Date: Fri, 27 Sep 2002 02:40:20 +0000
From: berten shawn <fellhere@hotmail.com>
Subject: Josh Part 1

DISCLAIMER: This story is completely fictional. To the best of my
knowledge, Josh Hartnett is a heterosexual. This story is not meant to
imply that Josh is or ever was or will be gay at any time in his life.

A story: Josh -Part1-

---

I cursed at my luck. There I was at Borders, trying to get my new purchase
(Clockwork Orange) and there it stood, a stupid cashier and a stranger who
seemed as keen to get the book as I was.

'I'm sorry Sir, but I think I got this book here first before you came and
took it from this place when all I did was to turn my head to get another
book.'
'Well, but you didn't put it anywhere to place it as yours. And what's up
with your obsession with this book?'
'Well, what's up with yours? Why can't you let a guy who needs it for his
education buy it?'
'Erm, but sir, sir-'
'I think this pretty little quarrel is between me and this hooded man here,
so there. Leave us alone.'
'I'm sorry, but I am getting this book.'
With that, he took the book and cashed it onto his credit card. Boy was I
pissed. I was too educated to even want to punch him, so I held it all to
myself, and steamed. I was about to leave the counter when the girly cashier
uttered a silent scream.
'OH MY GOD! YOU'RE JOSH HARTNETT!'
I turned around sharply and smiled to myself. Devilishly. I walked back.
'Hmm. So I see how snobbish you guys can get. Bleah. Have that book, Mr.
I'm-so-eligible-and-hunky-you-wanna-eat-me-josh-Harnett. Pooh. I don't give
a fuck.'
He looked at me as if he was a deer caught in headlights, then looked at the
cashier, gave her something to remember by, then tried to catch up with me
as I walked out of the bookshop.

I'm an edgy person, which is why I jumped when I felt someone turn me around
in the middle of a street.
'Craps! Do ya wanna hurt-' I looked. 'What is it
stuck-in-your-fame-hartnett?'
'Look, I don't care if you hate me or something, but you aren't gonna tell
anyone on this aren't you?'
I rolled my eyes.
'Puh-lease. I don't give a flying shit if I met Britney Spears or you on the
street man. You guys are just stupid ordinary snobs who get egoistic based
on stupid minions pining away for you.'
'I detest that. That is not true.' He looked positively hurt and I felt a
little guilty about that. But I couldn't show it.
'Well, I guess...'
But he had already walked away, so I shrugged and went back.

When I went home, I was looking forward to a nice little rest at home when
suddenly my little sister came screaming into my ear. 'SETH!!!!!!!! YOU ARE
SO NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS!' 'Trust me, I believe in quite a lot of
stuff.' She looked at me with a typical sisterly look, and then proceeded to
tell me, in an orgasmic sounding voice that she managed to get tickets to
the movie gala of 'Virgin Suicides.' Well, and being below 18, she needed me
to chaperone her. To that I expressed rather anti-orgasmic disagreement. 'No
way am I gonna go there to see people losing virginities and dying and
something that sucks.'

'No fair, you're passing a judgment before you watched it!' she whined. I
was about to object to it, when something rather lethal and powerful came to
stop me. That thing, was a mother. I sighed as I gave in to my miserable
fate. Tonight was going to be a bad night. In order to make it a better
night, I decided to meet my friends at the club down at Haverford Street for
some clubbing. Therefore, I had to look good. I chose a casual button down
white shirt with a pair of baggy black pants from A|X. It was cool, and I
looked cool. Which is why I was shocked when even my sis, Bjork, (I know.
It's an insult to Bjork, the wondrous, cool, amazing, elegant songstress
from Iceland) commented that I looked cool, though albeit a very degrading
way. 'Looking good. Why, trying to lay Josh Hartnett is it?'

I almost slammed on the brakes.
'What! You mean Virgin Suicides stars HIM!!!!'
She slammed her head on my dashboard that is. 'God. Never tell anyone I'm
your sister. Yes. He is the star of the show, and he's coming down tonight.'
I cursed. So this was why we came earlier. We had came earlier at 5 (the
show started at 7) to queue up to meet and greet the stupid jock(sh). God. I
hate the day. I wanted to really really shoot the him or any luck that my
sister had. I didn't wanna be here. It was not nice for a 19 year old guy to
accompany his sister to queue up for some poster boy, who in my opinion, was
simply a selfish bastard. Seemed that he had the same sentiment when I met
him in the front of the queue.

'Ah, so we meet again.' He cocked his eyebrow.
I replied to him, despite my sister's inability to communicate due to this
piece of information, instead choosing to open and close her mouth. 'Yeah.
Trust me, the pleasure is all yours. None mine. So here's my sister, and she
wants u to sign something. And trust me, I did not want to come to this.'
'Whatever man. Why so hostile?' Then he smiled. Ok. This was getting weird.
He had a nice smile, and my icy demeanor was slowly cracking, but I didn't
let it show. Which is why when we got into the cinema, I was more than
shocked when the seats we had were VIP seats, and that we sat on the same
row with Mr. Hartnett. What shocked me more was that he asked to sit beside
me, which I could't disagree with- try disagreeing with a sister who looked
more than capable of attempting murder if you didn't comply.

This was going to be a long movie.

It would be unfair to say that I didn't like the movie; in fact I thought
the sisters were brilliant, sofia was excellent and the supporting men (Josh
included) was good. It was a dark and disturbing movie, which would have
been more appreciated if not for the fact that my sister constantly squealed
when Josh appear, then turn beside me to look at Josh with a more than
starstruck look.

'Enjoy the movie?'
I turned and looked at him, and then replied 'It was good, I thought.' Then
smiled, 'Not bad really.' He smiled back, and then thanked me. My sister at
that point of time was literally creaming on the spot when he smiled also at
her and signed her postcard of him. By 10, I left and we waved goodbye,
knowing that at least I managed to leave him with agood impression, and him
on a good slate of mine own.

When I went home, I immediately called Mike; I had planned to call him
earlier, but he wasn't at home, so I had to wait till now. Which is why I
was very excited and happy when I heard his voice on the phone. 'Hey babe!'
He immediately perked up when he heard my voice. 'Hey hon! Sweet of you to
call me now? 'Well, I went to watch Virgin Suicides with my sis and guess
who I met there?' 'Who?' 'Josh Hartnett! But he really ain't that gorgeous
or nice as everyone thinks.' 'Duh. Anyways, can I come over now? I really
miss you.'
I was touched.
'But it's already 11 plus.'
'But I miss you. Wait for me. Be there in 15.'

True to his word, he came at 11.30 and then immediately went up to my room
after saying hi to my parents. They were used to his flights to my house
late at night, and since they knew that we weren't doing anything naughty.
He stripped down and immediately joined me in my bed, and then we slept
through the night, peacefully and closely.

For the uninitiated, Mike and I were together since we were 17 and even
though we were 19, we were still going strong and both parents knew about
our situation. They didn't make a fuss about it; both boys didn't look like
they were about to sprout faerie wings or anything, and didn't seem to want
to desire cheap silicone on their chests. It took awhile, but they adjusted
all right. Which I am thankful for.


4 Years Later

The thing about a geography degree is that it literally brings you a whole
array of employment. I was offered a job at Merril Lynch, but turned that
down; got offered a job by National Geographic, but that meant leaving Mike
for two good years, and I couldn't bear that (We had our own house now).
Which is why when the University of Leeds offered me a job as the associate
professor,  I enthusiastically took up the offer and went on to become a
teacher. As much as that wasn't my real true aspiration, I settled with it
and usually smirked at the expression on my students' faces when they met me
in class for the first time.

In any case, instead of receiving shocks, I delivered them to the usual
sleeping class. Firstly, I was dressed up quite casually; (They didn't
really bother about the dress code, thankfully) in a white button down shirt
tucked out, baggy ck dress pants and leather shoes. I left my hair sloppy as
usual, which is why most of the students were eyeing me as if I was a
casualty gone wrong or something.

'Hey... I'm your new professor Seth Sjorn, though I would really prefer it
if you call me Seth instead of Prof Sjorn. I hate that. Makes me sound old.
By the way, I'm really 23.'
It was with that slightly aloof attitude that I started my class on Spatial
Diffusion. The day ended quite alright and when I went home, Mike had not
come home yet. (He was working as a financier at Chase) I went to the bed
and slept, and only at 9.30 did he arrive and we both skipped dinner,
choosing instead to 'eat' each other instead and sleep. It was a nice
relationship that we treasured, and there was a strange platonicity that we
shared.

I don't usually have problems handling students or Mike, but as for deja vu,
I usually get a shock from it. Which is why when I went down to Borders
again to try and get a book on 'Geography: A Modern Approach to GIS', turned
around and got it lost and saw a guy taking it and smiling at me, I freaked
out. 'Excuse me, I think that's my book.'
'I know.' He took off his cap a wee bit, and then exposed himself to me.
'Deja vu' I muttered and managed a weak smile. 'Yeah, I know. Don't worry.
You can have it to yourself. I just saw you hanging around here just now, so
I guessed I would stop by for a little surprise.'

I smiled back in relief and said 'Yeah it sure is. Anyways, yeah what's up?'
He dug his hands in his pocket, and simply asked me if I was free for a
cuppa. I agreed, since Mike wouldn't be at home for quite a while, and he
seemed an ok guy altogether. However, it seemed that he had to talk to
himself very softly and not expose himself, which is why when after a while,
I was quite irritate by the fact that I had to literally whisper and crane
my neck to hear what he was saying.

'You know something? Why not you come over to my hotel?'
'Why?'
'I can't talk to you properly here? Is it alright?'
I looked at my watch. There should be time.
'Yeah why not?'
He smiled and then led me on to his hotel, which was 5 minutes away from the
cafe.

He lived in an upmarket hotel and pretty obviously I raised quite a couple
of eyebrows when I entered his room, aka presidential suite. It was nice and
stuff, but he casually sat us down on the sofa and then we started talking
shop. He updated me that he was doing a film called pearl harbour, something
about WWII, which being a geographer I had no interest in. What was
fascinating to me was that we could click so easily, and being friends. It
really came together when he brought out pictures of iceland to show me, and
I gleefully pointed out the glaciers and geographical boundaries of the
area, and surprisingly, he wasn't bored.
'That's the first time I've talked to someone about geography and not see
him get bored by it.'
'Haha... well, guess  there's always the first.'
We laughed heartily, then I looked at the watch, and found out that I had to
go back to the apartment since we were having dinner together and I had to
cook tonight.
'Hey, I've got to go now.'
'Hmm, where do ya live? I'll send you there.'
'Nah don't worry, I can get back there myself.'
'Nope. I insist. And anyways, I never knew you had an apartment.'
'Well, it's not that big, but it's the only thing Mike and I could afford to
be in.'
He was about to take his keys when I let slip that piece of information. I
silently cursed myself as I waited for his reaction.
'Oh, so Mike's your apartment mate?' he said as he opened the door to let me
out. Well, I was shocked, but something sadistic in me decided to spill the
beans.
'Well, he's my boyfriend for six years already.'
THat dropped, he turned around and looked at me.
'Wow! I never knew...'
I cracked a wry smile, and replied, 'Yeah. So now you know, still wanna
drive me home?'
'Sure, why not?' He smiled, and from that, I knew he was fine with me.

However, I detected a wistful tone when he drove me home, and I was certain
that he didn't expect me to be gay. Or otherwise already attached. But to
give him the benefit of the doubt, he was nice and stuff and asked me about
everything possible. Truth be told, he was nice, and I told him that when he
dropped me home. 'Hey, listen. I know we met a few years ago on a really bad
slate, but today proved something against it. So yeah, sorry for misjudging
you so quickly.'
He smiled, then said 'Don't worry about it Seth. It's alright. Here's my
cellphone, do call me up for a cuppa or something, won't mind talking to you
and stuff, and I need someone to sightsee in this area.' I smiled back and
replied, 'Don't worry. I'll call you, or you could just message me on the
phone or something. Bye!' 'Bye!'

I opened the door of the apartment and surprisingly, he was already at home
and he smiled when I came back. 'Hey hon,' he kissed me, 'How was your day?'
'All right I guess. Guess who I met today? Josh Hartnett again.' I put my
bag down on the chair and then sat down beside him on the sofa, snuggling
into him like how a cat snuggles contentedly. 'Oh. Really? Was he a complete
piss again?' 'Not really, in fact, he was nice enough and well, he's an ok
guy really. I just misjudged him.' He kissed me on the crook of my neck,
then whispered 'Whatever you say hon.' I giggled and pushed him off, 'Babe,
I need to cook. If not, we can't eat.' 'But I like eating you.' 'Babe, I
need real food. Now stop being a babe and c'here and help me out.'

I think Mike and my vision of a family was settled that night, when both of
us busied ourselves cooking a meatloaf and  pasta salad. IN between the
mixing, tossing, cooking and baking, we managed to squeeze in our days'
itineraries and emotions, and of course, kisses and hugs. It was warm and
cosy and we had the dinner on the couch with a bottle of bordeaux. It was a
nice little dinner and both of us enjoyed ourselves. When we were full and
well bred, there was a call on my cell and I answered it.

'Hello?'
'Hey. Josh here.'
'Oh. Hey! Hi! Yeah what's up?'
'Nah, just called if you were free tomorrow since it was a Saturday and I
wanna sightsee and something. At Lake District or something.'
'Hmmm. Just let me ask Mike if I have any plans or anything first.'
I put down the phone and asked Mike.
'Well, since I don't have anything on tomorrow too, yeah, why not? Let's
bring him together then.'
'Well, Mike says alright, and would ya mind if he came along too?'
'Why not? The bigger the company, the better. So is it all right if I came
over to your house at 9?'
'Yeah. It should be alright. Just remember to bring along a poncho, extra
clothes and wear hiking shoes. A map will not be necessary. See you
tomorrow!'

Well, embarrassingly enough, Mike and I were involved in some pretty intense
activity the previous night, which is why I was only woken up not by the
alarm clock, but by someone ringing the housebell. Feeling frustrated and
thinking I was still early, I went out to the living room guided only by
pure instinct to open the door, only to see Josh standing there all prepared
and ready to go.

'Morning! Just thought-'
Well, he didn't have anything else to say before I interrupted him by
swearing and apologizing. 'Fuck! I'm so sorry... it's just, I mean I didn't
know, I'm so sorry...'
He simply smiled, then said, 'Nah, chill out. By the way, you already look
chilled. DO get warm, then winked at me and found a spot to sit.'
As I rushed into the room to cover up(I was only in my boxers), I swore and
managed to get a very groggy Mike up. Luckily, I had gotten over my hot
lemon tea morning a cuppa day thing, so I wasn't really bitchy. After I was
done doing everything, which included putting on my hiking gear(springfield
jeans and a loose t-shirt) I went out to the room to entertain Josh, who I
neglected for the past 15 minutes. He seemed to be however, very fascinated
by the photos that I took which I put around the house. Which explained why
he jumped up when I mentioned that the photo that he was currently looking
at was taken near Kaoshiung, China.

'Oh, you're done already. It seems that you've travelled a wee bit.'
'Yeah, I guess. I love travelling, and backpack travelling just turns me
on.'
He raised an eyebrow to that last statement but I shrugged, so he just
smiled again.
'You know, it's weird that you didn't even bother asking me why I wanted you
to bring me out.'
'Oh whatever. I don't really care, unless you're hinting that your superstar
status needs some higher-classed trip or something...' I joked.
'No no... I didn't mean that. What I meant was that you look as if it was
perfectly normal that I asked you to accompany me to sightseeing.'
'Oh. Nothing's wrong with that. You're a friend, and you wanna go out.
Simple as that.'
'Wow. Ok. Thanks a lot.' I don't know why, but after that, he seemed pretty
impressed by me, which I was ok with, but weirded out by.

After we had looked past China and Australia did Mike come out. He was
dressed equally casually, with his typical gap jeans and gap shirt. He came
over and attempted to give me my good morning kiss, when I hinted that there
was a guest in the house. He blushed, then proceeded to introduce himself to
Josh.
'Hey. I'm Mike Wright. Nice to meet you.'
'Yeah, and I'm Josh Hartnett, just call me josh, and nice to meet you too
and to put a face to Seth's boyfriend.'
He positively goggled, and I tried to look at the ceiling while he absorbed
the information. And being Mike as always, he immediately sidled up to me,
hugged me in the most intimate way and then smiled back at Josh. I felt so
red and wanted to smack him, but Josh jokingly said, 'Oh, don't let me get
into your way, but I think we have to leave now.'

'Oh yeah, ok. Let's go then.'
With that, we left the house and proceeded to drive down to the Lake
District, and stopped down at Castle Head, which was a field study center.
>From there, I rented an eco-jeep and kayak and drove down to the Lake
District and stopped at one of the lakes. It was a fine day, and though the
water was cold, we braved it and kayaked on the metallic kayak into the calm
lake, not stopping till we came across a small little island.(Not really an
island, just a jutting outcrop of sorts) Mike and I discovered this outcrop
when we came kayaking here a few years ago, and named it the Island. Yeah,
we're THAT boring.

As we pulled the kayak up, I started smiling and Mike saw it and nudged me.
We shared a little secret to ourselves about the Island; it was the first
time I ever attempted alfresco sex with Mike, and even when we passed by the
tree where the bliss had taken place, I shivered and blushed, which didn't
go unnoticed by Josh.
'Are you okay Seth?'
'Huh?? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just a little cold I guess.'
Mike snorted into his steak and kidney pie when I said that, and I simply
whacked him across the head.
Like all Brits, (I hope I'm not making a generalization here) we had a nice
little tete a tete and mainly talked about stuff, stuff that wasn't really
important. However, it really wasn't me who did the talking, instead, I sat
there and listened, while the two of them argued it out on the WWII
intricacies and casualties.

The day was overall nice and fun, and I shan't bore you with more details,
but Josh and Mike got along quite well, and I was playing the usual
invisible role but don't get me wrong; I like playing the people watcher. It
was fun and interesting, though whenever I saw Josh, he would smile at me
wistfully, as if he wanted to tell me something. I just shrugged, and after
dropping off Mike at the apartment (he had an appointment with a client at
the last minute) I drove Josh back to the hotel, where he invited me for a
late cuppa. I accepted, since the house would be empty for a while.

'So, would you like martinis or vodkas?'
'But I thought we would be coming down for some coffee or something?'
He snickered. 'Yeah, I figured... but then I realized I didn't have coffee,
so do you just want plain water or anything?'
'Well, I guess I'll settle for a bourbon cola, you got any of those?'
'Yeah, sure. Here.'
He threw the can to me, which I slowly sipped as we continued talking.
'Oh by the way, you have a girlfriend at home ain't it?'
'Yeah, I do. She's really nice, and I can't wait to go back after the
filming to be back with her.'
'More like to get it ON with her' I joked, nudging him on the ribs. He joked
back, 'Yeah, I'm like so horny right now. Care to give it a suck?'
I stuck out my tongue and laughed. Boy, we are demented.

Then when both of us were sitting down on the fully-recline sofa, Josh
suddenly said: 'You really love Mike don't you?' Without looking back at
him, I replied, 'Yeah. He's sorta my life. He's been through quite a lot
with me, and it's more of a bond forged, if ya know what I mean.' 'You know
what, I'm really happy for you man. You with your guy, job and anything.
Brilliant.' I laughed and shrugged it off, 'Nah, you're the guy who should
be happy too, what with your fame and fortune, and though everyone says that
will fade away, believe me, your star doesn't seem to be fading anytime
soon, and you have a good heart to boot.' 'I guess that's true, but it
doesn't beat the feeling that I have something missing in my life, you know,
a puzzle not filled.'

I turned and faced him, then said, 'Dude, nothing fits in this life. Be
happy with the best fit, and if you still can't find it, look for it but
never give up. But try to balance it, don't go into extremities. Yeah.
That's my two cents worth.' He silently laughed, then whispered out a word
of thanks. I just smiled to myself. Then I stood up and stretched myself and
prepared to go back home, since it was already quite late and I was sure
Mike was already home.

'Hey, thanks a lot for today. It was fun!'
'Don't mention it, if you're anywhere near Leeds or something, drop me a
line, could meet ya up for a cuppa or something. Bye and goodnight!'
'Bye!'

I drove the way back to the apartment.