Date: Mon, 4 Sep 2006 22:46:16 -0700 (PDT)
From: Zare Scott <raspucin70@yahoo.com>
Subject: Rip Tide chapter 7

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction.  It depicts a romance
between two consenting adult males and may contain some descriptions of
sexual act between two consenting adult males.  If you are not of legal
age to read this kind of story, please leave now.  If you reside in area
where reading stories that include sexual situations between two
consenting adult males are illegal, please leave now.  This story is for
entertainment purposes only.  Any similarity to any person(s) living or
dead is simply a coincidence.  The author retains all rights to this
story.  It cannot be reproduced in any form without expressed written
permission from the author (me).  Please contact the author for any
requests at raspucin70@yahoo.com.  Copyright 2006

RIP TIDE

Chapter Seven: Hayden's place
(From Matt's point of view)

    Hayden was right, his place was easy to find. He was living in a part
of town that seemed so distant it was almost another town, there was a
good bit of highway before his exit came up. It was a couple miles later
before I entered his neighborhood. The roads were lined with family
houses and the streets had that suburban feel to them. There were
children playing on the sidewalks and in the driveways, one girl was
walking her dog - it was almost idyllic.

I turned onto the street where Hayden's place was. It wasn't far after
when I pulled in front of his house; I saw his car parked in the yard.
The house itself was small, it was not as big as the rest of the ones
down the street, but it was a nice two-story older style house with
garage attached to it. I stepped out from my car and climbed several
steps over the porch to the front door. I rang the bell and suddenly a
wave of anxiety surged through me. I inhaled deeply trying to shake it
off. Why am I nervous? Hayden is not going to eat me. Calm down, Matt.
Its all cool.

I heard a light shuffle and the door opened. I was hoping that he wasn't
going to notice my nervousness. Hayden was standing, holding the door
wide open. He was wearing a t-shirt with our school's logo on it and pair
of dark red Abercrombie sweat pants. Nothing special, but yet he managed
to look very appealing. His lips broke in a courteous smile.

"Matt. You made it - come in."
With my nervousness reaching almost visible stadium, I entered his house.
"Hi Hayden" I said fearing that he might notice how nervous I am
"I see you found the house with no problem"
 "Yeah, the Mapquest was helpful." I said

 Hayden proceeded to walk further in, as I followed, gawking around. He
noticed my curiosity and turned to me asking: "You wanna look around?"
 "Yes please! ...I mean, yes" I replied to him.

 I sounded overzealous even to myself. I wish that these butterflies in
my stomach would go away. Trouble is, being in his presence was achieving
quite the opposite effect. While I was looking around I would steal
glances at him here and there. I tried to calm myself down, but to no
avail. He continued walking around, showing me his house. I was trailing
behind him, splitting my attention between stuff that he was showing me
and gazing on him. Even underneath his t-shirt I could see the outlines
of his shoulder muscles and lats. I was enjoying the view immensely! A
couple of times our shoulders and hands almost brushed together. It made
me want to lean into him, yearning for that casual touch. I managed to
contain myself. "Act civilized, remember?" I had to repeat to myself more
than once.

    His place was did not look big on the outside, but it was spacious on
the inside. He was renting this place almost since he came to school, and
he made it quite a pleasurable place to live. From the entry there was a
large living room to the left. He left it scarcely furnished; there was a
couch and a matching love seat arranged around a monstrous flat-screen TV
set, a coffee table, a wool carpet over the hardwood floor and a pair of
large speakers in opposite corners of the room. The speakers looked like
they were sculpted in wood and they absolutely fit in the room. I
couldn't contain my surprise.

"Wow...those are big", I said.
 "Yeah, I like my music loud." Hayden said with a smirk.

 I just nodded my head, still ogling around. The whole space was neat and
clean, with a sense of order without being harsh. There were a couple of
graphics on the wall, done in Japanese style, complementing the rest of
the space. In the corner that was overlooking the street there was a work
desk with a computer but without the usual clutter around. Strangely
enough, I didn't see any schoolbooks or lecture materials. Where does
this guy study?

Next to a bookshelf there was a reading lamp and a leather recliner with
an electric guitar sitting on it which immediately attracted my attention
to it.

"You play it?" I asked, looking at the guitar up close.
 "Yeah, sometimes I do" he replied.
 "Like in a band or something?" I asked eagerly looking at him.
 "No...for myself" his reply was even shorter now.
"I would like to hear you sometime when..." I didn't finish the sentence.
As I looked at him I saw a hint of discomfort. I realized that I was
crossing the line and starting to ask too many annoying questions. I was
still looking at him, with the apprehension rising in me again. This guy
is giving me a tour of his house being very polite and all I can do is
ask stupid questions like some annoying kid.

 "Shut up, Matt! He doesn't have to put up with an annoying freshmen!" I
yelled in my head.

Hayden looked at me with an expression in his eyes that I couldn't quite
read. His eyes were very dark and intense. It only lasted a second or so
and yet it made me to want to jump out of my skin. I had to blink
breaking the silent moment that started to be awkward.

 Hayden continued telling me about the house skipping the whole issue. I
was grateful that he gave me an escape since I was evidently not able to
get my mind in check. I just followed him around still little embarrassed
with my manners.

Across from the living room was the kitchen with a large window
overlooking the street. Further down the corridor was a bathroom and
staircase to the upper floor which he didn't offer as part of the tour
and I didn't ask. Obviously upstairs was his bedroom and he wanted to
keep his privacy. In the back of the house there was another room that he
turned into the study with books and papers scattered over one oversized
desk. I almost laughed in triumph so there it is! That space was more
crowded with the usual student junk lying in piles: books, stacks of
papers, post-it notes and a computer. Here he obviously had loosened up
his rules about minimal decoration there was a poster of Jessica Alba
from "Sin City" and more than a dozen various car models displayed on the
shelves. I recognized a model of his Golf GTI among the many models of
mostly American muscle cars.

"Is that a Charger?" I asked Hayden pointing to one of the cars.
"Sure is...a '69." he replied taking the car off the shelf so I could see
it closely.

This time our hands touched when he handed me the car. I felt his warm
fingers brush against mine catching me off guard. While he was showing me
the house I was keeping my self close to him hoping that I could touch
him. Now that actually happened I was caught by surprise. My hand
involuntarily twitched making things even worse. I forced myself to
pretend to look at the car in my hand, but all of the sudden the room
started to seem very small and I became very conscious of Hayden's
presence. I was still looking at the car in my hand but my eye was seeing
every soft fold of his sweat pants with the white ribbon tied in a knot
in the front. His forearm relaxed next to his body with veins running
underneath the skin. I realized that I am not actually even looking at
the car anymore. I slowly lifted my gaze to meet his eyes. Again, his
eyes met mine. I extend my hand holding the car giving it back to him but
I couldn't tear my gaze from his eyes.

 "Thanks..." I forced my self to speak. My voice was coarse I had to
clear my throat. He took the car from me and placed it back on the shelf.
"You're into the muscle cars?" I heard him ask.
"No, not really...I just know a few" I admitted.
"That's cool...you did recognize that one." he smiled at me.
"I have to thank my dad for that he is big into that stuff." I smiled
back, relaxing. The awkward moment had passed and I thankfully regained
my bearings and Hayden didn't notice anything.

From there we returned to the main room. I had to compliment him on his
taste, it was somewhat similar to mine, but with definitively more style.
Hell, I thought that my IKEA furniture back home was stylish.

"Hayden...your house is awesome! I am impressed!" I said. This time I had
no problem speaking. His taste spoke of refinement and sophistication.
The more I was seeing the more I wanted to be around this guy.
"Thank you." he replied, with a trace of smile. It made me feel good
making me feel like we are making a connection.
"Ok, you wanna get going on your Biology now?

I felt like somebody splashed me with cold water. I completely forgot the
reason for my visit here! My good mood plummeted. Of course, the Biology.
I entirely forgot about that. I almost wanted to kick something. That is
the reason why I'm here - not to hang with Hayden.

"I guess...I have it all in my backpack" I turned towards the door where
I left my bag. All of the sudden I felt like I weigh thousand pounds. He
waited for me than motioned towards kitchen.
"We will have more room over there." he said pointing towards the kitchen
table.
I just nodded following his lead. We sat down and I start to pull my
papers and books out. I was half way through when he suddenly said,
"Matt...it's not that bad dude...we'll get you through this. No reason to
sulk."
I just stopped in mid-move with my hand holding my lecture notes hanging
in the air above the table.
"Am I that obvious?" I couldn't contain my surprise.
"Well...not really. It is just funny that there was a temperature drop in
here by ten degrees when I mentioned studying." he said smirking at me.
I almost gulped. His eyes were resting on me, dark and warm.

    The next two hours actually flew by quickly. Hayden was really good
at explaining stuff. He broke the whole complicated Krebs cycle into
simple, more understandable, pieces and then explained every step in
language that I had no problem following. Halfway through we decided to
take a break. He made us a couple sandwiches and pulled some sodas from
the fridge. I was feeling very relaxed just talking to him. He wanted to
know my interests and we found that we both enjoyed hiking. Hayden seemed
like a very laid-back person and there was an aura of calm,
self-confidence that was radiating from him. I found that is one of his
qualities that made him even more irresistible. He always seemed
composed, in a way that people with a lot of life experience behind them
often have. I watched him while he was making sandwiches absorbing his
movements. He looked so...graceful. I was staring, mesmerized in the way
his body was moving, while he was putting stuff away. He placed plates on
the table and that out of blue asked me,  "Hey Matt...can I ask you a
question?"
"Sure" I replied trying to chew on my sandwich.
"How come your mom told me that you don't have anywhere to stay? Aren't
you in the dorm?"
"Umm...long story" I swallowed. "We couldn't...I mean, I couldn't find
any rooms for rent around here, so it kinda defaulted to the dorm. She
thinks that I am sleeping with twenty other guys in the barracks, which
is totally not acceptable for her baby."
Hayden chuckled at my remark. He took a bite of his sandwich, while I
continued, "It's not that bad...but there is a party almost every night
and my roommate snores. Sometimes I have to get some sleep during the day
in between classes."
Hayden nodded.  "I know what you mean. That's why I don't live there
anymore. I was lucky to find this place and I like it much better this
way. Here I have my privacy, I can listen to music or watch movies at 2
am without disturbing anybody."
I groaned over my mouth full saying without words how I missed something
like that.

We finished with our break and then we started working on the dreaded
photosynthesis. In no time at all I got that too, thanks to Hayden's
patient instructions.

"Wow...I would never imagine that this stuff would be so clear to me!" I
exclaimed, taking a good sip of my soda." Hayden...you really know this
stuff...and better, you know how to explain it to someone like me who is
just a little on the 'slow' side," I chuckled.
"Thanks...Biology is easy when you grasp the basics and I think you got
it. And no, I don't think you are slow at all... as a matter of fact, I
think you are very sharp," he said with serious note.
I felt my cheeks start to burn: "Oh...thanks Hayden...I thing you are
very smart too," I replied not daring to look at him.
"Please, call me Nicky" I heard him said.
"Huh...Nicky?" I lifted my head. He still had a serious expression on his
face but his eyes were brimming with warmth. "Why? I mean, if you don't
mind me...asking?" I let the sentence hang not knowing how to finish it
without being too intrusive.

Hayden smiled at me. I wish he would smile more - his face would radiate
with warmth and that inviting vibe that I loved to see in him. He was
sitting relaxed leaning against the wall with his left hand resting on
the table. The yearning emotion started in me again. I wanted to reach
over and touch his hand. Just to feel the warmth of his skin just for a
second or two. Just for... I snapped out of it when he started talking
back to me.

"Not at all...Nicky Hayden is one of the Moto-GP riders. He won the
championship in '02. I used to follow up on all GP races back home. I was
into bikes and that racing stuff at that time so my friends put two and
two together...and coined that nickname. Someone said that we even look
alike."
"Aw...ok" I replied. "Sorry, I am not into auto and bike racing that
much. I don't know what Nicky Hayden looks like," I shrugged my shoulder
feeling a little embarrassed. This is the portion of my life that I am
somewhat ashamed of. Don't ask me anything about football, baseball,
basketball...as a matter of the fact, any of the popular sports. I never
got involved in that typical jock-bound beer-talk over which quarterback
is better this season. I guess the same goes for bike racing.

"Here, let me show him to you," Hayden stood up and motioned me to join
him in living room. He woke the computer from stand-by with the mouse and
then searched for a second for the web site that he wanted to show me. He
brought up Nicky Hayden's web page and after few clicks, brought an image
of the stunningly good-looking young racer. I leaned over him trying to
get a better look. Hayden clicked a couple different images, trying to
show me some more but I had to interject

"I'm sorry, Hayden...he bares no resemblance to you at all! He has
totally different looks...eyebrows...and his eyes are green!"
"Gray, actually" Hayden corrected me, still browsing through web site.
"Yeah, yours are dark...I don't know who would say that you look like
him. You look so much better."

Shit.

Did I actually say that?  Oh yeah, I did. And out loud, right into his
left ear. Shit!

Hayden shot me a brief look over his shoulder not even a full head turn
with his eyebrows raised in evident confusion. Horrified, I stood up.
Quickly Matt, say something before this gets weirder than it is already.
In that instant, my brain kicked in: "Yeah man...you could be a
poster-boy just like he is." I blurted.

Pause. He was still looking at the web page when he said, in a slightly
colder tone, "Actually, he can ride very good."

I bit my lip. "Nice work Matthew!" I scolded myself. I just made it
worse. First I said right into his ear that he is good looking now I'm
dicing on his youth idol. Fine work, real classy. I inhaled raggedly.

"I'm sorry man...I...didn't mean to sound that...to say it that way" I
felt my cheeks burning from embarrassment.

"I know." he said.

My mind was racing. Which "I know" is he thinking of? The "Poster-Boy"
remark, or is he thinking of the not-so-subtle "I think that you are
gorgeous and I wish that we could be together" remark? When I will stop
making this guy uncomfortable? I wanted to disappear into the ground. My
brain felt like it was tied in a knot searching for something to say. Or
better yet, maybe I should stay mute, it seems that way I get in less
trouble.

Hayden turned to me, gave me another smirk, and than his face lit up in a
wide radiant smile. Instantaneously I felt those butterflies disappear
from my stomach.

"You look like someone who is just about to puke," he started to chuckle.

I sighed in relief but anxiety was still present in my chest. I smiled at
him, more to acknowledge his amusement than to show my actual feeling. I
was feeling more and more horrible about myself, and all the disasters of
my manners tonight. The only thing I wanted right this moment was to
leave. Escape while I still have an ounce of sound mind and before I do
something really stupid.

Hayden stood up turning up the nervousness in me another notch. I saw my
chance. I better leave now while he still thinks that this is funny.
"Well...I think I'd better leave now," I stuttered looking to the floor.
"Ok, if you want to, that cool with me," he replied.
I could still sense that he is smiling. I lifted my gaze. I had to say
something else. This is just too sketchy. I cannot just leave.

 "Hayden...I really appreciate all your help. Thank you." I said, simply.
 "You are welcome," he replied with warmth in his voice. He looked at me,
still smiling.

 Oh God I do not want this moment to end. He looked so warm and inviting,
leaning on the chair. I forced myself to turn around and head towards the
kitchen. I collected my papers and books and stuffed them in my backpack.
I felt a knot in my throat starting to form. I knew the reason: I didn't
want to leave. I didn't want to end this evening. I wanted to stay here
talking to Hayden. With a sigh, I swung the backpack on my shoulder and
headed towards the door. I saw that he was standing in the door of the
living room leaning on the doorframe with his hands crossed on his chest.
I took one long last look soaking in the details of him. His muscled
forearms, broad shoulders, and tapered waist. And that sexy white band of
his sweat pants tied in a knot. I knew that I could stare for too long or
I would loose my ability to communicate once again. I rushed to the front
door that he opened for me.

"Good night, Hayden," I turned around for one last look.
"Good night Matt. Drive carefully." He said, holding the door.
"I will, Dad." I tried to crack a joke. He laughed and I took off into
the night.

End of chapter 7

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