. Changed a lot, he says." He twiddled his thumbs. "I like calf ropin', but...I don't wanna do it forever, an' I don't wanna be workin' on a ranch for the rest of my life." He looked up to see Jack smiling at him. "What?"

Jack smiled even further. "Bud, that's more words than you spoke in the last two days."

Ennis went slightly red at having run his mouth off like that, and he shrugged. "Hell, that's more words than I spoke in a year." Their eyes met again, and Jack was struck by how deep Ennis's were; brown with a fleck of green. He swallowed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"So, uh...what do you wanna do?" Ennis lowered his eyes at this.

"Um...dunno really. Ain't thought much about it, to tell ya the truth. What about you?"

Jack thought about it. "Hmm...I'd like to get a job related to my major. Like...a counsellor or something, you know? I like to think I'm good with people." Ennis nodded at this, thinking of how much of an understatement that was.

"Right...you'd be real good at that, Jack." He blushed as soon as he said this and cleared his throat. Jack looked pleased by the praise.

"Well, thanks. I'm sure that you'll figure out what you wanna do soon enough. You've got plenty of time, right?"

"Yeah, I guess." Just as he said this, his cell phone rang. He looked at it to see that his mother was calling. "Oh, it's my mama." Jack waved a hand and he got up to answer it. She was calling to see how he was faring so far away from home, and he said that he was doing okay, that he and his roommate had really hit it off, and she was pleased that he'd made a friend so soon. He asked if he could speak to his father, but she replied that he was busy working on the ranch and couldn't come to the phone. Ennis sighed inwardly and then simply said goodbye to her, saying that he would call in a couple of days. Jack watched his face as he asked for his father, and how it had fallen when he'd realised that his father wasn't coming to talk to him. Jack was very close to both of his parents, so he felt very sorry for Ennis and the kind of relationship he must have with his father.

When Ennis hung up, Jack was determined to cheer him up. He suggested that they take a walk, and Ennis welcomed the distraction, grateful to Jack for being here for him.

They spent the rest of the day in front of the TV in the common area, watching a re-run of Friends. Jack was highly amused by the show, but he noticed that Ennis was being very quiet, clearly brought on by the conversation with his mother. Jack felt very sorry for him and wished there was a way to make him feel better. He sighed and turned the TV off.

"Ennis, you okay?" he asked, looking at him. Ennis shrugged.

"I dunno. Just...hearin' my mama say he couldn't come an' talk to me..."

"You wanna talk about it?" Jack asked, trying to get him to meet his eyes.

"Well...been travellin' for days, ain't seen him or talked to him for ages...an' when I get the chance, he don't wanna know. I knew he was havin' trouble with the whole idea of me movin' away an' not workin' on the ranch like he wanted me to, but..." He trailed off, fiddling with his Coke can and not knowing what else to say.

Jack thought for a moment. "Well...it's not like you exist just to make his life easier, is it? You deserve a shot at what you want. You did the right thing by breaking away and doing what you thought would make you happy." He shrugged. "I think you did the right thing, and if your father can't see that...I guess there's nothing you can do about it." Ennis digested these words, seeing the sense that Jack made.

"I guess...it's just..." He turned to face Jack, hitching one leg up on the sofa. "Back home, we're all about doin' our parents proud, an' carryin' on family traditions an' everythin'. With me goin' to college, even back in Laramie...that never sat right with my dad. He expected me to do exactly what he did...work on a ranch, get married an' have kids, an' then work some more 'til I dropped. That's just how it is out there." He sighed. "Ain't easy for me to just...go against all that, you know?"

Jack nodded. "Right. For what it's worth, Ennis...I think it was really brave of you to go against all that. You should be proud of yourself." He punched Ennis lightly on the arm, and Ennis couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks, Jack." He seemed more relaxed after this conversation, and Jack suggested that they get a bite to eat at the diner, which he agreed to. He texted Lureen on the way there and they were soon settling into their favourite booth, eager for some good, hearty food. Jack noticed that Ennis seemed a lot happier now. He was glad that he'd managed to take Ennis's mind off his father and cheer him up. He knew that when Lureen heard about it, she was likely to give him that exasperated look she was so good at. But it wasn't as if he was making passes at Ennis; he just wanted to help his new friend, he figured. That was all.

Soon enough, Lureen joined them and they were busy eating, talking about their classes and what they were learning. Jack could tell that Ennis really did like it here, and that he would be okay. When Ennis went to the bathroom, Jack ended up telling Lureen about his conversation with Ennis back at the dorm building. As he'd expected, she was wary of how he was handling Ennis.

"Jack, you gotta be careful. You're gettin' feelin's for him already," she hissed, looking concerned.

"No I'm not, I just...I just wanna help him. He's got a bad situation with his father back home and...I'm just trying to make him feel a bit better about it all. I'm his friend, Lu. That's all there is to it. I'm allowed to be his friend, right?"

"Well, yeah. Course you are, but...just remember what happened last year. If you ain't careful, the same thing could happen again. Promise me you won't make no passes at him until yer sure which way he goes, alright?"

Jack nodded. "Alright, I won't. You don't need to worry, Lu. I'll be fine." He gave her a reassuring smile which she was barely convinced by.

They left the diner a little later, and after leaving Lureen at her room, they went into their own. Jack rubbed the back of his neck.

"So, uh...what are you doing now?" he asked, looking at his roommate.

"I think I'm gonna go for a shower. I didn't get one this mornin', so..." Jack nodded and left Ennis to gather up his things. When Ennis left, Jack stripped down to his pyjamas and made sure he had everything he needed for the next day. After a few moments, he was hit by the calling of nature, so decided that he could sneak into the bathroom. The showers were all cubicles, so it wasn't as if he was snooping on Ennis. He headed out of his room and down the hall.

When he reached the door, he was unaware of Ennis on the other side, on his way out. He had a towel with him, but was just holding it around him, intending to wrap it securely. Jack opened the door and they collided, both making surprised noises.

"Oh shit, sorry Ennis," Jack started as he gathered himself. He then noticed that the towel had dropped from Ennis's hands, and he could see everything. He felt a stirring in his own nether regions and quickly looked away as Ennis picked up the towel, wrapping it around himself.

"It's okay, Jack. Didn't see ya there," Ennis replied, grinning a little.

"I was just..." Jack gestured to the cisterns on the wall and Ennis nodded.

"Alright. See ya back in the room." He walked off, oblivious to the effect he'd just had on Jack and the problem he now had.

All Jack could do was lean against the bathroom wall in shock, willing for his arousal to go down before he had to face Ennis. He was in trouble now.

By the time Jack could gather himself enough to leave the bathroom, Ennis was already in bed, and while the main light was off, Ennis had switched on Jack's bedside lamp for him. Jack was touched by the gesture, but could barely register it after what had just happened. He locked the door and crawled into bed, turning off his lamp and sighing a little. He wasn't sure what to make of this recent event. And he was even more confused by the fact that Ennis didn't seem too bothered by the fact that he had seen him naked.

He thought about what Lureen had said; that spending all that time with Ennis and being nice to him could result in him developing feelings for him. If that was the case, then his feelings had just turned physical. Ennis was certainly blessed in that department, he couldn't deny that.

Jack rubbed his face over his hands; now what was going to happen? He knew he would have to talk to Lureen about this and get her opinion. He fully expected her to say, "I told you so." And he figured that he deserved it. He had pressed too hard with Ennis, done too much to make him comfortable, and now he was developing feelings for him. How on earth was he going to face him tomorrow?

He closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep, hoping that he would have a clear head by the next morning, and the sense to get some answers.

He walked down the hallway to the bathroom, needing to answer the call of nature. He knew that Ennis was still in the shower but he figured that he could slip in and out easily enough.

When he reached the bathroom, Ennis suddenly opened it from the other side. This time, there was no towel, only Ennis, naked as the day he was born. He managed to tear his eyes away and look up into Ennis's eyes, which were already on him.

"Uh..." he stammered, feeling the blood rush to his own groin. Ennis just looked at him silently, deep brown eyes boring into him.

"What?" he whispered, moving slightly forward. Jack's eyes widened and he couldn't think properly. What was Ennis playing at?

"Um, I..." He could hardly breathe as Ennis moved closer. Suddenly, Ennis's hands were on him, pulling him close. Their hips pressed together and Jack could feel Ennis's breath on his face. They stared deeply into one another's eyes, and then Jack felt his knees turn to jelly when Ennis claimed his mouth with his own. He could feel himself moaning into Ennis's mouth and then Ennis's hands were down to his ass, pulling him backwards into the bathroom.

They staggered through the room, hands grabbing everywhere and lips bruising as they kissed fiercely. Ennis's tongue was in Jack's mouth, tasting him and teasing him. Jack was moaning again and utterly powerless in Ennis's arms. All he could do was kiss back and try to just go with it.

Ennis pulled him around and pushed him against the wall, hands now travelling down and pushing down his pyjama bottoms. Jack let them go willingly, kicking them off as they reached his feet. Ennis pulled their hips together again, and with enormous strength he lifted Jack up the wall. Jack wrapped his legs around Ennis's waist, gasping out loud as Ennis started to push up into him. He gritted his teeth as he felt Ennis fill him up and start to thrust roughly upwards. Jack buried his face in Ennis's neck as Ennis fucked him again and again, not stopping.

"God...Ennis...fuck..." he gasped, nails digging into Ennis's back as he felt his release coming swiftly. He hadn't expected this at all, but was far too gone to complain. Ennis was unbelievable and he had never felt like this in his entire life. Ennis was making him feel the way that he'd only ever heard of before.

After several more thrusts, Ennis finally released into him, making them both groan and gasp for breath. Jack spilled in between them and started to shake, hardly daring to believe what had just happened.

Jack jolted awake, sweating and shaking as he stared up at the ceiling. What the hell? Where did that come from?

But in his heart, he knew where that had come from. He'd seen Ennis naked, and now it had affected him. As he tried to move, he felt a wetness down below; he really had shot on himself. Shit, now what do I do? How the hell do I face him tomorrow, knowing that I just had that kind of dream about him? I'll probably get hard just looking at him now. I'm in big trouble.

Jack turned onto his side and peered into the darkness. He could see that Ennis was thankfully still asleep in his bed, having not been disturbed by Jack's sudden awakening. He rubbed his eyes and decided that he needed some air. He very slowly got out of bed and left the room, careful not to make too much noise. He retraced his steps to the bathroom, cleaning himself up with toilet paper and splashing water on his face. He then locked himself in a cubicle and sat down, wondering what on earth to do.

He would need to talk to Lureen; that was certain. She might be able to help him make sense of his thoughts. But what about Ennis? He wasn't sure that he would be able to look Ennis in the eye without thinking about his very erotic dream, and he couldn't guarantee that there would be no physical effects on him. He wasn't sure what to do about this, not knowing anything of Ennis's sexuality. Could he really pluck up the courage to ask him? And even if he did, would he get the answer that he thought he wanted? He didn't know these answers, but he knew for sure that none of this was going to be easy.