Thank you again to all the reviewers! Please keep reviewing if you're reading. I read each one and any specific comments are definitely read and appreciated.

Here is a long chapter to tide you over as I likely won't be able to write again for about a week or so. Some big developments here for you -

Chapter 3: Little Earthquakes

Marco met up with Luisa, his now longtime friend from the gay youth group in Toronto, to go to their first Queer McGill planning meeting together. They were so excited to finally be in the same school together – out and proud – a fierce combination for helping to create the homo happy environment McGill was known for. Marco hugged Luisa when he saw her. "Hey -great to see you! How's life in the all girls residence?...find any team members?"

"So good to see you too…I can't wait to be on the exec of Queer McGill with you…As for residence, well, no one yet…but I have my eye on a couple of potentials."

Marco laughed as they walked into the meeting to be greeted by Kendra, their old Toronto youth group leader, now the President of Queer McGill. Hugs all around. "Hey Marco, Luisa – these are the other exec, Paula, Steve, and Ken…I told you I wasn't lying when I said I knew two out and enthusiastic first years who would want to join."

"I am impressed," Steve smiled at them. "How long have you guys been out…to be joining queer organizing in your first year?"

"Grade 10," they both answered at the same time. "So what are we waiting for?" The group set out an agenda for the year – positive space campaign, queer awareness week, residence workshops, village pub crawl, wine and cheese. Marco and Luisa were both energized as they walked back to their residences. How cool is this place – so much stuff to get involved in you can't even do it all!

Marco met Drew for the usual calculus homework session when he got back to his room. He hadn't talked to Drew about his little disclosure the other night. Drew hadn't brought it up and Marco didn't want to pressure him. If he wants to talk, he will. Marco couldn't pretend he hadn't been thinking about it, though…on his walk to class, on the treadmill, in class, at dinner, right now. 'Boy, I'm lame,' Marco laughed at himself, 'it has been way too long since I've been with someone.'

"Where were you for dinner ?" Drew asked, wondering why Marco hadn't eaten with the floor as usual.

"Oh. Well, I had a Queer McGill organizing meeting," Marco blushed as he shyly looked at Drew. Funny how a week ago he was out and relaxed but suddenly he got those butterflies mentioning anything gay around Drew. What was that? Vicarious coming out?

"That's cool," Drew looked intently at him, "what stuff did you plan?"

"Oh ya know…anti-homophobia campaign, village pub crawl, queer awareness week…all that kind of stuff," Marco quickly looked at his calculus text, aware of Drew's eyes still on him.

"So…how come you haven't asked me about what I told you the other night?" Drew asked.

Marco looked up into his intense eyes, "Man, Drew…I've wanted to…trust me…" Marco admitted, "But this is your thing. It's kind of up to you, if and when you do want to talk about it."

"But I'm not really a talker…I don't know what to say…And you seem so good at it." Drew shrugged, still keeping eye contact.

"What?...Talking?" Marco laughed.

"Yeah…talking…talking about this stuff…dealing with this stuff," Drew paused, "Ya see, I don't know anyone gay...the small town I'm from, well, …there is no one gay…at least no one anyone knows about…and I don't really want to be gay," Marco's heart filled with sadness hearing his fear, "but I think I am." Drew stopped and just kept looking at Marco, waiting with sad eyes.

"Drew,…" Marco shook his head, looking for the right thing to say. Do I touch him? What is the right response? He followed his instinct to sit beside him on the bed, gently squeezing one of his shoulders. To Marco's surprise, Drew lay his head on Marco's arm, and just closed his eyes. "I'm here…and if it makes any difference at all...there is at least one person who's glad you're coming out." Drew just nodded his head, leaning on Marco for support.

Marco was amazed with his ability to keep a secret. He hadn't even told Ellie about Drew because Drew clearly did not want people on the floor to know anything. The only person he had told was Dylan, so at least he could work out how he was feeling about all this with someone…funny it should be his ex-boyfriend to give him crush advice. Well, yes…he had a crush on Drew. He admitted it. He was definitely not going to do anything about it…I mean the guy was not exactly embracing his new found sexuality…but he was fun to look at. Definite eye candy. Anyways, Ellie was distracted getting excited about Craig's visit from Vancouver this week. He had a week off his busy music schedule and she was cleaning her room, painting her nails (black, of course – Ellie does not dress up), and Marco could feel her excitement. He wouldn't want to bother her with his silly crush at the moment anyways.

"Marco – Craig totally wants you to take us to that gay club you were talking about on Saturday…you know, I think he's missing his dose of gay life without you around," Ellie bubbled at dinner the night Craig was going to arrive.

"Where?...Sky…Sure, that'd be great. I haven't even been there yet."

"Where? Can I come?" Dan's interest was peaked.

"Uh…sure. Craig and Ellie are coming but it is a gay club," Marco warned.

"That's cool…I came to university for new experiences," Dan added without realizing the connotation.

"Really?" Lisa laughed, "well, Kim and I will come too."

"Wow. Cool," Marco enthused, "it'll be great."

"Drew, you're going to come too, right?" Dan asked.

Marco got protective, not wanting Drew to feel cornered "Drew doesn't –"

"Yeah, I'll come," Drew answered for himself.

Marco looked at him and nodded his head, "Okay. Cool."

The beats of the music pumped through Sky on Saturday night. Drag shows on the hour, the clubby dance floor and the pop dance floor, and the room with couches, three bars. It reminded Marco of the Other Team in Toronto, only better. And here they were of legal drinking age, he mused to himself as he sipped on his pink Sea Breeze. A classic girly drink, Marco laughed to himself as he chinked Drew's beer in a friendly 'cheers'. Drew seemed to be doing okay surrounded by friends, and Marco was just so happy to be here.

"Ahhh Marco…I missed you!" Craig grabbed Marco in a bear hug and twirled him around. "It's good to go dancing with you guys again."

"Check out my boyfriend flirting with Marco…Again."

"Don't worry, babe…'cause I saved this for you," Craig flirted dipping Ellie and kissing her passionately. Ellie smiled her satisfied smile.

The chemistry of solid friendship.

The group headed up to the pop dance floor, and Marco forgot to hide his excitement as Backstreet's Back blared through the speakers. Drew was standing to the side with his beer, talking to Dan, as Marco, Lisa and Kim heated up the dance floor. Despite the cheesy song, Marco knew he was a good dancer, and he moved gracefully to the beats. He even thought he occasionally saw Drew staring at him out of the corner of his eye - so he was determined to put on a good show.

"Marco, right?" Marco turned around when Steve, from the Queer McGill exec tapped him on the shoulder.

"Steve – hey, how's it going?" they gave each other standard hello kisses on both cheeks – he was in Quebec now after all. One just would not do.

"So you found your way to Sky, eh?"

"Yeah. It's my first time…it seems pretty cool…and for some reason, half my floor in res wanted to come with me."
"Which is also pretty cool," Steve smiled. "It's good to be out in Montreal…" Steve laughed as he twirled Marco in to dance with him when he heard Tainted Love begin. "I love this song."

"Me too," Marco agreed, loving the feel of dancing with Steve, moving to the music. He had been missing gay community since some of his closest friends from the youth group in Toronto had made their way to university. Steve was thin, with soft features, and quite flaming, if Marco did say so himself. Definite friend material.

When there was a break in the music, Marco went over to Dan who was talking to Lisa. "Hey guys, where's Drew?" Marco couldn't see him.

"I think he left," Dan said, "I guess gay bars aren't his thing."

"Oh." Marco said, hoping he didn't sound hurt.

Marco finally stumbled into bed at 3 am, sober enough to brush his teeth, drink water, and change into his pajamas, after a fantastic night of dancing. His pillow had never felt quite so fluffy and inviting, when he was suddenly awoken by a knock on his door.

"Whu- who is it?"

"Marco?"

Marco got up to open the door, "Drew?...it's 3 am. I thought you went to sleep ages ago."

Drew walked into Marco's room sitting down at the desk chair, as Marco crawled back on his bed, "Yeah. I left. But I couldn't sleep."

"Oh….Yeah, well why did you leave?...Was it just too uncomfortable for you?"

"No. I liked the gay bar. It seemed cool."

"Oh…Well why'd you leave so early then?"

Drew sat quietly for a moment before speaking. Marco was getting used to his thoughtful way, "You seemed busy."

Marco looked confused, "Busy?"

"Ya know…with that guy."

"Who?... Steve?" Marco suddenly realized what his dancing must have looked like to the closeted gay guy who's never had a gay friend, "This is hilarious. Drew- Steve's another exec member of Queer McGill. We were just dancing. He's great…but really, Drew – so NOT my type."

"Oh. Well you were talking to Ellie and Craig about how hot you thought that other guy in the corner was."

"The hot guy in the corner?" Marco was highly amused by the conversation he was having. Was this conversation really leading to…to what? Was Drew jealous? Of him with another guy? Marco thought Drew was totally hot, but Drew thinking he was hot…it had barely occurred to him. The guy could hardly say the words 'I'm gay.' An all out crush was still months down the road. "Yeah, he was hot….But Drew, he was just some hot guy in the corner…What is up with this?"

"This what?"

"This direction of conversation…what's going on with you?" Marco prodded. The drunken 3 am dark room factor helped move along the conversation.

"I don't know, Marco," Drew paused again, "I know I'm not very good at the whole gay thing yet... but I just guess I found myself wishing that you were thinking those things about…well, about me." Did he just say that? It's so easy to get distracted by that lulling accent.

"Wait...Are you asking me if I think you're hot?" Marco asked sheepishly.

"Yeah…" Drew wondered if he should have said anything.

"Ahhh Drew…" Marco shook his head, "There's still so much you don't know about me." Drew just looked at him, listening with vulnerability in his eyes. "Like first of all, that despite my outgoing personality…I'm actually really shy when it comes to these things," Marco looked up blushing, to see a small smile form on Drew's face, "and that holy shit, yes…Yes, Drew, you are so totally hot. Your sparkling green eyes, your blond hair falling into them, your runner's body, and that totally adorable Southern drawl. You want to know that I notice those things?…so yeah. Now you know. I do." Marco fell down on his back on his bed and covered his face with the quilt. He shyly peered out, "so you happy now?"

"Yeah," Drew smiled the most open smile Marco had seen on him yet, "'cause I'm crushin' on you too."

"You are?" Marco was amazed, "I don't get it... you're just barely figuring out that you're gay."

"Yeah. ..And crushing on a guy is one of those things that helps you figure it out pretty fast." Marco and Drew stared at each other in the dark, checking the other one out, making sure it was real.

"You can come sit on the bed, you know," Marco broke the silence, "I won't bite…or jump you or anything."

Drew moved from the desk chair to the bed. Marco could see he was shaking. "I know…not that I'd mind."

Marco blushed profusely, closing his eyes to calm his red cheeks. It had been a long time since he'd been this close to a guy looking at him that way.

"You are shy," Drew laughed, "I'm the one who should be shy."

"Yeah," Marco giggled at himself as he moved closer to Drew. Drew leaned in, not having anything else to say, but knowing what he wanted. Marco could feel the quivering as Drew's lips met his. Marco reached out and took Drew's hand, softly caressing away his shakes as they softly kissed, mouths slightly open.

When the kiss ended, Marco was the first to speak, "That was like…wow," Marco kept holding his hand, "And I guess you just had your first guy-kiss," Marco remembered how he had felt and how fun it now was to be on the other side.

Drew didn't say anything. He didn't have to. His smile was enough for Marco.