Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 08:48:53 -0400
From: Jeff Allen <jeff_allen15@hotmail.com>
Subject: "Love of a Lifetime" Part 19

This is a fictional story dealing with love and consensual sexual
activities between males.  If you are not of legal age, reside in an area
where viewing such material is illegal, or are offended by homosexuality
and/or homosexual themes, leave this site now.

The author retains all rights to this story.  No reproductions or links to
other sites are allowed without the permission of the author.

Note: I owe a special thanks to Robb for doing the final proofreading and
catching all those silly little errors that I missed.

LOVE OF A LIFETIME

PART 19

     There wasn't as much impact of the publicity about my attack and the
reason for it over the next couple of weeks as I thought there might be.
Only a couple of guys on the hall and a few people in my classes acted any
differently toward me.  Doc Griffith and Dr. Williams asked how I was doing
a couple of times.  I asked Coach Kensington to let me talk to the entire
track team about what had happened.  None of the guys seemed to be bothered
by knowing I was gay, in fact, two other guys chose to publically announce
their gayness as well.  Like they say...strength in numbers.  I started
running with the team and working in the kitchen at breakfast.  I just made
sure to keep the cast covered with a big yellow rubber glove whenever I was
working near water or in the shower.  The glove earned me the temporary
nickname of "Goldfinger."

     Brad Miller was his usual nasty self.  That didn't bother me.  Jason
avoided looking me in the eyes, and that really bothered me.

     Justin and I had showered together most every morning before my
'bashing' encounter because I woke him up when I came back from working at
breakfast and we would get ready for classes together.  Now he started
making certain he was in the shower whenever I was, and that included the
times I took a shower in the evening.  He never said anything about it, but
I knew he was trying to protect me.

     I started attending the campus Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GALA)
meetings.  I figured I was already about as "out" as I could be so opening
the closet door some more wouldn't hurt a bit.  There were some really nice
people there.  A couple of the guys tried to hit on me the first meeting or
so, but they backed off when I made it plain that I wasn't interested.  I
also discovered that I was a bit of a celebrity among the gay community on
campus because I'd had the balls or been mad enough to go ahead with the
hate crime thing although the investigation since then had stalled with no
likely suspects being identified.

     Andy and Larsen came for a weekend visit in the middle of February.
We took Doc and Matt up on their invitation to stay at their house.  They
were wonderful hosts.  That was the first time I'd met Matt Stevenson.  He
was every bit as sexy looking as Andy had described.  He and Doc made a
terrific looking couple, and it was obvious from watching them that they
were very much in love.  Andy and I were tickled to meet another gay
couple.  I'd been a little apprehensive about interacting with Doc Griffith
in a purely social situation.  I shouldn't have worried.  The four of us
being together as friends seemed completely natural before the end of the
first evening.

     Doc cooked a really delicious meal on Saturday night and then the four
of us soaked in their hot tub and drank wine for a couple of hours.  It
seemed odd to be sitting in a warm hot tub outside in the middle of
February.  We were all a little buzzed by the time we got out.  The
combination of wine and hot tub put Andy and me in an especially romantic
mood.  Our love making that night was slow and gentle but very intense at
the same time as if both of us wanted to moment to last forever.  When I
finally slipped into Andy nothing else existed but our two souls merging
into one.

     My cast came off the day before Spring Break.  To say I was relieved
would be a serious understatement.  The cast had gotten awfully dirty
looking, and the skin under the darn thing itched so much that I was
constantly poking a pencil or ruler down in the cast to relieve the
itching.

     The first part of the break I spent in Carterville sleeping late,
playing with Larsen, and cooking special dinners for Andy.  He took
Thursday and Friday off from the bank, and we left to meet Justin and his
brother David, who was also on break from N.C. State, at their beach house
for a long weekend.  We drove both cars to Adams and left mine in the lot
at school.  Andy, Larsen, and I drove the rest of the way to Sunset Beach
in Andy's truck.  Larsen took up much more than his share of the room in
the truck.
     We had a great time at the beach.  The weather was still cool but a
heck of a lot warmer than it had been in the mountains.  David and Justin
hit the clubs in Myrtle Beach on Friday and Saturday nights.  Andy and I
went with them on Friday but stayed at the beach house on Saturday enjoying
a last night alone before I went back to school and Andy went back to
Carterville.

                       **********

     Andy helped carry my stuff back into the dorm.  I dropped the bag I
was carrying, stuck the key in the lock and opened the door.  Andy carried
his load into the room as I held the door open for him.  I bent down to
pick up my bag as Andy fumbled for the light switch in the darkened room.

     "Holy shit!"

     Andy stood frozen just inside the room.  I looked past him.  The room
had been ransacked!  Numbly I walked in and looked around.  All of Justin's
and my clothes had been pulled out of the closet and drawers and were
strewn around the room.  I bent down to pick up a pair of jeans and
discovered that they had been slashed with a knife or razor.  A quick
inspection showed us that every piece of clothing was ruined.  The damage
extended to everything in the room.  Books were torn, CD's were smashed,
the CD player was broken, the TV screen was cracked, Jason's computer and
printer had some dark fluid poured all over them, and the cover of my
printer was smashed.  Luckily I'd taken my laptop with me over break or it
would have been destroyed also.

     I think I went into shock.  I just stood and stared at the wreckage.
Even the blankets on our beds were ripped.  I felt Andy pull me by my arm
out of the room.  He stood me against the wall in the hallway and told me
to stay there.

     He disappeared for a minute or so and then returned with Shawn Greene,
the RA.  They led me down to Shawn's room and sat me down on the couch.

     The next couple of hours or so moved like a dream.  I remember Ron
Kestler, the campus security officer, arriving and talking to Andy and
Shawn.  Kestler tried to talk to me, but I don't think I was very
responsive.  I think Kestler knelt down in front of me as he asked
questions.  I have the distinct impression of him rubbing my arm as he
talked with me.  Justin arrived.  I think he was in basically the same
state as me.  We sat side by side on the couch in Shawn's room as people
drifted in and out of the room.  We heard their voices but didn't pay any
attention to their words.  Trooper McMillan arrived.  He and Officer
Kestler seemed to talk for a long time.  Andy made a couple of phone calls
before talking with McMillan and Kestler.  I saw Kestler shake Andy's hand
before he left.  It struck me as odd when he placed a hand on Andy's
shoulder.

     Andy led Justin and me out to the truck.  It was a tight squeeze with
the three of us plus Larsen.  The next thing I knew, Justin and I were
sitting in Doc Griffith's living room.  Doc gave Justin and me glasses with
some amber liquid in them and told us to drink.  The scotch burned its way
down to my stomach but brought me back from my mental vacation at the same
time.

     When Justin was coherent again, he called his folks to tell them about
the destruction in our room.  They talked for a long time.

     While Justin was on the phone with his parents, Andy and I talked
things over with Doc and Matt.  Andy had a critical meeting with one of the
civic leaders in Carterville the next morning.  It was already late, and he
still had a two hour drive ahead of him.  He needed to leave for home soon.

     I was all ready to go back to Carterville with him, but Andy said,
"Listen, lover.  You can't let these bastards drive you away.  You leave
and they win."

     Matt joined in.  "He's right, C.Z.  You have to stay.  The way to
fight back is to stay here.  You and Justin aren't alone in this.  Gary and
I are here for you guys.  Kevin and Kathy Williams are here for you.  Coach
Kensington's here for you.  You've got a lot of support.  We can help get
you through this."

     "I know I can count on all of you.  I just wish I knew who was doing
all this.  It would be so much easier to fight if I knew who or what I was
fighting."

     "C.Z., Andy and Matt are right."  It was Doc speaking this time.  "All
of your friends are here to support you and Justin in this thing.  We'll do
whatever we need to do to help."

     I turned to Justin.  "Are you going to stay?"

     "Yes.  If one of us leaves school because of this, then the son of a
bitch has won, and he'll just do it to someone else."

     "Okay.  I'll stay, but I don't think I can go back to the dorm."

     Doc replied, "I've got an idea about that.  You guys can stay here
until we get some things sorted out."

     The discussion ended.  Andy left for Carterville.  Doc and Matt
settled Justin and me into the upstairs bedroom.  There was only a double
bed in the room, but we told them we didn't mind sharing.  Actually, we
needed the sharing.  When Justin and I climbed into bed that night we both
moved toward the middle of the bed.  Justin rolled over facing away from me
and moved his naked body on the bed until we were in contact.  I spooned up
against him and drew my arm over his shoulder.  We slept like that the
whole night; both of us seeking the comfort of another human body against
ours.

                       **********

     Justin and I came down for breakfast in the morning and were surprised
to find both Matt and Doc sitting at the table stark naked and drinking
coffee.  Doc must have seen the look on my face because he quickly
explained that he and Matt didn't wear clothes around the house very much
and that they were usually naked outside in the warmer months as well.
Andy and I weren't really shy around one another, but we generally had
something on when we were in the house.

     Justin just smiled and said, "Hey, that works for me," as he poured
himself a cup of coffee.  He showed up naked as a jaybird at breakfast the
next morning.  I felt a little out of place in my skivvies but I kept them
on.  As I've said before, I think Justin and his brothers were closet
nudists.

     After breakfast Justin called his folks again.  His dad promised to
make a few phone calls on our behalf.  Justin remarked that he wouldn't
want to be in the university president's shoes when his dad got hold of
him.

     We rode into school with Doc.  It's amazing how quickly word can
travel even on a moderately large campus.  Several fellow students gave us
their sympathies for the damage to our room and belongings.  Many offered
to lend or give us clothes to replace the ones that had been ruined.  Each
offer warmed our hearts a little more.

     After freshman lit class, Kevin Williams asked to see Justin and me in
his office.  We showed up at his office door and were surprised to see
Kathy Williams already in the office.

     She greeted Justin and me with a hug and words of sympathy.

     Kevin cleared his throat.  "Guys, Gary Griffith called us this morning
to tell us about what happened to your room.  He said you guys don't want
to go back to the dorm."

     We nodded.

     "Then Kathy and I have a proposition for you.  We have a two bedroom
apartment over our garage.  It's mostly furnished, and we've been renting
it just to grad students.  The last tenant finished her degree in December
so the place is vacant right now.  I know you both have practice this
afternoon so why don't you come over after practice for some of Kathy's
lasagna and take a look at the place."

     I swallowed hard.  "That sounds really great.  About the dinner and
all.  How much is the apartment?  I don't know what I can afford it if I'm
still paying for the dorm room and food service."

     Kevin looked over at his wife who answered, "Let's talk about that
after you've seen the place."

                       **********

     Justin and I arrived at the Williams' just before dinner time.  They
lived in a big Victorian house a couple of blocks from campus.  The house
was actually closer to most of the classroom buildings than the dorm.  The
three car garage, more like a carriage house, was off to the side and a
little behind the main house.  Doc Kevin took us to look at the apartment
while Doc Kathy finished getting the dinner ready.

     The stairs leading up to the apartment were on the side of the garage
away from the house.  There was a big living room containing a couple of
chairs and an couch.  The separate kitchen and dining area had plenty of
cupboard and counter space and a drop leaf table that could seat four
comfortably.  The two bedrooms were on the side of the apartment toward the
house, but since the garage was actually placed somewhat behind the house
you couldn't see into the house from the bedroom windows or vice versa.
The front bedroom had a double bed, dresser, and small desk.  The other
bedroom was empty.  Doc Kevin explained that the last tenant had used that
room as her office while she was writing her thesis.  The bathroom was off
the hallway between the two bedrooms.  It was completely tiled and had a
huge old fashioned claw foot tub that could have been mistaken for a small
swimming pool.  Justin and I really liked the place, but I still couldn't
see how I could afford to move out of the dorm.

     The Williamses had three children.  Heather was 10, Allison 8, and
Gary was 5.  Doc Kevin told us later that they named the youngest after
Gary Griffith because he had been conceived after an evening spent out in
Doc Griffith's hot tub.  The kids were well behaved and every bit as good
looking as their parents confirming my suspicion about the power of
genetics.

     Doc Kathy's lasagna was delicious.  Justin and I made pigs our of
ourselves by asking for thirds.  Doc Kathy beamed.

     After dinner the girls were excused to work on their homework.  Little
Gary sat in Doc Kevin's lap.

     I cleared my throat.  "We like the apartment, but I'm on a very tight
budget.  I don't see how I could afford it."

     Doc Kathy looked over at her husband and then at me.  "We don't charge
what most apartments go for around here.  We'd rather charge lower rent and
be able to select our neighbors.  We think you two would be great to have
in there.  The rent is $300 a month plus utilities."

     Justin and I exchanged glances.  We both knew that other apartments
like that would rent for two or three times as much.  I thought the
Williamses were cutting us a sweet deal.

     Justin smiled.  "I'd like to say 'yes' right away, but I need to talk
to my folks.  Can we let you know in a couple of days?"

     Doc Kevin stroked little Gary's dark hair.  "Take all the time you
need.  We aren't going to be offering the place to anyone else."

     "Ah...I have a 'friend' who comes to visit about one weekend a month.
We...I mean he has a dog.  Would that be a problem?"

     Doc Kathy smiled at me.  "By 'friend', do you mean Andy?  C.Z., I
think Andy is much more than a 'friend', and Gary and Matt have already
told us about Larsen.  We've been friends with Gary Griffith since we came
to Adams State.  They're two of our closest friends.  I have a brother
who's gay.  We aren't going to have any problem with Andy coming to visit.
Larsen's welcome also.  I've been trying to talk the gorilla here (she
indicated her husband) into a dog for the kids.  Maybe if he sees your dog,
I'll have a better chance of wearing him down."

     "Not a chance.  We'll just treat Larsen like a rent-a-dog.  Comes for
short weekend visits and then goes home.  Sounds ideal to me."  Doc Kevin
winked at his wife.  "I'm going to get Gary here ready for bed.  You guys
think about it and let us know."

     Justin and I made our excuses and left the Williamses shortly
afterward.  We talked about the apartment all the way out to Doc's and
Matt's house.  Both of us really wanted to move in, but I didn't see how I
could swing it financially.  I knew the money wouldn't be a problem for
Justin.

     Justin talked with his parents after we got out to Doc's.  They told
him they were coming up to check things out for themselves the next
morning.  They wanted to meet Justin and me for lunch right after our bio
lab.

     I talked with Andy about the apartment.  He told me to take it and he
would help with the finances.  I told him I'd think about it.  I really
wanted to move out of the dorm, and the apartment was wonderful, but I felt
that Andy was already doing too much for me to have him contribute even
more.

     Justin and I slept cuddled together again that night.  Justin got a
lot more sleep than I did.  I kept trying to figure out how to afford the
apartment.

                       **********

     We met up with Justin's parents as planned the next day.  I'd never
met his folks before so I was a little nervous.

     There wasn't any need in being nervous.  Both his folks were warm and
friendly.  Robert Barnes looked like he was in his early to mid fifties
with a full head of once light brown hair that was now mostly gray.  He had
hazel eyes, and it was clear that the Barnes brothers I knew had gotten
their facial features mostly from their father.  Even though he had
obviously gained weight as he'd aged he carried it well.  He was dressed in
gray slacks, blue dress shirt, and a camel colored jacket that looked very
expensive.

     Janice Barnes had given the boys her dark hair and eyes.  She looked
to be a little younger than her husband.  She was an extremely attractive
woman with a figure that would have been the envy of half of the coeds on
campus.  She wore a maroon pant suit outfit that clearly had come from one
of the better clothing stores in Charlotte.

     After lunch Justin's mom and dad went with us to the dorm room to
survey the damage.  We spent a few minutes going through the mess trying to
find some salvageable articles.  I found a couple of CD's that had escaped
being cracked, but that was all.

     Mr. Barnes checked his watch and told us that we all had an
appointment in a few minutes with the university President and the Vice
President for Student Life.  We went over to the administration building
and up the elevator to the President's Office.

     One of the secretaries ushered us into the President's private office
and brought coffee in for Mr. And Mrs. Barnes.  I was totally awestruck.
What was I doing here in the President's office?

     The University president, Dr. William Shopman, and the greasy meatball
of a vice president for student affairs that Andy and I had spoken to
earlier, Dr. Glenn House, came in from another room and introduced
themselves to all of us.  It was clear from his reaction that Dr. House
didn't remember talking with Andy and me before.

     Dr. Shopman asked what he could do for us even though he had to know
the reason for our visit.  Mr. Barnes took over the conversation.  He
detailed the incidents of harassment, vandalism, and my physical attack in
the shower that led up to the trashing of our room.  The President and Vice
President Meatball...I mean Dr. House...made sympathetic motions with their
heads while Justin's father was talking.

     Finally Dr. Shopman said, "I can assure you that we are doing
everything we can to find the person or persons responsible for these
deplorable incidents."

     "So far that hasn't protected either Justin or C.Z. from repeated
attacks."  Justin's mom spoke for the first time.

     "Please, Mrs. Barnes," it was the greasy meatball talking, "We are
cooperating with the state police in the investigation.  I'm sure your son
and Mr.  Johnstone will be perfectly safe in the residence hall."

     Justin's dad swung into action, "I don't believe that, Dr. House.
There is a pattern of abuse that the university has been unable or
unwilling to prevent.  I don't think either boy will be safe in the dorm."

     "What do you propose to do?  You certainly don't want to withdraw
Justin from the university?"

     "The boys have found an apartment near campus.  The apartment is next
to the house of a sympathetic faculty member, and I think the boys will be
safer there than in the dorm."

     "But freshmen are required to live in the dormitories."

     "Surely, Dr. House, in this case you can make an exception."

     "I don't see how we could do that, Mr. Barnes."

     "President Shopman, do you agree with Dr. House?"

     Shopman looked first to House before replying.  "I think I have to
back Dr.  House's decision in this matter.  Perhaps we could move the boys
into another dormitory.  Would that be suitable?"

     "No.  I don't want the boys back in the dorm."  Justin's mother spoke
up again.

     House tried to smile, but it came off more like a sneer.  "I don't
think there's any choice in the matter, Mrs. Barnes."

     "I disagree."  Justin's dad reached into his sport coat pocket,
retrieved a business card, and placed it on the president's desk.  Shopman
looked at the card and passed it to House.  His eyebrows shot up.

     "I came here as a concerned parent, Dr. Shopman.  I assumed that the
university would be as upset as I am about the situation.  C.Z. has been
harassed.  His car has been damaged twice.  He has been physically
attacked, and all of his possessions have been ruined because someone does
not like gay people.  My son has been smeared with the same brush because
he is C.Z.'s friend and roommate.
     "Janice and I have six children, Dr. Shopman.  Two of those children
are gay.  As a family we do not put up with homophobic attitudes and
behavior.  You see from my business card that I work for a bank that has
been a leader in workplace diversity issues.  My employer has also been a
large contributor to your last capital campaign and annual fund drive."

     He stood up and reached for the phone on the president's desk.  "Dr.
Shopman, I'm putting this call on my calling card, but I have someone who
would like to speak with you."

     As Mr. Barnes dialed the phone, Justin and I exchanged puzzled looks.
His mother simply smiled at Dr. House who suddenly looked slightly ill.

     "Hello, Hugh?  Robert here.  Janice and I are up at Adams State
dealing with the problem I told you about yesterday.  We've run into some
difficulty, and I thought President Shopman would like to speak with you
for a moment.  Thank you."

     Mr. Barnes handed the phone to Shopman.  "This is President Shopman."

     "Why, hello, Hugh.  It's nice to talk with you..."

     He listened for a minute or so.  "Now, Hugh.  There's no need for that
sort of action.  I assure you that Adams State will work diligently to
solve these hate crimes, and we'll do whatever's necessary to safeguard our
students."

     "Yes...yes, I'm glad we agree.  It's been nice talking to you, Hugh.
Please give my best to Margaret."

     Shopman hung up the phone his mouth set in a thin line.  House looked
even more ill.  Mr. and Mrs. Barnes just sat calmly looking like a pair of
statues of Buddah or Cheshire cats while Justin and I tried to figure out
what had just happened.

     Finally Shopman broke the silence.  "Dr. House, I think these two
young men should be exempted from the regulation that freshmen must live in
the dorms.  In this instance where the university, through no fault of its
own, has been unable to safeguard their personal possessions, I think it
would be best if they lived off campus.  I also think they should receive a
full refund of their housing fees for this semester."

     "But the last date for return of fees was last month," stammered
House.

     "I'm well aware of that, Dr. House, but I think the university needs
to show our good faith in this matter by doing as much as possible to ease
the burden on these two students.  Don't you agree?"  It really wasn't a
question.

     "Y...yes, sir.  I'll take care of it."

     We ended the meeting with handshakes all around.  Justin's folks
turned and we followed them out of the President's office and into the
elevator.

     When the elevator doors closed, Justin turned to his dad.  "Can you
tell me what just happened in there?"

     His dad broke into a huge smile.  "I thought there might be some
trouble convincing the university so I talked with Hugh McAndrews, the CEO
of the bank, before mom and I came up here.  He said to call if we had any
trouble.  The bank has contributed a million dollars to the university in
the past two years, and Hugh McAndrews has given nearly that much
personally as well.  I suspect he told Shopman that he and his bank were
serious about gay rights issues and that the bank and he didn't give money
to institutions that permitted discrimination against gays."

     My jaw dropped.

     Justin and his dad exchanged high fives.  "Way to go, Dad!"

     We moved into the apartment the next day.  The move didn't take long
since most of our stuff had been destroyed when the room was trashed.


(To be continued)