Chapter 2
The next morning, Jack woke up to an empty bedroom. He rubbed his eyes and looked at Eric's bed. It was disarrayed and empty. He grabbed a shirt and put it on as he headed for the kitchen. In the middle of fixing himself a bowl of cereal, the phone rang.
"Hello?... hey, sweetie, I was just thinkin' about you... doesn't matter to me, you pick any date you want, just make sure that we have enough time to send out invitations and get everything ready... of course I told my parents... yeah, they love you... alright, honey, see you later... love you to, bye." Jack hung up the phone and trundled back to the kitchen to eat breakfast. He plopped down on the couch with his bowl of Lucky Charms and flipped on the TV. A few minutes later, Eric walked through the door, arms full of grocery bags. Jack set down his bowl and jumped up to offer help. Eric walked past him and dumped his armload on the kitchen table. He started putting things away while Jack stared, smirking at Eric. Eric glanced at Jack.
"What?"
"You really are mad at me, aren't you?" Eric continued to empty the bags as if he hadn't heard him. "Eric, do we need to talk again? Maybe we can have some more angry sex too..."
"I'm never sleeping with you again, Jack, I told you that."
Jack walked over to Eric and grabbed him by the wrist. "Stop doing that! Look at me when I'm talking to you." Eric stopped where he stood and gazed at Jack, disinterestedly.
"Eric, I'm sorry..." Jack approached him and embraced him. Eric stood stiff, unmoving. Jack continued to hold him. "I never thought this would get complicated or that either of us would be hurt by any of this... maybe I'm just naïve, but I really do care about you, man." Jack whispered into Eric's ear. Eric's face contorted as he began to cry. His body shook, heaving as he sobbed in Jack's arms. Jack squeezed him tighter, rubbing the nape of Eric's neck and his back as he spoke. "Look, I'm a jerk, okay? I would never intentionally hurt you. It's gonna be alright... we'll work this out, you and me, 'kay?" Eric nodded and finally raised his arms to hug Jack back.
"I wanna be with you so bad... just you... and me," Eric sobbed, clutching Jack tighter.
"Shhhh, it's gonna be okay..." Jack continued rubbing Eric's back, slowly working his way down to Eric's ass.
"Jack!" Eric warned reprovingly and stepped backward, wiping the tears from his face.
"What? It was an accident," Jack gave his shocked and innocent look.
"Yeah, I'm sure... so what are your plans today?" Eric returned to putting the groceries away.
"I dunno... I think Rach is coming over later... maybe we can all three of us go do something, like go hang by the pool. Perfect weather for it."
"Yeah, that'd be cool I guess. Awkward, but I could use some color." Eric wadded up the empty plastic bags and stuffed them under the sink. "It'll probably be crowded at the community pool though, you sure you wanna go there?"
"Oh, not that pool. We can use the one at the club that my dad belongs to... I've been to it before, really big heated pool and hardly anyone ever goes there." Jack walked back over to the couch and sat down to resume eating his breakfast. Eric stood in the kitchen for a moment, watching Jack. Finally Eric headed for the door to leave, Jack watched him as he walked by.
"Where you goin'?" Jack inquired casually.
"I'm... gonna go run a few more errands before we go to the pool... what time did you say you wanted to go?"
"Rach should be coming by around noon. Maybe we can go to lunch and then hit the pool, is that cool?"
"Yeah, see you in a couple hours then," he replied before he shut and locked the door.
Eric walked through the double doors of the student union, ordered a hot chocolate and sat alone at an open table. He tried to sort out his thoughts and feelings, staring at the swirling chocolate in his cup. A few moments passed before he realized that someone was sitting in front of him. Eric looked up, noticing a familiar pair of deep brown eyes that stared back at him.
"Hey, you're Eric, right?" he smiled. "You sit in front of me in my communications class," he stated as he reached forward to shake Eric's hand. Eric paused before he took the firm grip and shook it.
"Uh, yeah... you're Marshall, right?" Marshall nodded.
"Yeah, so you do remember me," he smiled warmly at Eric. Eric unconsciously smiled back. "So, I saw you sitting here and thought I'd use you to do my homework assignment for Mr. Meyer." Eric stared at him puzzled for a moment. Suddenly, Eric's face brightened with recognition.
"That's right, we're supposed to find a classmate and ask seven questions about them." Marshall's smile widened, showing off his perfect teeth as he nodded.
"Yup, so if you have a few minutes, do you think we could..."
"Oh definitely... definitely... but I haven't made up my questions yet." Eric's pensive look took over his face.
"That's alright, I'll help you if you want." Eric listened and continued to study him, trying not to be obvious about his attraction to his classmate. On a few occasions, Eric had fantasized about Marshall, but didn't think that he noticed Eric before today.
"Okay," Eric stuttered. "Uh, yeah, thanks." Marshall took out his notebook and handed a sheet of paper and a pen to Eric.
"You want me to go first, ya know, to help give you an idea of what kinds of questions you wanna ask?" he held out his notebook to give to Eric. He took the notebook and flipped it around so he could read the questions.
"'kay, number one. What is your full name?" Eric proceeded.
"Marshall Patrick Davis."
"What is your major?"
"Uhhhh... Molecular Biology."
"Really?"
"Yup." Eric quickly scrawled the answer down.
"Next. What is your favorite food?"
"Japanese food. Sushi wa sugoi desu yo."
"Huh?"
Marshall laughed, "I said sushi is awesome." He winked at Eric.
"Wow, you speak Japanese, huh?"
"Hai, sukoshi... that means 'Yes, a little bit'."
"That's cool... okay, what are your hobbies?" Marshall leaned back in his chair.
"Well, I like to play racquetball, blade, and play video games... oh, and I like working out."
"I can tell," Eric mumbled under his breath, sweeping his eyes across Marshall's defined chest and chiseled arms.
"What was that?" Marshall sat up and leaned on the table.
"Oh, nothing. I... sometimes mumble when I write, helps me not to forget... what I'm writing," Eric cringed.
"Uh huh... next?"
"Ummm, where do you live?"
"In the Foster Dorm."
"...and where do you work?"
"Part-time as a lab assistant."
"Finally, is there anyone in your Comm class that you're interested in?"
"Yeah, there is someone, but I haven't built up enough courage to do anything about it yet..."
"Oh really? Who is it? Maybe I can help you out," Eric offered.
"Really? You'd help me?"
"Yeah, no problem... but I don't know why you'd need help... you're a good lookin' guy, you probably don't have any problems with the ladies."
"You're right about that, never had any problems with the ladies," Marshall joked. "My problem is finding the courage to ask you out..." They both sat there in silence. Marshall fidgeted with a packet of sugar from the table dispenser.
Eric looked at him, astonished, "Are you serious?"
"Uh, yeah, I think I am."
"Wait, what makes you think that I'm..."
"I didn't think that at all actually, I was just hoping... I'm sorry if I offended you, you don't have to do the assignment with me... I'm... I'm really sorry," Marshall stammered and reached over to retrieve his notebook to put it in his backpack. Eric didn't move, still shocked by the conversations detour. Marshall zipped his backpack closed and slung it over his shoulder and turned to leave.
"Hey... what are you doing today?" Eric asked. Marshall turned around and looked at Eric.
"What?"
"Are you doing anything this afternoon?"
"I, uhhh... no, I... no."
"You wanna come with me and my roommate and his fiancé to an exclusive pool party?" Eric grinned reassuringly at Marshall. He hesitated, trying to read Eric, unable to detect a shred of insincerity.
"Yeah, sure, when?" Marshall sat back down.
"In about an hour, you have a suit?" Eric teased, eyeing him suspiciously. Marshall flashed his pearly whites again, relieved.
"Yeah, it won't take me a second to go grab it..."
"Cool, meet me back here in half an hour and we'll leave."
"You got it." He jumped up out of his chair and left Eric at the table to wait. Eric didn't mind waiting; his hot chocolate had turned lukewarm.
"Things are definitely lookin' up," he whispered cheerfully.
Rachel let herself in and looked around the apartment.
"Jack, you home? Eric?"
"Hey, Rach." Jack walked into the living room wearing a towel around his waist and a dark yellow t-shirt. "Ready?"
"Of course, and I'm wearing your favorite swimsuit," she said seductively as she put her arms around Jack's neck and drew close to him for a kiss.
"Mmmm, the purple one?" he asked before pecking her on the lips.
"Uh huh, I know how naughty it makes you feel," she giggled. Jack had his hands around her hips. They swayed to imaginary music, looking into each other's eyes.
"Oh, you like it when I feel naughty, do you?" he teased. Suddenly the front door opened and in walked Eric and Marshall laughing.
"Oh hey, Rach... Jack. This is my friend, Marshall. Marshall, this is my roommate, Jack, and his fiancée, Rachel. I thought it would be cool to invite him," Eric said as he strolled by them, heading for the bedroom to get changed.
"Hey, I know you," Rachel exclaimed. "Your in my biology class, right? Mrs. Dodd?" Marshall nodded.
"That's right, I thought you looked familiar. How are ya?" Marshall reached out to shake her hand. Behind them, Jack quietly followed Eric into the bedroom. Eric searched his bureau for a pair of swimming trunks.
"You don't have to put them on here, though I wouldn't mind the free show," Jack encouraged. "There's a dressing room and shower poolside."
"Oh, alright, that works." He grabbed a towel and folded his swimsuit into it. Jack followed him out of the bedroom.
"You guys ready? Let's go!" Jack said as he opened the door to let them all file out of the apartment, Rachel and Marshall were still chatting, Eric was right behind them. He gave Jack an odd look as he passed by him. Jack winked and slapped Eric on the ass, then closed the door and locked it.
Rachel and Marshall continued to chat all the way to the club; Eric and Jack sat in silence, stealing glances when the other wasn't looking. After the valet parked Jack's car, he led them through the front office and out to the pool in back.
"I'm gonna use the bathroom real quick, anyone else need to?" Jack asked. Rachel had already stripped down to her bikini, offering a 'no thanks', dittoed by Marshall who had just pulled his shirt off and was starting to remove his pants. Eric stood mesmerized by his gorgeous body. His smooth body rippled with well-defined muscles from his neck down to his abs. Eric didn't realize he was staring so intently, or see Jack notice that Eric was watching Marshall. Jack punched Eric in the arm roughly.
"HEY! Don't you need to go change?" Jack interrupted irritably. Eric turned, rubbing his arm.
"Huh? Yeah, yeah I do, thanks."
"If you two need to use the bathroom or rinse off, there are bathrooms and showers right there," he directed, pointing to the building at the other end of the pool. Rachel and Marshall already started into the pool while Jack and Eric walked into the bathrooms. A row of toilet stalls lined one side of the wall opposite a row of urinal stalls. Jack walked to the glass door at the back of the bathroom and held the door open.
"The changing room, showers, sauna and steam room are back through here." Eric wordlessly walked into the changing room and looked around. He found an empty locker, putting his towel and suit inside of it. He began to strip, facing the wall adjacent to his locker. He stood there, naked, shoving his clothes into the locker and pulling out his towel and suit. He felt warm air on his neck and was about to turn around when he was shoved up against the wall. He could feel the contact of warm skin from his shoulders to his thighs, the warm air still heavy on his neck.
"You like him, don't you," Jack hissed in his ear. Eric could feel Jack jabbing himself between his legs. "You think some straight friend of yours is gonna make me jealous?"
"If it wasn't, why are you so concerned?" Eric replied calmly, torn by the heat of the moment and the dedication to his recent convictions regarding Jack. "We aren't a couple, remember Jack? You've got Rachel, so why do you care who I'm friends with?" He felt Jack pressing harder against him, breathing heavier.
"I'm not worried about it, I know you still want me..." Jack lightly bit the nape of Eric's neck before letting up. He stormed off to the bathrooms, leaving Eric a little shaken and somewhat relieved. He rubbed the spot on his neck that Jack attacked, and thought about Jack's reaction to Marshall. He quickly donned his suit and headed for the pool.
"...are you serious? What a shame, cause you are TOTALLY hot," Rachel told Marshall, who was sitting on the pool stairs, flipping water on his legs while she waded around.
"Oh is he now?" Jack interjected, a little surprised. Rachel put her hands on her hips and gave Jack her "gimme a break" look.
"Oh, honey, not as hot as you, of course," Rachel grinned, and then turned to Marshall. "Can I tell him? If I don't, I'll never hear the end of it." Marshall chuckled and shrugged. Eric was behind Jack, tossing his towel on one of the sunbathing chairs.
"Jack, Marshall is gay. You know I love just you, he's not competition," Rachel reassured him, bending her knees so that she was submerged to her neck.
"That makes me feel SOOO much better," Jack retorted, glaring at Eric. Eric caught the look and responded to the sentiment with a devious smile.
Eric Matthews: 1
Jack Hunter: 0
"Did you already know, Eric?" Rachel asked while kicking her legs and floating around the shallow end of the pool. She held her index finger up while she dipped her head under the water to wet her hair.
"I found out this morning. It doesn't bother me," Eric answered offhandedly. When Rachel turned to swim to deeper waters, Eric winked at Marshall. Marshall smiled. Jack slipped his shirt off and tossed it on Eric's towel, roughly brushing by Eric as he entered the pool.
"Why do I get the feeling that this is gonna be a long day?" Eric sighed as he dove into the warm water.
=D
