Someday My Prince Will Come

Chapter 17

The summer sun beat down on Will's back. Well, it wasn't summer yet, according to the calendar, but it was June, and the heat spoke for itself. Summers in New York could be most brutal. With the buildings so imposing and dreary looking, one would wonder why they were spending their summer in such a place.

Will meandered about, not exactly sure what he was looking for. After all, it wasn't too difficult to go shopping for a birthday present, for someone as simple as Rob. As much as he wanted to be indoors, something was distracting him, and the only way he felt clear headed, was under the sun and amidst the starkness of the city and its people.

Pausing to think to himself, Will observed the people waiting at the bus stop. It was strange. Whenever he was trapped here, in the streets of this city, he would only think abut his own sufferings and his own misgivings. But when he was alone, perhaps at home, or in the hillside, he contemplated everyone else, and how much pain they must be feeling. 'Ugh, Im getting sick with thinking so much!' he complained to himself and moved along.

As he neared a bookstore, he recognized Frank through the window. Without hesitation he walked inside and felt relieved to see the man alone.

"Hello." he said, a bit nervously. Frank dropped the book he was looking at and smiled brilliantly at Will.

"Well, hello. People complain that this city is so big! I used to agree with them, you know."

"Yes, it's a small-"

"Don't say it!" Frank put a hand up and shook his head. He crossed his arms, a very amused look on his face. "So what are you doing here? Looking for a book, I hope!"

"Ah, well, I was looking for a present for my friend." Will said absently, and squinted at Frank's hair. "Wasn't your hair red?"

"Oh, it was brown, it was red, it was black! If you really knew me you would know that I change everything I can when Im feeling dull." he said lightly, and picked up another book.

"How can you afford so many changes?"

"I get bored easily! And I do as much as I can to rid myself of boredom. There's no worse condition than boredom, believe me!"

"Oh... I believe you." Will said lamely, and coughed.

"You changed your hair as well, I see. Its longer."

"Oh, yeah."

"Its nice."

"Thanks."

"Your head doesn't look so big anymore!" He remarked and laughed. Will felt himself go red with embarrassment, 'No wonder Jack is this guy's friend!' he thought and sighed. 'Maybe this is a bad idea.' He held himself from saying anything more, and walked over to the self-help section. Whenever Frank spoke to him, it was always with a mocking detachment of some sort, like he was silently laughing at everything around him. Will felt stupid for not recognizing this sooner.

He moved to the front of the store, looking at the best-selling titles and considering each one. Frank made his purchase and began to leave.

"You meeting Jack today?" he asked, looking him up and down.

"Uh, no. Actually we're going to the movies tomorrow, why?"

"Oh, I haven't seen him in a while. He's been acting weird."

"Well, he has been a little more quiet lately. But other than that he's been the same."

"Hm." A severe look crossed Frank's face, and for a second Will didn't recognize him. "Well, I'll see you." He uttered as he left, walking out into the sun.

Jack leaned over the rail to look at his reflection in the puddle of water below the stairs. He waited silently, occasionally hissing and swatting at the insects floating around him. 'Who says mosquitos and gnats only exist in the wilderness?' He was grateful that the bleak days of school were over for the time being. But he also remembered he had to return to his old school, once the fall semester opened. Groaning in impatience, Jack looked up at the night sky.

'Why am I like this? Why am I so fucking scared?'

Jack recalled the latest conversation he'd had with Noah. He'd almost gotten into a heated argument with the blonde, over something he had failed to believe.

"You've been waiting too long Jack. What are you expecting? Surely, you're not serious about waiting for that 'special someone?' That only exists in fairy tales and within the religious confines of straight people."

Jack had refused to listen to anymore of Noah's arguments, and ignored his proposition. It was strange every time Noah asked him, an unreadable emotion would cloud his fierce blue eyes and they would be in silence.

Now, as he stood on the stoop in front of his house, he pondered over just jumping off and running down the street to meet Jesse, or to wait until he drove up. The headlights of the dark sedan interrupted his thoughts. Jack walked down the stairs, sighing, but also looking forward to spending some time with his friend.

He opened the door to Jesse's car and peeked inside.

"Hi Jack. Im glad you finally had time to go out!" Jesse exclaimed, almost irritably. Well, Jack had time, but he had just been formulating excuses. He didn't truly want to be in this man's company. And though he was very good looking and a friend, Jesse was too intense for Jack.

The younger one sat in the car, happy to have someone take his mind off of his frustration. Noah had pissed him off today and he just needed to fill his mind with something else. Jack looked over to Jesse who seemed a bit irked about something. Not really caring, Jack shrugged it off and watched the building pass as they drove.

"Where're we going?" Jack asked eyes alight with curiosity.

"To get something to eat, then, maybe somewhere quiet."

"Quiet." Jack frowned in confusion but rolled his eyes. Jesse really was weird sometimes. Glancing back out the window, Jack's thoughts settled on Will. And then they drifted back to what Noah said. 'Maybe Im waiting for a stupid reason... maybe Im being a stupid idiot.' Jack closed his eyes and tried to quell the pain in his heart whenever he thought about Will. It was making him ill, keeping his feelings so trapped like this.

Jesse drove up next to a fast food restaurant.

"What do you want?" he asked him.

"Ugh." Jack grimaced. "Nothing thank you. Maybe just a diet coke or something."

Jesse returned and they were off. Jesse drove towards the outskirts of the city, where there were many houses. He stopped the car next to a dimly lit park.

"What a weird place to park Jesse! We're in the middle of a neighborhood!" Jack shook his head.

"I live right over there."

"Oh, well, then I guess that's all right. I've never seen your house before."

"So you're saying you want to come to my house."

Jack felt scared all of a sudden. "Uh, sure. But let's just finish our food in here." He sipped nervously at his soft drink and became frantically aware of the darkness.

"We could eat inside my house. That makes more sense doesn't it? Come on."

"No that's fine. I feel much more comfortable in the car." Jack said hurriedly.

"Really? Well then, okay." They were quiet for a while.

"Jesse? Why are you so quiet?" Jack asked, very perturbed with the silence and the location.

"Kiss me Jack." Jesse whispered suddenly, moving in closer to Jack.

"What?!" Jack nearly dropped his drink and stared at his friend in bewilderment.

"Please. Come on. Don't you think we've waited long enough?"

"We've?! What are you talking about?!"

"Jack, I know you want me. I'm the one to give this to you, its meant to be.... "

"Now you're not making sense, get away from me." Jack scowled as Jesse began stroking his arm. "Take me home. That's it, I've had enough of you." Jack placed his drink in the cup holder, and crossed his arms. He expected Jesse to grumble in defeat and start the car, or sigh and begin pleading again, or apologizing and resuming the evening as if nothing happened. He even half expected Jesse to get out of the car for a smoke before starting the car. He did not expect his friend to grab him and force him into a kiss.

Jesse had an iron grip on his upper arms, and was kissing him so hard Jack wondered if his front teeth were still there. He pushed Jesse away and punched him hard on the arm.

"What the hell is your problem? Christ!" Jack wiped at his mouth and cursed some more.

"My problem?! You're the one with the problem!" Jesse shouted, suddenly enraged. His eyes flashed dangerously, and Jack wondered if he should be afraid. But somehow he was more angry than scared. "You're being so fucking frustrating. I don't know how to deal with you!"

"Me? Deal with me? You're supposed to be my friend!"

Jesse let out a dry laugh, and shook his head. "What the fuck are you doing to me Jack? You ask me over, for what? To go out and get a drink? I don't think so."

"So what, you thought I wanted you to-"

"Well, yeah!"

"You are really telling yourself some serious lies Jess." Jack covered his face with a hand.

"No! Its you!" Jesse hissed with a vehemence so fierce that Jack was startled. "What the fuck are you waiting for? You think you're so special! When you aren't! You're just scared, you're just stupid and scared. And I'm sick of you!"

"Fine." Jack said evenly, looking Jesse straight in the eyes. "Fine, you're sick of me. Now will you please get me home before I jab my finger through your eye?" Jack watched him, silently daring him to try anything else.

Jesse cursed and started the car. They were stubbornly silent throughout the rise and Jack couldn't wait to get into his house and sleep this night off. 'Ugh what a nightmare.' Jack shook his head.

Jesse looked at Jack as they drove up to the house. "You really need to think about what I said."

"You made as much sense as a dying monkey tonight. And I think that's exactly what you are."

"Jack." Something evil lingered in Jesse's eyes, even though he spoke softly. "You may think you know everything. Or at least everything you want to know. But not everything you need to know."

"What ever, let me go." Jack shook Jesse's hand off of his arm and stepped out of the car. He watched the sedan disappear around the corner.

"What a frickin' weirdo." Jack said with disgust. He retreated into the house, glad that tomorrow he would be spending the day with Will.

But even as he attempted at ignoring what Jesse had told him. He couldn't help but feeling if everyone thought that way... was he really too scared of everything?

'What's wrong with me?' he whined and shut the door behind him.