Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 04:59:41 +0000
From: Christopher Barrett <aliens_in_your_horizon@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Clearview Chronicles Chapter 1

Hi.  This is my second attempt at slash fiction.  Just to explain the drive
behind this; I'm quite a fan of trashy, teenage horror novels and I thought
I'd just tinker round with the usual plot to include a central, gay
relationship and a few of my favourite celebrities (of course).  Also, this
is like an AU story, so the celebrities don't have their regular jobs and
stuff.  I hope this opener gets you interested, and email me if it does!!

Disclaimer; This story in no way means to imply the sexualities of the
celebrities mentioned, nor do I know them.  If you don't like M/M
relationships, then get outta here quick!!  Also, if you don't like cheap
horror, I suggest that you leave too!

On with the show.

The Clearview Chronicles

Chapter One

Aaron Carpenter dropped the last of his bags on the rough, industrial
carpet and released a long, drawn out sigh of relief.  Finally, after all
the waiting, all the preparation, and all the travelling, he was here.  He
stepped proudly across to the wide sash window, stretching back and
outwards his long, lightly muscled arms, wrinkling up his snug, pale blue
tee and exposing a flat stomach with its lacy trail of dark hairs.  He
raised the lower sash, leant on the deep, wooden sill and hung his head out
of the window as far as he could manage, allowing the warm, late summer
breeze to caress his short, chestnut dreadlocks.  The huge, shiny white
letters running vertically down the side of one of the tall, concrete
structures in his view reminded him of his immediate future; Norchester
University.

He couldn't help but smile at himself; he had worked so hard to get the
grades, even though a few teachers had told him that it was impossible,
then, for the past year he had bored himself to death working all the hours
humanely possible in an assortment of a few part time jobs to get together
enough money to push him through the three years of the course.  So here he
was, nineteen years of age, standing at the window of his study bedroom,
gazing out towards the rambling cluster of box-like forms laced and
bordered with green that was Norchester University.

A confident knock on his partially opened door caused him to turn his head.
A slim girl with a sleek, dark brown bob and wide, deep brown eyes smiled
broadly at him, extending a pale hand.

"Hi, I'm Suzie Marconi."

"Aaron Carpenter." He took her hand and returned her smile, adding, "Did
you just get here too?"

"Oh, no!" She exclaimed, "I was here a couple of days ago."

"So, what do you think of it so far?"

"Well, the house is great; Clearview has a good reputation, at least
according to the accommodation brochures." She laughed lightly, "You've met
Mrs Simmons, haven't you?"

"Yeah," Aaron scratched the back of his neck, "When I got my key and stuff.
She seems really nice."

"She's been really helpful since I got here."

"We aren't too far from the university, are we?"

"No; a bus passes by every quarter of an hour that goes to and from the
university, so there shouldn't be a problem being on time for lectures and
such."

Aaron could tell that Suzie was one of those people who seem to know
everything, which he found a bit annoying, but he guessed that she would be
useful to have around in the first few months, whilst getting to know the
area.  On the more positive side of her nature though, she hadn't tried
flirting with him, so she seemed good friend material.  Could she tell?

"I do like a bit of distance between work and home."  She had continued.

"Yeah, I agree.  Added that it's cheaper."

"Oh, and I reckon that Mrs Simmons could easily be talked into letting us
have a few parties!" She grinned.  Okay, so maybe she was a bit more fun
than he had first imagined.

"So, where's everyone else?"

"About; somewhere.  Still one more to come, though I hope they'll get here
in time for dinner.  You know when it is, right?"

"Seven o'clock."

"That's it.  We'll have it outside because it should be a lovely evening."
She enthused, "I was thinking about getting pizzas, so we wouldn't mess up
Mrs Simmons kitchen too soon."

"Good idea; you were obviously reading my mind.  So, I'll see you later?"
Aaron was eager to put his stuff away.

"I'd better go and check with everyone else.  See you."  Suzie smiled and
left the square room, closing the door firmly behind her.

Aaron began removing his clothes from the bulging suitcases and hanging
them in the adequately sized closet, carefully smoothing the fabric as he
hung the articles.  He was desperate to assert his ownership on this room;
he had shared a room with his older brother for a large part of his teenage
years, when his parents had been forced to move to a smaller apartment, so
the idea of having his own room, to him, was almost a dream, which he had
to secure in reality.  Putting his favourite books on one of the five
bookshelves located to the left of his desk and sticking a few photos from
home onto the closet door reassured him greatly, as these were a few of the
most personal things he had brought with him.  He was just unrolling a
poster when his door was opened quickly and noisily.

A girl with long, jet black hair, beautiful, dark, almond eyes and a clear,
round face flashed rows of pearly white, even teeth at him and said with a
cocked eyebrow,

"Just came to see the most attractive guy in the house." She stepped
towards him and flicked her shiny hair back, "I'm Diane Liu."

"Aaron Carpenter, and it's nice to meet you." He reluctantly offered a
hand, slightly intimidated by her complete lack of restraint.

"Oh, I'm sure." She loosely took his hand, not really shaking it, but more
holding it for a few seconds, "I didn't think I could wait until the party
to meet you."

"The party?"

"On the porch, tonight." She said in theatrically elaborate explanation.

"Oh, I thought that was just dinner." He laughed lightly.

"Dinner, or party?  I know which one I'd prefer." She grinned.  She could
be quite amiable when she wasn't flirting around.

"So, what are you studying?"

"Other than you?" She flashed a smile again.

'Oh, God, no!' thought Aaron.

"Well, I'm doing Drama."

'Figures,' He thought, 'It would explain her confidence.'

"Who's this?" She pointed at the poster, lying redundant on his bed,
curling up gracefully at the ends.

"Bender!" He said excitedly, confronting her creased brow with, "He's an
extreme sportsperson."

"Oh, jumping off cliffs and shit.  No thanks." She smiled, "I'd rather keep
my face where it is."

"Look at him!  He's had loads of accidents and he looks fine to me." Aaron
said heatedly, wishing for a moment after that he hadn't been so defensive.

"Well, I guess he's kind of cute…" Diane was eyeing Aaron carefully,
"Say!  You're gay aren't you?" She burst out.

"Uh…yeah." He said, somewhat sheepishly, unsure of how to take her
accusation.

"I knew it!" She exclaimed, almost triumphantly, "You hardly looked at me
when I came in the door!"

He couldn't help but laugh lightly at her methods of deduction.

"You okay with it?" He asked nervously.

"Hell yeah." She chuckled, "Just don't expect to be taking my men, okay?"

"As if I'm competition!" He laughed heartily, knowing that the compliment
would put him firmly in her good books.

"I'd best leave you alone with 'Bender' here." Diane jested as she walked
out the door, calling back, "See you on the porch tonight."

"See you."

Maybe this wasn't going to be as difficult as Aaron had imagined.

Suzie had borrowed some candles and a few kerosene lamps from the kitchen
and garage, which she had arranged carefully on the broad, wooden porch to
provide a fairly intimate, but practical lighting for the evening's
entertainment.  She was so eager to get everything just right; in a sense
this was her first activity as monitor, and she wanted to make a good
impression on her housemates.  She leaned on the intricate balustrade after
calling the local pizza house, and waited for its delivery and the
assembling of the others.

The darkness fell gradually over the old house, the surrounding fields,
woodlands, the distant university campus, and the higgledy forms of the
town in the opposite direction.  The clear, navy blue sky became punctured
with the varying luminosities of the stars and the solemn, omnipresent
reign of the moon.  Soon, everyone was present and the pizza was hastily
attacked with the hunger of the recently travelled.

There were seven present; Diane and Suzie, whom Aaron had met earlier; Pete
Kantorowich, who was a heavy-looking guy, with a head of short-cropped,
blonde hair, who was going to do Chemistry and was surviving on a football
scholarship; Henry Jameson, a lithe and innocent looking, English student,
with deep purple- brown skin and smooth, noble features.  His parents were
very affluent, but, as he explained,

"I chose to live at Clearview, because I like the solitude.  I also thought
it may encourage me to work harder." The company smiled politely at that,
even though most believed that he would need no encouragement to work hard.

Emannia Ghir, whose parents had wanted her to become a chemist, but was
rebelling gloriously by going for French, sat quietly in the corner for
most of the evening, looking curiously at the gathered group with her dark,
heavily lashed eyes, adding a few comments now and then.  Then there was
Joshua Chasez, who was a few years older than most of the others, studying
music and looking way too good with his short, styled hair and easy smile.
Aaron found it really easy to talk to him, even though he was not all that
well hearsed in music, or Joshua in Aaron's hobbies, or degree; Forensic
Science.  They were discussing why they had chosen Norchester out of all
the universities, when a shadowy figure was advancing towards them, over
the vast, front lawn.

"Must be the new kid." Joshua suggested.

"Yeah." Aaron squinted at the figure, trying to establish it clearly from
the darkness.

All staring into the void as if mesmerised, the figure slowly revealed
itself in the glow of the candles spilling out of the confines of the porch
as it climbed the shallow steps.  He looked nervously at his audience,
carrying two huge suitcases and smiling nervously.  The tight, woollen cap
securely fastened over his head, long, woollen pullover and faded jeans
gave him the air of having travelled most of his life to get on that porch,
although the freshness of his smooth face concealed his tiredness.

"Hi everyone." He said in a faintly southern accent, "I'm Justin."

The group offered greetings, and Suzie jumped up enthusiastically,
introducing herself as monitor and explaining to him that Mrs Simmons had
given her his key.  She began to lead him inside when Diane piped up,

"Hey, Suzie!  Why don't you let someone else show him up?  You've been
doing so much already."

"Oh, that's okay…" Suzie started.

"I'll show you around." Aaron said quickly, feeling slightly stupid after
speaking so sharply.

"Oh, thanks." He smiled broadly, causing Aaron to feel all fluttery in his
stomach.

'Stop it!' Aaron mentally scolded himself, 'You're being foolish; he's not
that good looking.'

Truth be known; Justin wasn't amazingly good looking.  But maybe that's
what attracted Aaron to him.  Aaron had never really liked really neat,
perfect people.  He liked people with distinction, with individuality and
with depth.  Perhaps something in Justin's presentation implied he was just
more than a nearly pretty face.  Hoping that he wasn't blushing, or smiling
too much to hide his awkwardness, Aaron showed him indoors, relieving him
of a suitcase.

"What's your name?" Justin asked him gently at his side as they ascended
the stairs.

"Aaron.  Aaron Carpenter." Aaron said hesitantly, as if he thought his name
wasn't up to scratch.

"Justin Timberlake." Justin grinned, "What are you doing at Norchester?"

"Um, forensic science."

"Dead bodies; sounds interesting." Justin giggled, "Maybe you could bring a
little something home for dinner when we get poorer."

"Eugh.  Grim." Aaron laughed back, "How about you?"

"Music.  And basketball; I have a scholarship."

"Basketball?" Aaron impressed, "That's' really good.  You must be good to
have a scholarship."

"I'm the best!" Justin laughed at himself, "Are you on a scholarship?"

"Yeah, boring stuff though.  Here you are; Justin's room."

"We've got name cards and everything." Justin enthused, "Where is your
room?"

'Why is he asking that?' Aaron stressed, 'Maybe he is just being polite.
Polite?  Is that polite?  Maybe he's just being conversational.'

"A few doors down from you.  We have a bathroom separating us." Aaron
smiled, adding mentally 'why the bathroom comment?  Why?'

"At least I'll be able to check the availability of the shower from my bed
then." Justin considered.

Aaron blushed slightly as he gained an image of Justin in bed floating
about in his mind.  He roughly opened the door, motioning for Justin to
step inside first.  Though he was trying to be really respectful of his new
friend's privacy and all, he couldn't help but notice Justin's buttocks
reveal their form under the mottled fabric of his jeans as he bent slightly
to open his case.

"Say; what sport do you play?" Justin inquired, straightening up and
shaking out a pair of trousers, smiling briefly and adding, "'Cos you're in
good shape."  His eyes drank in Aaron's bare arms and the hints at his
torso where his tee clung.

"Oh, I'm into bikes mostly, and a bit of boarding, but I do most things
really." He blushed lightly, realising how arrogant he had sounded.

"An all-rounder?" Justin praised, "Maybe we could shoot hoops someday
soon."

"There are a few good courts on campus I've heard." Aaron offered.

"Great.  One on one is anticipated, and I had better warn you; I play
dirty!" Justin grinned.

Aaron returned the smile, but didn't know if his brain was processing the
information in sense it had been intended.

"What do you think of Clearview so far?" Aaron asked politely.

"It seems okay." He said off-handed, and then turned his head to look at
Aaron squarely, changing his tone, "I lied; I have a feeling it's gonna be
great."  He smiled warmly, and then returned his attention back to
unpacking, adding, "However, too many late nights here alone could drive
you to suicide."

A high, piercing scream met their shocked ears, followed by an irregular
series of thuds and groans.  They both rushed out of the room and down a
few of the stairs before they reached Mrs Simmons lying prostrate on the
floor of the hall.


So, what do you think?  Email me and make me happy

Kris