Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 13:56:28 EST
From: Noburu@aol.com
Subject: IS THIS OUR YOUTH chapter 3

Disclaimer: This story is a work of pure fiction and is not
intended to imply that Hayden Christensen is gay.

If it is illegal for you to be reading this story in your
city, state or country, or you are offended by homosexual
activity, then leave now.

The story's time frame is about March/April 2002, the time
when Hayden was in the west-end starring in "This is Our
Youth". Remember, this is fiction, nothing more.

Constructive feedback, good or bad, is much appreciated. I
am a novice writer, so I need to hear this shit. E-mail me,
leave messages on the forum. I will respond.

IS THIS OUR YOUTH?

Chapter 3

"Hold on, Hayden. Let me get some more coffee, and I'll be
right back."

Hayden took his seat. He thought that Joe would have to wait
ages to be served. The crowd of customers had gotten worse
within the five minutes in which they had their surreal
meeting. But Joe managed to be back before Hayden could even
bite into his sandwich.

"That was amazingly quick. I had to wait ten minutes to be
served in this place."

"It helps if you know the owner and all his employees,"
explained Joe. He was feeling quite smug about his
connections. "If you want, I can give a good word to the man
on top."

"I don't think that will be necessary." Hayden peered down
his coffee cup, and stirred in some sugar. He wanted to ask
Joe something, but he knew that if the answer didn't match
what he needed to hear, then it would all blow up in his
face. "What the hell," he thought to himself. He had been
taking emotional risks all day. Rightly noted, they where
just small ones, but a big one could pay off nicely. "Um,
Joe..."

"Yeah?" asked Joe.

"You have a girlfriend, right?" Shit. Hayden's mind had
decided to take the long route without him checking.

"What makes you think that I would have a girlfriend?"

"Oh, I don't know, a fine looking guy I you...your bound to
be attached to some chick."

The conversation was getting uncomfortable. One thing that
Joe couldn't stand had to be talking about "girlfriends",
especially to new people that came into his life. He
preferred to be totally honest with them. Start with all the
right information. That way, if they didn't agree with who
he is, then he could discard them before he got too
attached.

"Hayden, I'm gay.... And I thought you knew that already."
Joe's temper was rising, but he kept it under control. He
didn't like being led on. "What is this all about anyway?
Why would a straight guy, a "soon to be famous" actor no
less, have any business wanting to strike a conversation
with an absolute stranger."

"What if that said actor didn't know if he was straight?"

This had gotten to Joe. His temper was now in retreat, and
understanding was now the overriding emotion. "I'm sorry. I
shouldn't have gotten so defensive like that." Joe had no
idea what to say. He had no one to talk to when he was
figuring out if he was straight or gay. He couldn't talk to
Tom about it. At the time, they were only thirteen, and it
would have probably freaked him out. But now, someone needed
his help, and he had to respond. "Um..how long have you felt
this way?"

"About three years now. Up until I was seventeen I dated
girls. Then things changed. Or I became aware that I wasn't
as into them as I thought I was. My parents were surprised
when they found out I dumped my last girlfriend. They
thought we would be together for a while."

"Have you tried anything to find out? Read stuff about it,
or meeting people?"

Hayden felt apprehensive about answering that question, but
Joe's reassuring manner encouraged him to continue. "I have
tried it with a guy. Once..last year, back in Canada. He was
a member of the crew on a film I did, but still wasn't
sure."

This one glimpse of Hayden and the other guy flashed in
Joe's mind. It was only a flash, but it was enough. "Um..did
you like it?" Joe wished he hadn't said that. He thought it
would make Hayden uncomfortable. I didn't.

"Yeah..I liked it a lot. But like I said, I was still
unsure. I think it's because it was sex, and not much more."

"People are different. I haven't done anything with anyone,
but I know for certain I'm gay." Joe didn't mind giving up
that information. It was a truth that meant that he was
totally inexperienced, but also meant that he would be
sharing a lot of "first times" with someone he cared for. He
had maturity on his side, something that a lot of teenagers
lacked when they started early sexually.

This had shocked Hayden. "But you're twenty."

"Nineteen. And there is plenty of time for all that. So what
if I haven't lost my virginity, or even kissed a girl or a
guy!"

"You haven't kissed anyone?"

"No," Joe said, flatly. "And there is plenty of time to do
all that."

Hayden still couldn't believe a word Joe was saying. "I
don't believe a word you're saying. You must have had
opportunities to experiment. You're gorgeous."

"Ah.Thanks," replied Joe, becoming increasingly red. Hayden
found it adorable just how fast Joe blushed. "By the way,
you make sex sound frivolous. It's not."

"No, I totally agree. But part of growing up, part of being
a teenager even, is exploring your sexuality."

"But I figured it out without being a slave to my hormones.
I just have to find someone right to share these experiences
with." Joe smiled. These were his principles and there was
no way he was going to bend them. There was nothing else to
say about this topic.

They continued to talk for hours; nothing personal, or about
their past, but mostly about their interests and their views
on world events. The kind of conversations you have on great
first-dates. Time flew by so fast, but they were engrossed
in their own world; one in which they only concentrated on
each other. It was only when Hayden had a quick glimpse out
the window and saw how dark it was getting did he realize
that he had to get going.

"Its 6:30. I was supposed to be at the Garrick Theatre half
an hour ago. I have to rehearse with Jake's understudy. Mr.
Gyllenhaal is very sickly after getting caught out in your
city's fine weather."

"So I take it you don't like London."

"Not at all, the climate is much like my own home town...
Listen, I want to see you again. Tonight, maybe," Hayden was
getting slightly nervous. "I've got some tickets for
tonight's evening show. The company gives a number of
tickets to the actors each week to give to who ever... I
know you've seen it already. But maybe you can get some of
your friends to come..."

"That sounds great."


                              #



They left the caf^Â soon after. Before rushing back to the
Garrick Theatre, Hayden handed Joe four VIP tickets that
could be used on any day during the current run. They agreed
to meet up after the performance. Hayden wanted to meet more
of Joe's friends, the people he chose to surround himself
with. They had to be worthwhile if Joe liked them. They
walked down Charing Cross Road, where Hayden hopped on a
Double Decker bus. He didn't need to. The Theatre was only
two stops away.

There wasn't a need for them to say good-bye. They were
going to see each other in an hour.

Shit. Joe had only an hour to gather three of his troops.
Tom would still be close by. Joe took out his mobile.

"Rogue 1, come in rogue 1."

"Rogue 1 coming in loud and clear."

One of their games, it never gets old for them.

"Plan A is a go. I repeat Plan A is a go."

"Not fully understanding, Bravo Leader. Please clarify."

"Operation `VIP TICKETS' has been green lighted. I am
requesting two other troops to complete the mission."

"Understood. Await contact for confirmation," Tom replied
before disconnecting the call.

And with that, Joe knew that Tom would get it all sorted and
on time. He also knew that Tom would choose the right people
for the occasion. Oh sure, any combination of Joe and Tom's
close friends would do for the night, but when army talk was
used between them, military precision was demanded. Balance
was a necessity.

Joe had only been sitting on the steps of St Martin-in-the-
fields Church for a minute when the first confirmation came
through.

"Asian Hawk awaiting orders." It was Kelly.

"Asian Hawk, Rendezvous with squadron at the P.G. in 15
minutes."

"So that's the Photographer's Gallery in 15 minutes, got it.
You're lucky I just finished work." She broke off Army Talk.
Joe was a bit disappointed. He wanted to play AT all the way
through the conversation. But he couldn't blame her; she was
still new to it.

"Just get here as soon as possible."

"Don't worry, over, and out."

Joe met Kelly in Camberwell Art College the year before
while they were both studying for their Art Foundation. They
were both specialising in photography and film, and so they
spent quite a lot of time talking while working on their
projects in the darkroom or on location. They became very
close in a very short amount of time. When Joe introduced
her to the other important people in his life, she became
important to them too. They all would joke that if Joe was a
girl, he would be Kelly. They share a lot of the same
qualities, and even look similar. Kelly's half Asian and
English, and is amazingly beautiful. Tom had a thing for
her, but didn't do anything about it due to his problems
with the real love-of-his-life, Emma. But that's another
story.

Not long after, the second confirmation came. It was from
Tom.

"So what's going on?" There was no need for AT. Joe wanted
to here it straight.

"I got Aidan to come. We'll meet you and Kelly outside the
Garrick Theatre before the play starts."

"Aidan. Good choice."

"Like there was any doubt."

"Okay. Bye."

There was nothing left to do for Joe but go to the
Photographer's Gallery and wait for Kelly to show up.

For those of you who haven't been to the Photographer's
Gallery in London, It's actually two galleries separated by
a small theatre between them. One of them has a caf^Â in it.
Kelly and Joe hang out there quite often. There is something
about caf^Âs that Joe really loves, but he can never pinpoint
what it was. This place combined that interest and his love
for photographic art.

Joe had taken a place on the long beach wood table and took
a gulp of his fruit smoothie. He had way too much caffeine
in his system. It was making him very anxious. He kept
feeling that something wrong  was going to happen. The
smoothie calmed him down considerably. It wasn't long till
he saw that unmistakeable scarlet red long coat coming
through the door. He waved for Kelly to come over and join
him, but she held up her hand, indicating that she was going
to the bar first. She came back with a triple shot espresso.
Joe gave her a worrying glance.

"Don't give me that look. I've had a very long and tiring
day, and you expect me to stay awake through a play without
a bit of caffeine...your nuts if you think that." She took
off her coat and sat down, placing the coat on the seat next
to her. She then leaned over to give Joe a kiss on the lips.
"So dear, how are you?"

"I met someone," Joe replied.

"And I bet Tom had to give you the push."

"Only a little nudge. I did most of it by myself. I'm quite
proud of that fact."

"So who is this man that stole my boyfriend's heart? And
should I be worried?" Kelly joked, giving Joe a light slap
on the cheek.

"Yes you should. I like him very much. He's in the play
we're going to see."

"Wait! Tom said we're going to watch `This Is Our Youth'.
It's not Jake Gyllenhaal is it?"

"No."

"Oh, is it Anna Paquin? Have you been hiding something from
me Joe? `Cause if you have, then let me tell you now, your
wasting your time. I'm right in front of you, babe!"

"Your hilarious...no really, you are!" Joe gave her a deadly
serious look.

"Alright..I'll stop with the fag hag routine." Kelly's
expression became genuine. "You know I love you for you, and
not for me. I thought that now would be the perfect time to
resume that old joke of ours; now that you've moved on and
forgotten about."

"Don't say his name!" Joe interrupted. "I almost did forget
but.."

"I'm sorry. I should have known better than to have brought
it up."

Joe looked back up to meet her eyes, and smiled. "Don't
worry about it. We better get going. The play is going to
start in thirty minutes, and we still got to meet up with
Tom and Aidan."

They left the gallery soon after Kelly finished her
espresso. She was so revved up on the way to the theatre
that she kept jumping on Joe's back for a piggy back ride, a
favour that Joe was happy to reciprocate.

They had to wait ten minutes in the cold for Tom to appear
on the horizon. When he got closer they realised that Aidan
wasn't with him. Instead, Tom seemed to be talking to
someone slightly behind him. That someone remained out of
view till Tom was a few feet away. Joe and Kelly were
stunned. No way in hell did they expect that person to show
up.

"And how is everyone tonight?" asked the newcomer.

"Not too bad, Alex... You?" replied Joe, trying desperately
to hide his anxiety.

 "All's good."

Kelly leaned over to whisper in Joe's ear. "Stay in control.
Don't worry; Tom and I are here for you. Just relax."

With that in his mind, he looked to Tom for support. Tom
gave it with a nod. All Joe could do was smile and continue
with tonight's plans.

"Okay, let's do this, shall we?"


TO BE CONTINUED