This is the Prequel to Yo Ho David... Enjoy!
Jim's eyes glanced over the numbers above their respective doors as he shuffled down the hall. Cadets all around him were buzzing with excitement for the first day at the Interstellar Academy. His mother had just dropped him off here and the two of them said their goodbyes.
"Oh Jim, I'm so proud of you." She brushed some dirt off his shirt. "You'll do great. Just put yourself out there and you'll make friends in no time-"
"Mom." Jim smiled and took her hands in his. "Everything's gonna be fine."
"I know." Sarah smiled and kissed his cheek. "I know." Her mother henning was just going to get worse if he didn't leave. With a kiss to her cheek, Jim turned to go. "I love you!" Sarah called.
"Love you, mom." Jim smiled back at her and waved before making his way into the dorm. He pulled the register paper out from his pocket and scanned it. The fourth floor, four roommates, oh good. Social gatherings, blah blah, and classes start in two days. Jim made his way to the elevator with his duffle bag at his side. He was joined by others, but none of them spoke to each other.
Standing at the other side of the elevator was a tall, muscular guy. He was an imp alien of some sort, mostly human except for his pointed ears and bowed fawn like legs. He gave Jim a once over, noticed his earring, and winked. Jim turned his head to face the doors, willing them to open. He shifted his gaze to his right again, in time to see two girls also noticing his piercing but scowling and whispering. Jim blushed, and rubbed his neck. Mercifully, the door opened, and Jim practically raced out of the elevator. A group of young men bumped into him as he passed but waved their apologies and moved on. Near the end of the hall was a room labeled 428. This was it. Jim took a deep breath and crossed the threshold into his new barracks.
Two bunk beds were pressed up against the walls with two small dressers and a clothes rack for uniforms. There was a duffle bag on the bottom bunk to his right, and on his left, there was a duffle on the ground. It was sitting open; and Jim could clearly see clothes half unpacked. There was also a book hiding part way under a folded shirt. Jim could almost make out the title. Full of curiosity, he reached out his hand to move the shirt to one side.
"Ya like Maizer?" a voice drawled from above him. Jim jumped back and pressed himself against the wall. A dark-haired man was sitting, cross-legged on the top bunk. How had Jim not seen him there before? The man leaned out from the shadows and smiled a friendly smile. "I prefer his older work, myself." He set his hands on the edge of the bunk and slid off. "But his new stuff isn't bad." He shrugged and leaned down to pick the book up from out of his bag. "I've flipped through this one already, but probably won't have time to read it this semester." He looked up at Jim and offered him the book. "Why don't you take it?"
The man was tall, with broad shoulders and a short beard. He had green eyes and a farmer's tan. He seemed like the friendly type, and there was nothing sinister in his smile. Jim glanced at the book then up at the man before cautiously taking it from his hands. "Thanks." He half smiled. Turning to glance at the bunks behind him again, he cleared his throat. "Is that one taken?" he gestured to the bottom bunk behind the man. The older brunette turned and shook his head.
"Nope. It's all yours." Jim moved forward and set his duffle on the bunk before opening it and unpacking his things. The older brunette just watched quietly and smiled. "So, do you have a name?" Jim sucked on his teeth before standing to face the guy. He held out a hand for him to shake. The man grinned and took it firmly.
"Jim. Jim Hawkins."
"David." He smiled brightly and continued to watch Jim unpack. "So, is it just "Jim" or can we call you Jimmy?" Jim smiled at the nickname, remembering how annoying it was when B.E.N had called him that. David continued to list names. "James, if we're serious? Or Jameson- for giggles?"
"Just "Jim" will be great." The younger brunette blew a piece of his freshly cut bangs out of his face.
"Alright, "just Jim". All joking aside though, I hear you loud and clear. My aunt calls me "Davey" and it drives me crazy. Mom tried to call me "Dave" once, but we just couldn't take the name seriously. It's enough coming from a country household with that name. I don't need any more stereotypes attached to it." He watched as Jim shoved his duffle under the bed and started placing all his clothes into his respective drawers.
Before David could continue, a young man in a uniform came in, holding a phone. "David- it's for you." He held the phone out. "It's your dad." He whispered. All the color drained from David's face as he shakily took the phone. He swallowed before putting it to his ear. Jim watched as David's entire demeanor changed. The friendly guy before him turned into a sheepish, sweating wreck. He watched David take a deep breath and speak into the phone.
"Hello, Sir." He greeted his father confidently. His eyes were downcast, shuffling from side to side. His body language changed again when his head shot straight up, and his eyes widened. "I'm sorry, Sir? Could you repeat that, Sir?" Panic spread through David's body like a rash, and he was visibly shaken. "Sir, this isn't-" his father cut him off with shouts from the other side. After a minute of harsh scolding, David swallowed back tears. He took a deep breath before responding very quietly. "Yes, Sir. I am." His eyes screwed shut when more shouting could be heard through the receiver. Then there was nothing but dial tone. David's arm fell to his side as he handed the phone back to the officer. "Thanks Freddy."
Freddy sighed and opened his mouth to speak but decided against it. He reached over and patted David's shoulder twice to comfort him before he left. After he gently pulled the door closed behind him, David moved to his bunk and climbed up to lay down. Jim waited for a moment, before peering over the side of David's bunk.
"You, okay?" he inquired gently.
David sighed and rubbed his face. Looking over his shoulder to make sure the door was completely shut, he leaned on his elbow to get closer to Jim. "Can I tell you the truth?" Jim's eyes shifted to the side before making eye contact with the strange man. He shrugged as if to say 'Sure, go for it.' David bit his lip before getting super close to Jim's ear. Jim backed away, causing David to give a crooked smirk. "I'm not gonna bite you." Jim paused before allowing David to pull him close by the collar and whisper in his ear. All the hairs on Jim's neck stood up; he wasn't used to being this close to anyone, and it made him uncomfortable. "I'm fine." he pulled away and smirked. "What's the worst that could happen?" David folded his hands behind his head and crossed his ankles.
"It sounded," he paused. "Pretty serious." Jim picked up his things for the bathroom and placed them in a designated corner of the sink cabinet.
"Everything with my dad is serious." David scoffed. "Where I spend my time, who I spend it with," his calm tone changed to a sullen one. "What I am."
"What you are? Not who?" Jim challenged. He didn't know why he cared about this guy's problem – but it struck a chord of sympathy with him.
"Yeah well," David turned his head toward Jim as he stood leaning against the wall. "My dad is what you might call 'strictly traditional'. No funny business, no unproductive dreams," his voice choked a bit and he swallowed. "No disappointments."
"I get that." Jim sat on his bunk and began taking off his jacket. "My dad, he uh- he didn't find me or my mom worth his time. So, I can imagine that we fell under the title of 'disappointments'. Which, were intolerable to him."
David was silent, a respectful second of quiet before acknowledging their shared problem. "That's awful."
"Well," Jim shrugged. "it's whatever. Happened so long ago-" David slid off his bunk to the floor, a shy smile on his face.
"It's gettin' kinda gloomy in here." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You wouldn't wanna check out the mess hall, would you?"
Jim smiled gently. "Sure."
Over dinner they talked more about their hometowns, their remaining family, and what they did prior to the academy. David was a home-grown country boy. Worked the farm as a kid and messed around like boys do. Told Jim about the family's military legacy, and though it was expected of him, he didn't completely dread the idea of joining the service. Something in his blood, he said, just called him into it. His mother died when he was in his teens, and it had been easier to cope when it was him and his many cousins living nearby. As he got older though, it was he and his father, alone. He pressured David more than ever to make something of himself. The first time David tried to stand up for himself he was shot down, completely demeaned and sent off to a military school. He didn't last long, tended to get into trouble one way or another. Finally, his aunt came to the rescue and had David working with her in the city: getting him acquainted with other walks of life. He'd gotten into some trouble, which was apparently what had caused that awkward phone call from his father. But David assured Jim he wouldn't have to deal with his father for a long time yet. Especially since he was financially independent, and his father was not a sentimental man, David couldn't see a reason why the two would have to cross paths.
The two of them grew closer as time went on, discovering they shared a few extracurricular activities and more than a few classes. They studied together, joked around, and started to become quite good friends. It wasn't long before Jim started to get comfortable with his bunk mates. David especially. Jim was more confident, more friendly, and more productive with David around. Even when they weren't together, Jim found comfort in the fact that there'd be a friend for him to talk to at the end of every day. Their other two roommates were also nice, but one kept to sports and the other to his studies, which kept them more occupied and away from the dorms. They all got along though which was a comfort.
One day in autumn, when there was a particular rush of excitement about a dance at the academy, a group of girls approached Jim and his friends at their lunch table. Blue skinned thin limbed girls, with big blue eyes and sleek black hair. One or two of them had peach or brown skin, but their eyes were the same.
"Hi David," one of the girls, Kina, blushed and waved. "Um, what were you planning on doing this Saturday?"
"Oh, I was probably gonna hang out in my dorm. Is there something you need?" He asked politely.
Something about the approach irked Jim, and he was sure everyone could read it on his face. But he didn't care. He was planning on being with David Saturday, and it made him squirm in his seat thinking he might have to go to a dance.
"Yeah," Kina leaned on the table. "I need a date for the dance." She batted her eyelashes and smiled.
"Oh! Well, thank you for asking me." David scooted closer to Jim, away from Kina's advances. "But I'm not really one for dances. Jim!" he turned to his friend for help. "Were you looking, uh, for a date?" he blushed slightly. "To the dance of course! Not like, with me or anything." He laughed awkwardly. Kina looked disappointed.
"Um, no. No, thank you. I'm..." he gave Kina a once over. "Not interested." He tried to smile but it came out more like a grimace.
Kina shrugged and walked away with her friends. David let out a breath. "Sorry man, I didn't have a plan for that."
"Its fine." Jim smiled and continued eating. One of their friends, Lionel, spoke up.
"I'd go if she asked me. But I already got a date. Kina's cute and all though. Why'd you turn her down?"
"Not my type." David smiled gently and stared down at his lunch. "Plus, like I said, dances aren't my thing."
"Oh, common man, get serious." Sam, another human cadet scoffed. "No one dances at those things. Its just for getting girls to hook up with you, but they ask you. Like a "Sadie Hawkins" – no relation to Jim of course." He grinned. "I'm sure Jim doesn't have a dancing bone in his body- too shy."
Jim crossed his arms and leaned on the table. "When have you known me to be shy, Sam?"
"You're so shy! What are you talking about? You can barely look a girl in the face if she looks at you funny. And god help them if they flirt with you- you look at them like they have a plague!" Sam shook his head. "Don't play cool, you're shy dude."
Jim shook his head. "Not shy." He took a drink, briefly glancing at David before setting it down. "Girls aren't my thing." There was a moment where everyone at the table looked at Jim. In turn, Jim looked around at them all. "What?"
"Girls aren't your thing?" Peter, another friend, repeated. "So, you're blind." He nudged Sam and laughed. "Have you seen some of the girls here? Or" he paused and wiggled his eyebrows. "Are you into women."
Jim shook his head and smiled. "You're a moron."
David was giving Jim an inquisitive look, though the younger man didn't notice. He looked at Jim's slightly blushing face and then to his pierced ear. Some of the pieces were coming together.
"So, you don't ask a student. Ask a teacher." Sam suggested.
"Are you crazy?" Peter crowed.
"No, I mean it. If you're looking for more experienced action, you should ask a teacher. Covertly of course."
Jim raised a hand. "Nah man, I'm not looking to get expelled, alright?"
"But you're not looking at all?" One of their quieter friends, Zeke, joined in. "A dance is like, an ideal date! Guaranteed to get you to a second one."
"Dates aren't really my thing either. I'd rather just hang out." Jim shrugged. David couldn't stop looking at Jim. He listened intently to his every word, remembering all the times they'd spent in the garages tinkering with machines or reading up on ship repair.
"What are you, cheap?"
"No," Jim laughed. "I just don't go on 'dates'. It's so much pressure for basically nothing."
"You're weird, dude. Don't you wanna get laid?"
"You don't give these girls a second glance but they're fawning all over you sometimes, what the heck, dude? Id be swimming in girls if I were you."
"Like I said," Jim leaned back and crossed his arms. "Girls aren't my thing." He got up and took his tray with him. David did the same but headed for the other side of the cafeteria. He dumped his tray and took the long way back to the dorm. Maybe he could share with Jim his secret. Jim wasn't one to pry, and if he were holding back a secret, David was sure he'd be more inclined to listen. The two of them were friends after all. What would be the problem? David stopped. What if it was a problem? He shook his head. No way. If Jim's been in the closet since they'd met, he wouldn't be spooked by David's confession. Anxiety and excitement pounded through David's heart. He had to tell him. Tonight.