Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2005 08:43:22 -0400
From: SSch191950@aol.com
Subject: The Lizard (part 1), chapter 19

THE LIZARD - Primavera
by Stefan

Comments are welcome


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19
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The next week Alessandro was occupied with choosing the seminars and
lectures he had to take. First he chose 'Basis of the Occidental Art', then
a discussion seminar, and then he took all of the lectures that were
concerned with the art of the Renaissance. It would give him as much
background as he needed for his hometown, since the Renaissance was founded
in Florence. The special lectures would have to wait for the next
semesters, but he had a very clear idea of what they would be. To his great
annoyance, Leoni chose the same lectures as himself. In fact, she was
always crossing his path, and since they were using the same kitchen,
attached to their rooms, it was hard for Alessandro to avoid her. Not that
he was a good cook, in fact, he couldn't cook at all, but once in a while
he wanted scrambled eggs, or a coffee and she was always sitting there with
her nose in a book, stirring the sugar in her tea while smoking non-stop,
or chattering with her friend Maresa. She always acted then as if
Alessandro was her boyfriend and this was pissing him off no end.

When he felt sort of lonely he wrote letters to Luca. He had found out that
writing sorted his mind, and it was much more pleasurable than to phone,
although hearing Luca's voice close to his ear made all of his hairs stand
on end with longing.


				   * * *


Luca flung his body upon his bed and started to read Sandro's latest
letter. He loved his idea to write rather than to talk. So he could keep
his letters as a memory for always and ever.


"Gioia,

I think I miss you a great deal. I'm not sure if I'm coming to Firenze this
weekend. I have so much to deal with. As you know, my knowledge about
Florence's arts has a wide range but to start from scratch is somewhat
exhausting. They want us to learn about the very start of it. And it simply
didn't start in our hometown, but in the caves of France whose name I
always forget. You know, those funny scribblings on the cave's walls of
hunters and deer. Actually it's quite interesting but I spend more time in
the library than is good for me. My tan is vanishing and the rest of my
body matches the white of my arse now ;-) That reminds me.... Do you feel a
certain emptiness there? I definitely do.

What am I writing here... I'll try to come, but I can't promise. Your
brother told me that his room mate is snoring so loud that he can't sleep
at night. What is going on in my mind is this; I suggested to him to move
over to my room. At least I don't snore as you know. So... what do you
think about that? I suggested it but Giano refused. Stubbornness seems to
be a Montori-thing. Perhaps you can persuade him. But in the end, it's not
my sleepless nights. But Giano has rings under his eyes and he needs all
his strength for his study. Medicine seems to be a difficult thing to me.

How is your apprenticeship going? And did your friend finally get out of
hospital? Have you been seduced by Tristano yet???

All my love and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Alessandro"


Luca lay motionless for a while and pondered. Why wouldn't Giano move into
Sandro's room? Shit, of course because he was so sensible to think that if
he would, they hadn't a place for themselves when Luca visited Sandro next
time. Right? That was true, but next time Sandro would come to him and they
had room then. So, what the hell. He took a sheet of paper and started to
write his brother.


                                               * * *


Luca hadn't heard from Sandro for a couple of days. His mobile was turned
off but Luca thought that he could hardly take it to his lectures. But he
didn't want to worry too much. Sandro didn't like it when he was too much
of a leech. He tried to occupy himself with the lessons he himself had to
master, and this wasn't a small task. Coppo had given them drawing boards
with movable protractors and right angles where they were supposed to draw
grids. At home he struggled with complicated scale calculations and had to
ask Tristano for help. Surely his father would had helped him out but Luca
didn't want to ask him. Not that Niccolo wouldn't help; but Luca wanted to
learn it his way.

"We start with geometric figures, ragazzi", Coppo's voice drowned through
the room. "I stress here that we don't start with curved lines but with
straight ones. Imagine a square or a rectangle.. What can you build with
them?"

"Houses for instance", a girl piped up.

"Yes, that's one instance. I want you to draw a house. Squares and
triangles. Please draw it in difference sizes. First the original, then in
the scale 1:2 upon your grids."

Luca blew out his cheeks. Not again the scale calculations. Tristano was
looking at him from where he was sitting over on the opposite side of the
table. Then he wrote the formula for the calculation upon a note and shoved
it over to Luca. With that it wasn't so difficult anymore for Luca to draw
the right proportions and Coppo was pleased. Luca put Tristano's note into
his lesson book for later use. About time that he was memorizing it.


"The secret of a pietre dure work is its exactness. At the end of the
semester you will all be able to lay a simple ornament. At first without
the stony background of course."

Luca felt Tristano's eyes on him. In fact the whole week he had caught
those stares. But whenever Luca went to ask, Tris acted normal again. Could
it be right what Sandro had said? That Tris was gay? In love with him?
Nonsense. Tris had a girl friend. Though he wasn't talking about her. In
fact, he had never told him about her, at least not in detail.

Luca's eyes smiled into Tristano's. Lapis lazuli blue.. "Do you know I have
a lapis lazuli at home?" he whispered. "It's like your eyes."

To Luca's surprise Tristano blushed furiously and looked down at his
drawing board. Luca nudged his leg. "What would you do with the stone?"

Tristano shrugged his shoulders, avoiding Luca's view.




"Why did you have to say that?" Tristano said later in the cantina. "Lapis
lazuli blue! Have you learnt this queer's behaviour from your friend?"
Luca almost dropped his plate. A stab of disappointment pierced his
heart. "Queer's behaviour? Because I said I like your eyes?"


"You know I have a girlfriend, so you don't have to try it on with me."
Tristano set his plate vehemently upon the table. Luca stood. "You speak
surprisingly little about her. Can't be a big love then." He turned and sat
at another table. But he would have preferably thrown the meal into the
trash bin. Was he bound to lose everybody just because he was friends with
Alessandro di Gondi-Lucertola? Even the gentle Tristano? Luca left his
untouched plate and exited the cantina alone.

Outside Tristano was waiting and tapped his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Luca. I'm
just .. confused." He stretched out his hand. "Forgive me?"

Luca pressed Tristano's hand, then he walked on with him, into the small,
square yard of the museum's building. It was a hot day, but inside the old
palazzi it was always pleasantly cool. A laurel tree provided shade next to
an old well in the middle of a piece of lawn. Luca sat upon the low stony
balustrade that was connected with arches and pillars and Tristano sat
beside him. "I know you're confused", Luca started quietly. "You don't know
what to think, right? I'm friends with Alessandro Gondi, the faggot. And
your conclusion is, I'm a faggot too." He darted a quick look from under
his lashes to see Tris was looking down at his shoes. Luca wondered what he
would say when he told Tris what Sandro had said about him. but that was
sealed in his heart. No way he would tell him.

Tristano was still silent.

"Listen, if you don't want to be friends with a faggot, say it and I'll
leave you."

Now Tristano looked at him, completely bewildered. "What makes you think I
don't want to be friends with you anymore?"

Luca eyed him and read the confirmation in his eyes, that Tris was busy
with other problems. Suddenly Luca grinned. "So I'm allowed to tell you
that your eyes are as beautiful as my lapis lazuli? Eh?"

Tristano nudged his knee with his own. And suddenly Luca was very hungry.

>From that moment on their friendship had something magical. Luca could
neither describe it nor comprehend it, nor express it to himself. There
were unspoken feelings wavering between both young men, something Luca
almost could grab. But they remained unspoken and Tristano never mentioned
the incident again. Of course he left Luca in darkness about his
presumptions concerning Luca's sexuality. Luca was the friend of Alessandro
di Gondi-Lucertola and Tris was satisfied with that. Though - when Luca
caught Tristano in a moment of unawareness, the deep lapis lazuli eyes were
unfocussed. Drifting off into nowhere. Sometimes they were watching Luca,
as if to measure his body. As if he had never seen another male body apart
from his own. And deep down - very deep down - Luca felt a tinge of
power. When previously it had been he himself who had adored the noblesse
of a Gondi, it was now a sensual feeling of being adored. Because that's
what it was; Tristano was just too shy to admit it.


"Carissimo,

So, my letter to Giano helped, eh? I wondered what he was waiting for to
enable him to share the room with you. Well, of course I know. In case he
hasn't told you the real reason Giano can't afford the extra cost for the
luxury room, capisce? How did you manage it so that he accepted? This guy
really must saw a forest each night. Anyway, does he behave well? Do you
behave well?

Bad news from the home front. Concerning the Gioco, my old friend Raniero -
the one who shot the fireworks in my direction at the football match - is
back. He wasn't sentenced to jail but for charitable work, you know caring
for flower beds and lawns, scrubbing walls and windows, delivering food for
the sick and mending the pitch in the stadium. That also means that he's
back in my school class and he has proudly announced his acceptance to play
for the Quartiero San Giovanni - that's yours - at the Calcio in
Costume. How do you like that?

Concerning Tristano I guess you are right. We had a little tiff recently
because I said I thought his eyes were like my lapis lazuli and he was
embarrassed. But he apologized. I don't know what he thinks of me. If he
thinks that I'm your boyfriend or just your friend... And he never tells me
about himself. I'm sure he has dumped his girlfriend.

Give my greetings to Franco. I hope to see you next weekend. I miss you.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Luca"




                                    * * *



The kitchen was thick with smoke when Alessandro opened the door to get
himself a bottle of juice from the fridge. Of course there wasn't any
albeit he had bought several bottles of it. Leoni sat innocently at the
table, puffing like a chimney. "Have you seen the juice? Yesterday there
were three full bottles of it in the fridge."

Leoni turned and fluttered her eye lashes. She had painted the lids with a
thick green colour which she thought would go excellently with her carrot
hair.

"Have you seen where the juice has gone?"

"Juice? Oh, that was yours?"

Alessandro rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "All right. If we have to share
the fridge I'd say we need some rules, all right? The upper shelf is mine,
you can chose another and so on. I'll let the others know. And I'm putting
a label upon the bottles." He eyed the ashtray. "Can I have one?"

"I thought you had quit smoking." She tossed him a cigarette. He lit it and
filled a glass with water from the tap. "You smoke like a steamroller,
honey. It's healthier to smoke than to inhale yours."

Leoni sat indifferent but was smiling constantly at him. "You're a good
match now that your father is dead. He has surely left some money for you,
right?"

"That's what you think?" Alessandro blew grey smoke into the room and
pierced her eyes. Apparently the bush telegraph wasn't working as well as
he thought. He joined her at the table and leaned forward. "Want to marry
me?"

To his great surprise Leoni looked down and blushed. Then she wiped her
cheeks as if she was tired. "You know that we were promised."

"When were we?"

Her blue-green, slightly protruding eyes looked accusingly at him. "You've
forgotten! Back in school we said we were engaged."

Alessandro laughed out loud. "And you believed that? Honey, it was a joke,
a child's game. You still act as if I was your boyfriend." He toasted her
with his glass of water and drank. "You've got really funny ideas."

"No", she snapped. "I know you've turned out to be a faggot. You'd rather
sleep with boys than with me. Everybody's saying that."

"Who's everybody?"

"Whole of Firenze! You think nobody saw you when you was licking the guys'
faces? And now you've found your private lap dog." She twisted her mouth,
disgusted. "Ugh, I can't imagine what he's doing with your ... lap."

Alessandro thought it highly amusing. He snorted into his water glass and
wiped his mouth. "You're really too funny." Then he eyed her from her
carrot hair to the small chin, over her small shoulders to her tiny
breasts. She had always been way too thin. But probably that had been the
reason that he was keen on her. She had the gracious, slender body of a
male. Could it be that she would accept if he asked her to marry him? She
would, he was sure. That would be easy. But what would come afterwards -
sharing the bed with her, sleeping with her until she got pregnant? And if
it was a girl what then? His stomach hurt. He had tasted from the male body
too long to know where he belonged now. Uncle Arrigo had promised to take
care of that. An artificial insemination probably. But would she accept it?

Alessandro watched her puffing blue smoke. Of course she would with the
right amount of money. Would she? Carrying a child wasn't that easy, nor
give birth to it. And the Gondi-Lucertola's would claim the baby for
themselves. Leoni being the mother was out of the question. What woman
would accept that?

"What are you staring at?" Leoni snapped suddenly. "Have I smudge on my
nose?"

"No, sorry. I was just thinking. Are you disappointed that I prefer boys?"

"Sure I am, what do you think." She fluttered again her lashes. "No chance
you could be bi?"

Alessandro shook his head. There had been a time when he had thought he
could have fun with both. He had been very young then. Hardly fifteen. But
time had taught him that he had to decide. Playing in both teams was too
exhausting. And it just wasn't fair. You had to hurt someone all the
time. "So, would you please stop telling the others I'm your boyfriend?"

"But you're the heartthrob of all the girls here, haven't you noticed?
You're the best looking guy on the Campus." She almost knocked over her
glass. "Can't you imagine how proud I am to know you and being known as
your girlfriend?" She breathed hard. "But, sure. Now you've gone and picked
up that guy and made him share your room. It's the brother of your little
fag at home, right? Nicely done, Sandro. Now you fuck the brother. Is he
better?"

Alessandro went pale. He had never had any intention to fuck with Luca's
brother. He might be a slut, but family matters were serious.

He thought Leoni's comment wasn't worth an answer, so he stubbed out his
cigarette and left her. He found Giano upon his bed, with a book in front
of his nose. Alessandro saw photos of glasses with human parts. He felt
even more sick but he smiled at Giano and went over to his own bed.

"You smoke?" Giano asked casually.

"Once in a while. Leoni's puffing away until the kitchen walls are yellow."

Giano grinned. "You know her well?" He clapped shut his book and stretched
out upon his bed that he had covered with a bedspread. "She tells everybody
who wants to hear that you and she are a couple. That you will marry her
when you've finished your study."

"Does she?" Alessandro mumbled, likewise stretching out upon his bed,
folding his arms behind his head and staring at the ceiling. "I guessed
so. She told me about it right now."

"What did she tell you? That she's your girlfriend?" Giano had raised his
eyebrows and looked now like his youngest brother. Alessandro felt a little
twinge in his guts.

"Luca told me different things", Giano said.

"You were talking about me?"

"Luca was disappointed that you didn't want to see him this weekend."

"That's no answer to my question."

"It was." Giano was peering and Alessandro propped his elbow upon the bed
and looked back. "I've seen you", he said slowly.

Giano didn't answer right away. "I know", he said after a while.

"Luca knows?"

Giano shook his head.

"So we can be open with each other?" Alessandro asked.

"Of course. I know you've seen me in the gay bars. Thanks for keeping your
mouth shut."

Alessandro sat upright and folded his legs upon the bed. "So why haven't
you told Luca? I mean, he would be the first to understand you."

Giano twisted his lips. "Luca is bolder than I am. He has you. I have
nobody."

"You have me", Alessandro suggested.

"That's the reason you want me to be your roomie? To get me into your bed?"
Giano spoke softly, but Alessandro heard fear behind the words and a touch
of eagerness.

"You think me that cock driven?"

"Exactly."

Both grinned. "Don't be stupid. Leoni knows I'm gay. She knows about my
affair with Luca. And she knows you. She thinks the same as you do."

"Huh? That you want to start an affair with me?"

Alessandro nodded. "Listen, Franco told me about a community club. Why
don't you join?"

Giano looked bewildered. "I'd never have the guts to go there."

"But why? That's nonsense."

Giano laughed harshly. "For you it might be easy, but not for me. Everybody
is sizing me up. Staring at my arse and cock."

"And what's wrong with that?"

Giano gave a little, disapproving snort. "You don't understand. I'm not
like you." He opened his book again and pretended to read. "Our parents
would beat the shit out of us if they knew", he mumbled but Alessandro
pricked up his ears. "You mean your brothers."

"Them too. Luca told me about his suspicion about Dante and your beating on
the street. I don't long to be the next victim."

"Next time it's Dante who'll be beaten up."

Giano looked up. "What do you mean? Dante knows how to fight."

"And Marcello? Is he the same?"

"He's his brother's lap dog - so to speak. He's always done what Dante
says."

"Funny." Alessandro sighed. "Let's work for a while. Tonight's a community
meeting. Perhaps you'd like to go if I join you?"

"As my guard?"

"For example. Come on, don't be such a wimp. They won't do you any harm,
quite the opposite. I bet you'll have ten boys at each finger tonight. Look
at you."

"What do you mean look at me?"

Alessandro stood up and sat right next to Giano upon the bed. "You're
almost as cute as Luca. Everybody will be mad for your blond hair."

Giano raised his brows but then something started to glisten in his
eyes. "Don't try to tempt me", he whispered.

Alessandro laughed friendly. "I would certainly try." He lifted Giano's
chin. "You've never done it?"

Giano jerked back. "Of course not."

Alessandro said nothing for a while. Then his look fell upon Giano's
books. "I wonder why you want to become a surgeon? That's the worse,
gioia."

Giano blushed a bit at the tender address. "I have no talent for cutting
stones or applying them into pictures."

"How do you know when you've never tried?"

"I've tried. And I'm not interested."

"I can't stand the sight of blood."

Giano laughed. "And you want to attend the bloody Gioco? How's that? I bet
you'll see a lot of blood then."

"As long as it isn't mine... I need to start a training programme", he said
then. "Franco wants to join me running. What about you?"

"Perhaps." Again Giano got absorbed in the pictures of preparation and
anatomy. Sighing Alessandro rose and went over to his own bed. He opened
the textbook about Protorenaissance in Florence.

"When are we going tonight?" he heard Giano asking quietly. He looked up
and winked at Giano.

"And I also rather need a job to pay the rent for this room", Giano
continued. "Perhaps Franco knows about something for me."

Alessandro decided there wasn't a chance to talk about this with Giano
because the Montoris were too proud to take money from others. Especially
not from a Gondi-Lucertola.



Giano had given himself Dutch courage at the student's cafe before
Alessandro had picked him up to join the meeting at the community club
Sardonic Grin.

He felt a little dizzy in the head when they walked down the steps leading
to a underground basement that was shrouded in red light. "Looks like a
brothel", Alessandro mumbled. "That's probably the Pisan imagination of a
gay pub. I wonder if they have darkrooms?"

"Huh?" Giano looked at him from aside and had hold of Alessandro's hand for
protection. He certainly was a wimp. He had imagined that the community
club would be a platform for all too important discussions about their
rights as homosexual students, with butches and spectacled,
intellectualized swots. But to his surprise it was quite casual, no dressed
up boys or girls, showing off a lot of skin and make up.

In the background soft music was playing and around the round tables were
grouped all sorts of students, drinking straight from bottles. Thick smoke
filled the rooms. Alessandro felt instantly at home. He headed for the bar
and ordered two cheap beers. Not exactly his cup of tea but what the
hell. He knew that students were always short of money. He pressed one of
the cans into Giano's hand and sat with him at a table that was already
occupied by two boys and a girl of their age. He literally felt Giano's
body tighten and wished he would empty his beer can in one go. Perhaps then
he would loosen up.

>From the table next to them he listened to the constant chatter of a guy
who was a bit round around his hips but was talking animatedly with feet
and hands. His audience was laughing constantly. Alessandro watched him for
a while then turned to Giano, grinning. "Like it here?"

Giano shrugged. "Don't know yet." He eyed his surroundings, then his eyes
examined his table-mates. The guys were absorbed with each other, and the
girl was tapping her finger nails to the rhythm of the pulsating, low drums
of the background music. She looked annoyed.

Alessandro lifted a booklet from the desk and was leafing through
it. "Announcements of activities in the coming months. Hey, they even have
a pride week. Crap, that's the weekend of the Gioco", he said
disappointed. "What about you? Are you coming to Florence for the Gioco?"

Giano didn't answer. He had his body half turned to the next table and was
listening to the guy talking. An amused smile was spread over his face.

"Giano?"

"Sorry?" Giano turned.

"Are you coming to Florence for the Gioco?"

"But of course. I won't miss your fight."

"Don't paint it so black. I'm determined to win the match for our
Quartiero."

"For YOUR Quartiero. It's not mine." Giano winked at him. "But nonetheless
I'll cross my fingers for you." He had emptied his beer can. "I'll get us
another", he said, lifted his body from the chair and stood next to the guy
he had been listening to all the time. He met amber coloured eyes
glistening in the dim light, giving him a friendly look. "New here?" he
heard the deep, accentuated voice he had been fascinated by the first time
he had heard it. "I'm Tino", the guy said now. "Actually Celestino." A
chuckle escaped his throat. "Embarrassing, isn't it."

"Why?" Giano stuttered, forgetting the waiting barman, a skinny student in
a T-shirt with the imprint Sardonic Grin. "The Heavenly. Probably your
parent's wish."

The amber eyes looked surprised. Then he nudged Giano. "Your turn."

"Um, two beer, please." He rummaged for some coins.

"That beer is a pisser", Tino said. "I wish they had German beer, but
that's too expensive."

"German beer?"

"The best in the world. My father's German. What are you studying?"

"Medicine." Giano received the beer cans and was unsure what to do. He
wanted to talk to Tino but he didn't want to ignore Alessandro.

"Medicine! Me too! But you're freshman, aren't you? I'm about to start my
clinical semester. You know pathology, neurology, pharmacology. And you're
in the middle of anatomy I guess?"

"The start of anatomy actually. Human compounds. I'd like to become
surgeon."

Tino whistled through his teeth. "I'll go for children's doc. Perhaps go to
Africa later."

Giano wondered at how easy it was to talk with another guy. And neither was
his arse and cock stared at nor did he get any naughty offers.

"Your boyfriend?" Tino pointed to Alessandro who didn't seem to miss Giano,
but was engaged in a conversation with the two other guys at his table.

"No, a friend."

"You're from Tuscany, right? Firenze? Nobody else speaks such a clear
Italian." Tino leaned against the bar and was sipping at his beer can. He
had a slight spare tyre around his waist, but that made him somehow
cosy. His middle fingers were decorated with silver rings that shone softly
in the light. His hair was black and short, but curled. Giano bet that if
he let it grow it would match Alessandro's mane. He
nodded. "Right. Firenze. And you?"

"Pisa's my hometown. I don't live on the Campus. I have my own digs."

Giano's eyes rounded. Having his own 'digs' was seldom the case for an
Italian boy. The rent was simply too expensive. "I work in a music shop as
often as I can to afford it", Tino explained as if he had read Giano's
thoughts. "What about you?"

The beer can in Giano's hand was getting warm. "Excuse me one minute." He
rushed to the table, placed the can in front of Alessandro and hurried
back. He didn't see Alessandro's amused look.

"I share a room with him." He pointed his head to Alessandro's curly
head. "But it's way too expensive for me. You think they need another sales
man?"

"I guess so. Music and students always do well, and we have cheap
offers. Shall I ask for you next time?"

"That would be great."

Celestino examined Giano for a minute with his heavenly eyes - at least
Giano thought so. "So, you share a room with him", he tipped his head to
the table, "and there's nothing going on?"

Giano was happy that his blush vanished in the red light. "Certainly
not. Alessandro has a boyfriend." He swallowed to say that the boyfriend
was his younger brother.

Tino looked as if he was saying 'That's a reason but no obstacle', but then
he grinned. "Alright. And what are we going to do with the rest of the
evening?"

Giano swallowed his beer wrong. Was this the offer he feared? Was it going
that way? You pick up a guy and got laid?


"Well, I just wanted to see what's going on here", he said evasively, but
Tino laughed. "Don't shy back. I've seen your looks." He gently touched
Giano's arm. "Just for a drink, ok?"

Giano wasn't sure. "Where to?" He searched for Alessandro's
eyes. Surprisingly he found them resting on him and Giano made helpless
gestures. Alessandro looked questioningly.

"You need permission from your friend then?" Tino asked.

"I've got a lot to learn still", Giano said quickly. "We can meet again,
alright?" He stepped back and collided with a chair. Beer sloshed over the
can and Giano knew that he had made a complete fool of himself. But Tino
grinned and waved with his fingers. "Ciao ciao, bello. Until next time." He
set back his empty beer can and vanished.

Alessandro shook his head when Giano flopped upon his chair. "You weaselled
out? My, Giano, what shall I do with you?" he asked good humouredly and
patted Giano's knee. "I don't know him", Giano defended himself.

"He didn't look as if he would rape you."

"Who knows."

Alessandro thought that Luca was indeed bolder than his brother. He hadn't
been afraid of a first date. But then he thought it somehow lovely. The man
who once got Giano would get a jewel.

Giano sat indifferently with folded arms and was chewing at his
lips. Probably he was an idiot. The first time at a gay club and he had
dismissed his first chance. His first chance for what? he thought then. He
didn't know what was expected of him. And he didn't want to appear as a
bloody beginner. But everybody was a beginner sometime, right?


"New here?" Giano jumped at the words and looked up. The words were
directed at Alessandro from a guy, standing with hands buried in his jeans
pockets and a tight fitting, white shirt. Giano saw his nipples protruding
and a ring he had pierced through it. Ouch.

"Right, new here", Alessandro answered. The other guy pulled up a chair and
sat next to him. And after ten minutes Alessandro wasn't aware that Giano
had left the club.

Half an hour later he found him laying in his bed, with his short pyjamas
on, studying his book of medicine. "You didn't say you were leaving. Don't
do that again. I searched for you at the toilets and almost got raped."
Alessandro chided him. But his eyes betrayed his words. They were laughing.

"I bet you were. Look at you", Giano shot back. "Had fun?"

"Fun with whom? You were gone."

"Fun with that guy."

"Sure. A quickie in the toilet, as I said", Alessandro said dryly.

"A wank, a blowjob or a fuck?"

Alessandro dropped his shirt as he was undressing and stared surprised at
Giano. "Do I hear jealousy?"

"No, anger. I thought you're with my brother."

Alessandro kicked off his trainers, pulled down his jeans and socks and his
underwear too. Giano quickly looked away. "None of that", he said calm. "In
case you didn't know: I really like Luca. And despite the saying 'what he
doesn't know doesn't bother him', I don't want to give myself a bad
conscience."

"You're a saint all of a sudden", Giano gave back ironically.

"Then think what you want." Alessandro showed him his naked butt and
strutted through the bathroom door. Giano had to grin. What a guy. He
couldn't make him out. He wondered why Luca got on so well with him, and
what Alessandro saw in his little brother. Sure, Luca was a sunshine, but
he was wayward too. And he himself had dozens of experiences ahead. How was
it to sleep with a man for instance. Giano sighed, closed his book and
wiped his face. If you go on like this, you'll be a virgin for all
times. Then thinking about Celestino's sparkling, amber eyes, he suppressed
the urge to wank himself off. Not a good idea with Alessandro being around.



                               * * * * *


"Dearest Luca,

How are you getting along with your life? I'm learning a lot, though it's
tough At the start, but I do enjoy it. I love the freedom here, without
seeing the brothers. And Alessandro is a great help to me, you know. I have
a job in order to pay him the money for the room. A friend has gotten me
the job in a music shop. I work there in my spare time that isn't occupied
with seminars and lessons and I like it a great deal. I know I could have
said all this on the phone, but I'm writing this letter to let you know
something I haven't told you before now. It was Alessandro who forced me to
write this.

The friend I'm talking about I met in the community club of the
university. It's a club for gays and lesbians. Since Alessandro wanted me
to do something for my sex life he dragged me with him. You must be asking
yourself why it had to be a gay club then. Well, the reason is obvious. I'm
gay too. I wonder if you guessed it or not. If not, I must be a good actor
;-) I'm not sure why I had hide it from you, especially since you told me
about yourself. I'm coward I guess. I don't know what to do. I wish you
could be here to tell me what I'm supposed to do. And yet I am your older
brother and should be the one you can lean on... but now I need your
help. I'm coming home for the weekend, along with Sandro.

I hope you aren't mad at me.

All love, Giano"


Luca lay dumbfounded upon his bed. 'Holy cow' was the only thing he could
think. Giano deserved an Oscar for his performance. Luca hadn't dreamt that
his brother could share the same sexual inclination. Although he had never
gone out with girls - Luca hadn't simply thought of it. Suddenly Giano
appeared in a new light. If he had had his coming out earlier then
everything would had been easier - for both of them. They would have been a
protection and a support for each other.

A stab of regret filled Luca's guts. But it was as it was; now he knew and
in his mind he thanked Sandro for his help. Once he was over the shock he
could go on.

He took the next letter laying on the blanket and opened it.


"Gioia,

I'm thinking of you all the time. This weekend I'm coming home, though I
hope you don't mind when I have to carry on with my running programme. You
want me fit enough to play against your brothers, don't you? Only two weeks
and the big event starts. I'm looking forward to it.

How are you doing? Do you miss me? Yesterday you told me on the phone that
your friend Tris is depressed, but he doesn't want to tell you why. I told
you that I know. He don't dare to admit that he's gay. He's afraid albeit
he knows that you are too. He does know, doesn't he? I guess it's the fear
of the unknown. He must have slept with his girlfriend, but now you are
there and he's confused looking at you and wanting you. To touch you and to
get touched by you. But perhaps he thinks that homosexuality is infectious
and you are the big tempter who makes him think that way. Add society,
upbringing and the perception the common hetero has of anal intercourse,
and you have the answer.

Which leads me to your brother. I know he has written to you about his big
secret. Now here's another; He has made a big conquest and is afraid to
give in. Has he told you? I bet he hasn't. The guy with the heavenly name
Celestino is completely mad about Giano! He meets him every day, at the
mensa, in the student's cafe, even at the community club, but Giano always
refuses to go out with him. Can't you do something about it? I'm at my wits
end. Celestino is studying medicine too but two semesters ahead. Giano
learns a lot from him, but he doesn't want to learn about sex. So, what are
we supposed to do with him? Celestino is a charming man and I know Giano is
in good hands with him. Although.... perhaps I should have tried him out,
before I allow him to lay his hands on your brother, eh? Just kidding.

Anyway, talk to you on the phone soon...

Ciao, amore, mille baci

Alessandro"


Luca grinned. Good old Sandro. Luca's trust in Alessandro was so great that
he didn't think for a minute that he would try out the guy before he handed
him over to his brother... which he would have doubtlessly have done if
there hadn't been a Luca.

But what was the problem with that guy Giano didn't want to go with? Having
sex? Which lead to the next question; Had Giano ever had sex?

Then he thought about Tristano and the brief draft of Tris'
feelings. Probably Sandro was right. When you spend your whole life as a
heterosexual, having a girlfriend, sleeping with her - and probably
enjoying it - it must feel like a tornado when you suddenly realize that
you are attracted by a man. Especially when you can't define this feeling
and why you should feel so. Was Tris hating him - Luca - for making him
feel that way? For tumbling him into that whirlwind of emotions? Certainly
Luca did nothing to force it. And what did a heterosexual imagine about
anal intercourse?? It certainly didn't hurt much more than to have
diarrhoea on the toilet... Luca gave a snort with laughter. Madonna. He
felt his member raising like it so often did when he thought about his
boyfriend. Unfortunately he couldn't use the hot tub as much as he wanted
and needed to find release. There was often just a cold shower for him to
calm down his excitement. The imagination of a naked Alessandro luxuriously
showering his body with a hot stream of water made him very hot in his
pants.

He took his mobile phone and dialled Sandro's number. A panting Alessandro
answered him. "What're you doing? Jerking off alone?" Luca teased him.

"No, you shit, I'm running! Third time around the green at the Piazza dei
Miracoli!" The panting eased somewhat and Luca guessed that Sandro had
stopped his running to speak with him. "Franco's with me. He's asking me
all the time about the Gioco. He's keen on joining me. I mean, he's keen to
come to Firenze to watch it. What do you think? Care to meet him again? We
all can sleep at my home."

Luca's head swirled with Sandro's enthusiasm. "Sure. That's fine with me."
He hesitated. "And Giano? Will he bring his friend?"

"Celestino? Ah, I see you got the letters. What has he written about his
boyfriend?"

"Boyfriend? He finally made it?

"No, not what you think. He's still the old virgin you used to know."

"Better that he is!" Luca laughed. "I mean better that than you tried him
out! Or taught him something."

"I'd never do that", Alessandro answered laughing. "Although Giano is a
great treat, I can tell you. Especially since I caught him wanking under
the shower."

"No, shit! And you didn't join him?"

"He looks so much like you, gioia", Alessandro whispered. "Listen, Franco
is miles away and I have to catch him. Glad you take it so well. Talk to
you tomorrow, alright? Kisses..."

			  -- End of Primavera --

------
to be continued