Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2003 23:06:50 -0800 (PST)
From: Robyn <wolfhowlin2001@yahoo.com>
Subject: Lives Intertwined (Chapter 13)

Lives Intertwined (Chapter 13)
By The WhiteWolf


	Brad took a sip of wine as he sat alone at his table. He assumed
this would help relax and sooth him. It wasn't working. The past week had
been unkind and no amount of alcohol was going to fix that. Closing his
eyes slowly, the sounds of the room began to grow quiet and he turned a
deaf ear to it. As he reopened his eyes the clamor of the customers was
still being blocked out. But something had changed. Directly ahead of Brad
he could see the same man he had spoken to outside. He tried to recall the
name. It was Adam. Why was he familiar?  Brad was unsure, but he continued
to watch Adam. At that moment Adam lifted his head to catch Brad staring
intently. This time Brad did not turn away and they kept eye contact.

	The sudden clatter of dishes disrupted Brad's concentration. As he
looked back he noticed Adam had turned his head as he spoke to the group at
his table. Brad went back to his wine.


	Jim was the first to wake up. His first action was to look at Greg
who was still sleeping soundly. He lightly brushed a few strands of hair
away from Greg's face and smiled at the vision before him.

	At this point didn't know if he should leave or if he should stay
with Greg. He has never been in this situation before. It might seem a bit
cold if Jim just left the apartment as is. Than again, what will happen
when Greg wakes up? Will his attitude have changed and realize he made a
mistake with Jim? He tried to play out all the scenarios in his head as he
got up from the bed without disturbing Greg. After a few moments he knew
that he was thinking too much and decided he'd stay here in the apartment
but sit in the living room rather than Greg's bed. It seemed to be a
compromise between the other two options that had been presented.

	As he sat down he came to sudden realization that he has to meet up
with Adam tomorrow and that he asked Alex to call him. He didn't think it
was fair to string anybody along.


	The night air was mild against Nick's skin. Nick wasn't
concentrating on the weather as his mind thought about this new person^Å
Alex. He was aware that he had just met him, but he could sense something
within Alex that he so rarely sees in anyone else.  Of course, Alex was
indeed cute but that wasn't the first thing Nick had noticed. He has the
mind of an intellectual and he's a writer at that. A slight smile spread
along his lips as he thought about what might become of this chance
meeting. Was it fate?

	Alex smiled as he looked over the last few pages he wrote on the
computer. The book was finished. His editor hasn't seen anything in months,
and it would be a welcomed sight. After fixing a few typos he saved it and
turned the computer off.

	"A party in one day," Alex spoke to himself, "You are insane,
Alex. At least Johnny's not coming." Alex remembered how his last co-host
had acted and decided he wouldn't make that mistake again. Before Alex left
the room he glanced back at the phone. He remembered that he couldn't reach
Jim the first time he called. Maybe if Jim was home by now, he could invite
him so the party wouldn't be totally deserted. He dialed Jim's number.


	Jim drummed his fingers on the coffee table. Somehow sitting here
alone in the living room didn't seem natural. There was a gorgeous man
sleeping in bed while he sat in his jeans on the sofa. He hadn't even put
his shirt back on.

	"This is silly," Jim smirked as he got up, "he let me in. We nearly
had sex in his bed. He wouldn't just throw me out of his apartment." He
returned to Greg's room. "Poor thing," he saw Greg still sleeping, "he
must've been really tired." Jim tiptoed through the room and back onto the
bed without moving Greg. He looked at Greg's face one more time as the
light from the moon reflected of it. "Beautiful." Jim laid his head down on
the pillow.


	It was after his second glass of wine that Brad realized Adam was
no longer at the other table. He knew that Adam couldn't have left
already. He quickly skimmed the room with his eyes looking for the man with
the wavy hair and soft eyes. Brads eyes caught a glimpse of Adam as he
turned a corner leading to the restroom. The question that had been running
through Brad's mind was eating away at him. "Where had he seen Adam
before?" He had to find an answer. He got up from the table and walked in
the direction of the restroom.

	Adam splashed some water on his face and looked in the mirror. The
dinner meeting was dragging on and Adam wanted to go home and relax. The
only thing that kept him from going insane was the man across from him in
the restaurant. He remembered how Brad had been watching him. "Could it be
that this young stud was interested," Adam thought. It was within the realm
of possibility. The only problem that presented itself is that Adam has
already connected with Jim. Besides Brad hasn't even approached him and
there was no clear sign that he was even gay. He looked in the mirror one
more time, ran some fingers through his hair, and left the restroom.

	Brad had decided to wait outside. It might look a little too
suspicious and much too eager if he followed Adam in. He wasn't about to
the same mistake he did with Greg and appear overly eager. Or
aggressive. He was about to think of a line to say before Adam came back
out. There was no time to think of one as the door had opened. Brad froze
as he looked at Adam. Adam actually looked better than he did a few moments
earlier.

	"Oh, hello again, "Adam was the first one to speak.

	Brad tried to play the situation nonchalantly, "Hi." The both
stopped talking. If Brad wanted to know where he had seen Adam before - he
had to ask now. "I'm curious: have we met before?"

	"No, I don't believe so^Å Brad, was it?"

	"Yes," Brad began to study Adam while he continued to talk, "I
could've sworn I've seen you somewhere before."

	Adam, who had become more interested in what Brad was talking about
decided to take this opportunity to get to know him better, "Well, it's
possible; I do walk into town a lot."

	Brad knew Adam was not helping answer the question with his
responses so he'd have to be a little more forward, "Do you go to the Tiger
Cage^Å a club down on 5th street?"

	At this point Adam was a little caught off-guard. It's not everyday
that someone asks you if you've ever been to a gay club before. Adam had a
very important decision.  He could end the conversation there and say no,
or he could reply in the affirmative and see where it takes him. He
remembered what he had heard earlier about being so cautious^Å and this was
his second chance to take a risk.

	"Yes. Sometimes."

	"Then I'm sure that's where I've seen you. I work down at the club
dancing,"
	Brad smiled finally realizing where he had seen him. "Yes, you were
at the club yesterday." It was the same guy that had given Greg the
tip. The only reason he remembered him was because she had returned the tip
to Adam. Brad was never one to return money, after all, he believed he
worked hard for it. Adam didn't remember seeing Brad dance before but now
he had the opportunity to gaze upon the slim, graceful body right in front
of him.

	"I'm not doing anything after dinner," Adam began to speak, "would
you like to^Å"

	"I'd love too," Brad cut Adam off obviously hinting his interest in
Adam.  Although at first surprised by the quickness of Brad's response,
Adam smiled and nodded his head.  Although Brad realized that he hardly
knows Adam and since he had already put off someone earlier in the day it
might be wise to be cautious, "But I have to work late^Å tonight."  Brad
had to think of a quick lie but at the same time not lose contact with
Adam.

	Adam eventually found the words to speak, "Oh, I see."  Adam was
quite sure what Brad was trying to say.  It seemed as though he was getting
mixed signals.

	It was at this moment Brad had to make the next move before Adam
could dwell on their current dialogue, "But perhaps I could give you call
sometime, I'd love to talk."  Brad put a bit of emphasis on love but it
appeared that Adam hadn't picked up on it.  Adam looked down as he thought
for a moment.  In the past he had given love interests his number but it
only resulted in a night waiting by the phone.  His mind than shifted to
Jim.

	Brad realized Adam was silent for an extended period of time so
without another second passing he pulled out a slip of paper and wrote down
his number.  "Better, yet," Brad smiled, "I'll give you mine and call me
when you have some free time."

	This was just the sign that Adam needed to decide what Brad was
trying to say.  After all Brad could have left without giving him a number.
There would be no logical reason to hand off a fake phone number.

	"I'll do that," Adam spoke with a sigh of relief.  Both of them
looked the other over for a moment before Brad returned to his table to
leave a tip.


	I do apoligize for my absence but I have quite a lot of issues in
my life to deal with. I will try to keep up if at all possible.  I will let
you know if it becomes to much to deal with at the moment... I don't want
to leave you all hanging.
	This chapter dealt more with Brad and Adam seeing as they haven't
been focused on as much as some other characters.  But stay tuned for the
next chapter as all of our characters are about to be drawn together.
	You've got a pretty good idea where I'm headed with the story,
right? Well, go on and tell me how you feel about it or write in just to
say hi. Write to me at wolfhowlin2001@yahoo.com