Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2015 09:18:24 +0000 (GMT) From: Michael <stytlllr@icloud.com> Subject: A Winter Night's Tale Chapter 1 A Winter Night's Tale Chapter One ***** Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Feedback is appreciated at stytlllr@icloud.com Nifty provides a great service; please consider to donate a little to them if you're able. ***** The boy with the orange skin sat near the shuffleboard tables, watching the Union Station crowds from behind his white plastic rimmed sunglasses. Tommy was in his element; he loved the vibe of the train station. Its energy was buzzing, just under manic, even at this late hour. Tommy sat watching, waiting. And the crowd was watching back. It was the middle of December in the Mile High City, so why was a surfer boy, dressed like he was still on the beaches of Los Angeles, sitting in the middle of the train station? The middle age mothers of the late night restaurant crowds on there way back to their suburban homes quickly averted there eyes. The half drunk college girls whispered amongst themselves as they headed to Lodo's breweries and nightclubs. The family playing shuffleboard behind him tried unsuccessfully to ignore him; the perturbed father kept shushing his preteen girls, the ones how kept pointing and giggling every few minutes. Tommy saw all of this. Hell, a blind man would have seen all this. Tommy didn't care. Because he also saw the subtleties of the crowd as well. He noticed more then a few of those husbands' eyes lingered as their wives hurried past. He noticed the lone boy walking with the college crowd, furtively glancing his way. And he noticed the older gentleman sitting across the station. He was bundled in his winter coat, a book in his hands, opened but unread. He, too, was watching the crowd. Watching the comers, the goers. Watching the shuffleboard players. And watching Tommy. So Tommy watched back. And waited. ***** It was Jenny's 21st birthday. Finals were over and everyone was in the Christmas spirit. Fun and festivities. The stormed off of the light rail and through Union Station, on there way to the bar across the street - their first stop of the night.. One of the girls, Amber, maybe, noticed the teen sitting on the bench. Impossibly skinny. White board shorts, light blue tank top, red Chuck Taylors and a gray fedora covering bleach blond hair. White sunglasses that hinted towards John Lennon. "What a dweeb," Jenny said, and the girls started laughing. Jerry, Amber's boyfriend, made some callous remark that caused an eruption of outright laughter. Jason did not laugh. He glanced towards the teen who seemed oblivious to the crowd. We stood out like a sore thumb, but Jason didn't care. Maybe that was what he found so compelling. It was an instant attraction. Lust. Jason couldn't explain it. He never felt such a sudden attraction to another person before. It was disturbing to say the least. He just came to grips with himself, being gay and all. Recently disowned, he stayed in Denver to escape his judgmental family. His friends were accepting; most knew before he did. He found solace in his adoptive home. But not happiness. Not really. Surrounded by straight people, Jason longed for the gay crowds. Maybe next term, he'd join the LGBT clubs. Find a boyfriend. Jason was an attractive guy. He came to Boulder on a swimming scholarship. Thank god, because of his parent's visceral hatred to his coming out. But that was in the past, tonight, he was out to have fun. He glanced at the teen again before stepping out into the chilly night air. ***** "Waiting for someone?" Tommy didn't move. Didn't say a word. A drunk, middle aged man sat next to him. Breathing heavy, his overweight frame laboring harder than usual because of the cold night. It wasn't snowing. The locals would say that it was too cold to snow. "I asked if you were waiting for someone," the man slurred, leaning towards Tommy, his breathe rancid and hot. Tommy turned his gaze upon the man. "Not you." He turned back, watched the crowd again. "Bitch," the man half screamed. The family playing shuffleboard quickly left the table. The incoming rush of transit commuters stopped and stared and Tommy. Then at the drunk man. Most looked away with disgust, some laughed and watched openly. The man suddenly left the eyes of the room watching him. He lurched to his feet, muttered "bitch" under his breathe and staggered away, towards the trains. Eventually, the audience lost interest and the station returned to its usually Friday night buzz. Tommy continued to sit and watch. The old man sat and watched as well. ***** Tim snapped his fingers repeatedly, startling Jason from his thoughts. Jason smiled sheepishly. "Sorry." he said. Tim smiled back. "You ok, there, Jason?" Jason and Tim were sitting at the end of the long table, separated a little from Jenny, Amber, Jerry, and the slowly drunkening group. It always seemed to be like this and neither minded. Out of the close knit group, Tim was Jason's best friend. Also on the swim team, he was the first person that he came out to. Tim was shocked but his acceptance convince Jason to come out completely. "I'm fine, just lost in thought." Tim nodded. An eruption of laughter drew the pair's attention back towards the group. Jenny just received a decadent looking drink that she was supposed to drink in one swallow. The shot glass was currently tucked into the hot waiter's pants and Jenny wasn't allowed to use her hands. Tim smiled and glanced at Jason, who also had a smile on his face but looked to be a million miles away. "Dude," Tim said. "Hmmm?" Jason stirred. Tim shook his head, getting concerned. Jason laughed. "Did you just `dude' me? Seriously?" Tim shook his head again. "You watch way too much reruns of Grey's Anatomy." "It was better with Izzy and George." Jason sighed. Applause and laughter erupted again. Jenny was successful in her drinking endevors. Tim and Jason clapped half heartedly, their minds elsewhere. "Penny for your thoughts?" Tim asked. Jason sighed. " My thoughts aren't worth a penny." Tim scowled. Jason always did that. Those damn parents of his, he thought. Jason tried to hide it, but Tim knew that Jason was terribly upset by his parent's dismissal. "Stop that," he murmured. Jason didn't hear. It wasn't the time or the place, but Tim thought it had to be now. "Your parents aren't worth this misery, Jason." Jason looked at Tim, shocked. "What?" Tim startled. "I thought that's where you . . ." Jason smiled, looking down. "I wasn't thinking about them." Tim apologized. "I just thought that where you kept going." Jason laughed at took a drink. "Then where?" Tim puzzled. He looked at Jason. "Where are you wandering to, then?" Jason blushed and looked down. And suddenly, Tim knew." "The California surfer guy with the really bad tan." Jason's blush deepened. Tim laughed. "Why on earth are you here, then?" Jason glanced down the table, the rest of the crowd were all doing tequila shots. "Dude, who cares about them. They're not going to notice that you're not here." Jason met Tim's gaze. "What about you?" "Me?' Tim laughed. "I can get drunk with the rest of them. But the laughter didn't seem to reach his eyes. "Go. Get out of here." Jason shook his head. "This is SO not me." Tim laughed again. "That's why you have to do it, man!" He then leaned in, looking a little concerned. "We will have to revisit your taste in men, though," he said seriously. Jason's mouth fell and Tim leaned back and laughed again. "But not now. Go, get out." Jason reluctantly got up, downing his drink. "Liquid courage," Tim toasted. and Jason grinned. He wandered towards Jenny, kissed her on the check and wandered toward the door. Tim looked after him, longingly, before downing his own drink and rejoining the festivities. ***** At half past eleven, the old man in the winter coat stood up and wandered over towards the teen with the orange skin. The crowds had lessened considerably. The family had all gone home and the restaurants were all boarded up for the night. Only the late night crowds were out and about, and most of them would be staying out until last call. Tommy didn't move. A casual observer would have thought the boy was sleeping, but the old man knew better. Standing in front of Tommy, the old man cleared his throat. Tommy looked up. "Is this seat taken?" "Not at all." Tommy smiled. The man sat. "I'm Henry," he said, hand outstretched. Tommy reached out and shook. He did not reply otherwise. "It's a bit chilly for your outfit, isn't it?" Henry said, conversationally. Tommy glanced at him. "Did you stop by to converse about the weather?" he asked. "No, of course not." Henry said, chuckling. Then, more seriously. "How old are you?" Tommy smiled. "How old do you want me to be? 21?" Silence. "Then I'm 21." Henry reached into his pocket and removed a card. "I'm upstairs. Room 312. Wait 5 minutes." He stood, nodded his head towards Tommy and left for the stairs. Tommy waited 5 minutes and then grabbed the hotel room key. ***** Jason strode into the deserted station and looked longingly towards the empty chair that was occupied just minutes ago. Of course he wasn't there, Jason thought to himself. He saw him almost 2 hours ago. He glanced at his watch. Nearly midnight. Jason could go back to the party but he suddenly felt like he wasn't up for the maddening crowds. Too much had happened in the past month. He read in one of his psych books that Christmas was one of the worst times for people with depression. Tonight he felt terribly alone. He sighed and walked towards the train platform. ***** Two floors above, Tommy watched as Jason crossed the floor. He recognized him from earlier, and wondered why this sad, lonely boy wandered away from his friends. He hesitated for a moment. Saw Jason stop at the chair he was sitting in an caress the back of the chair before moving on. Tommy smiled a little before turning towards door 312 and sliding in his key.