Date: Fri, 7 Jun 2002 13:59:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: no basis <nobasis2001@yahoo.com>
Subject: Two Lives: One Choice

The following story(s) contain explicit descriptions of sexual situations
between consenting adult men.  If such content offends you or is illegal
for you to view due to age or laws in your state or country, please do not
continue reading.  Some events are true and others are purely fictional.
The locations and names have been changed to protect those involved.
Comments are appreciated.  Enjoy!

			   Two Lives: One Choice

The sun glared in my eyes as I carried the last box down the stairs of my
country home and out the door and down the steps to my black Chevy
Suburban.  My grandma and dad came outside to see me off to college.  I
kissed and hugged each of them and thanked them for all that they had done
along the way.  There were tears on their part and some sorrow on mine, but
for the most part, I was ready to leave for an amazing four years.

I was to attend a medium sized liberal arts college in the country suburbs
of Raleigh, North Carolina.  I had chosen Oak Grove University because of
its location and the great business school.  With my past behind me I
started the car and drove down the paved across the fields and through the
forests that I had played in as a child.  My family waved from the rose
garden as I drove out of site.

I jammed to sounds of Nine Days, Vertical Horizon, and Dave Matthews Band
for the five hours to Raleigh.  I thought back to growing up and being one
of only two children in a family of business people.  My brother and I were
often shoved aside for the benefit of business.  Our parents were good to
us, but we rarely had the family time that we wanted.  Only a short year
before, my brother had been killed in a bad car accident.  The stress
forced my parents into a divorce and I was once again lost in the shuffle
of money and power.  While I still saw my mother, I did not know her as
well as I wanted.

With my family as split as ever, I was left to make the transition to
college life on my own.  Just as my CD ended the last track I took the exit
that indicated my university location.  I made a sharp right at the top of
the ramp and drove through a small town and over a hill and through some
undeveloped forests.  Hanging over the road at the end of the forest was a
sign that said "Welcome Students."  Many emotions began going through my
mind as I passed the first university signs.  I was nervous and excited all
at once.

New students were directed to check in according to area and I had been
assigned to the Howard C. Lock Pavilion in the West area of campus.  I
proceeded to the parking lot to find the lawn alive with students and
parents checking in at brightly striped tents.  I opened my car door to be
greeted by the sounds of chatter and excitement.  Reaching my arms above my
head, I stretched my 6'1 frame and put on my sunglasses and began to walk
towards the tent that said, "Begin Here."

When I got closer to the tent I noticed a hot guy with short curly blond
hair sitting behind the table.  As I approached he said, "welcome to Oak
Grove."  I simply smiled and said, "thanks."  He asked for my name and I
quickly gave it, "Scott McPherson."  He looked up from his work and stood
and shook my hand.  "I'm Devin and I will be your RA for the year."  I
couldn't believe that this stud was going to be my hall director.  I
gripped his hand and shook his powerful hands.  With introductions over he
gave me a schedule of orientation events and told me where to pick up my
keys.

Now might be an appropriate time to tell you what I look like.  I am
eighteen years old and stand at 6'1 and weigh 185lbs.  I keep my black hair
short and messy and have green eyes.  I have a pretty good tan from all the
time I spend outdoors playing sports.  I work out regularly and have a
pretty good build.  I played wide receiver on my high school football team,
but decided to quit before college.  I have tried dating girls through
school, but it's just not my scene.  So here I am at college, a decent
looking guy with no interest in girls and a lot of interest in guys.

I made my way through the courtyard of the Pavilion towards my assigned
dorm.  At the office I picked up my keys and went to check out the room.
It was on the second floor so that meant not too many stairs, but it still
had a cool view of the courtyard.  The room itself was kind of spacious
with bunked beds, two desks, two built in closets and two small dressers.
I opened the third door to find a small bathroom to be shared with the next
room.  That door was closed so I assumed that they were not yet there.

I went back to my car and began carrying all my shit up the stairs.  I just
stacked the boxes in the center of the room until I figured out what I
would do with everything.  The university had sent me my roommate
information a couple of weeks ago, but later called to tell me that that
guy had decided to go to another school.  I was to be assigned another
roommate upon arrival.  After I finished carrying all of the boxes and
crates, I just looked in astonishment at all of my things that I had to
unpack.

I began with hanging all of my clothes in the closet and unpacking the
clothes that could fit into the dresser.  Next I unpacked all the things I
brought for my desk and walls.  My half of the room was beginning to have
some character to it, but I was still nervous about the other untouched
part of the room.  It was around 2:00 and I was beginning to wonder where
my roommate was.  I finished unpacking and decided I would clear out the
boxes so that my roommate would have some space to unpack when he arrived.

After throwing out the boxes I decided it would be cool to take a look
around the campus and maybe find something to eat.  I dropped by the campus
student center and grabbed a sandwich and some fries and a soft drink.
There were lots of students around with their parents and all of them
looked as excited as me.  I quickly ate lunch and walked back toward Lock.
When I got to the second floor I noticed that my door was open and I could
hear voices from inside.

My heart began to beat faster as I wondered whether my roommate was going
to be a dork or someone that would be cool.  I turned the corner to the
room to be greeted by someone bumping into me.  We both apologized and
looked up at the same time and I realized that the person that I bumped
into must be the dad.  I gathered my wits and introduced myself and he
said, "Austin Bates, nice to meet you."  The name sounded familiar, but I
wasn't sure where I had heard it.  After passing Mr. Bates I saw three
other people in the room.  One was a middle aged lady with attractive
looks, another a younger boy about fourteen I guessed and the last a
gorgeous guy that I only hoped would be my roommate.  He was the first to
introduce himself as Bradley, or Brad as his friends called him.  I found
the boy was his younger brother Mike and the woman was his mother
Elizabeth.  I said, "Pleased to meet you both," using all the southern
manners I had been taught.

We talked for a few minutes and then I volunteered to help Brad move the
rest of his things in.  After we had everything in the room, I noticed he
had almost as much stuff as I had.  Thankfully he had brought a television
and I had brought my stereo.  Between the two of us, we had all that we
needed to make the room look like home.  A few hours later Mrs. Bates said,
"well boys, it looks like you both have made yourselves at home."  We both
just slumped on Brad's bed and soaked in the atmosphere.

About that time, Mr. Bates came back and announced that it was time for
dinner.  He asked if my family would like to join and I explained that I
had moved on my own and Mrs. Bates chimed in with, "well I guess we will
have a third son for the visit."  The whole family agreed and insisted that
I go to dinner with them.  I agreed and couldn't help but wonder why my
family couldn't be as perfect.  We all walked out and Mr. Bates led the way
to his car.  He and his wife had driven the Cadillac and Brad had brought
his Tahoe.  Brad and I were to ride together in the Tahoe and the other
three would lead in the car.

Mr. Bates, who insisted that I call him Austin, chose a local restaurant to
eat at and before long we were all seated at a table chatting about life
and wait for our food.  We talked about what we had done in high school and
what had brought us to Oak Grove.  Brad had been the quarterback for his
football team so we had a lot in common with sports.  He too had been an A
student and in the top ten percent of his class.  We seemed to have a great
deal in common.  The only thing we didn't talk about was families and
things like that.

After dinner, Brad's parents and brother were going to return to the hotel
and leave early the next morning.  Brad said his goodbyes and his parents
surprised me by inviting me to their home in New York over the fall break.
I thanked them for dinner and their offer and said my goodbyes as well.
Together with Brad, I went back to campus to settle in.