Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 17:16:52 EDT
From: TanasugarnFan1@aol.com
Subject: The Project 1-2

I originally have a story in the Gay-High School section of Nifty. If you
could you delete the previous posts for the story The Project...and replace
them with the attachment? Thanks.

-JS

    [ Part 2: "Attached Text" ]

DISCLAIMER: If your offended by this don't read it. If your to young to
read this don't get caught. I won't take any responsibility, for your
mistakes. Now you have this let's go on to the story.

I have restarted this story because, I thought the last parts of the
stories sucked. So, I am starting over and hopefully I can make it better
this time.

The Project:
Chapter 1

"J, yo wake up," Audrey said. They were in World History class, and J had
fallen asleep.  This was a standard occurrence, and again Amanda was there
to save the day. "You have to start going to sleep, I can't save your ass
everyday."

"Sorry, thanks. I couldn't sleep last night," James replied. For the past
few weeks he was only getting 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night. His grades
were dropping and he was not as lively as usual. No one knew what was
bothering him, except for his best friend Audrey.

"Class, I am setting you guys up into pairs. Each pair will have one
historical figure, you have to find biographical information, important
historical facts and ect. You will need to make one poster for both of you,
one research paper for both of you. Both of you will also need to write an
opinion sheet on what you feel was the most important thing your historical
figure did. Also, you will write a short evaluation on your partner's
performance.  All the things that need to be done, is on this paper,"
Mr. Howerson said. "Grab one on the way out. I'll leave the list of pairs
on my desk."

	With that, the bell rang and everyone got up to check out the
partner situation.  James and Audrey waited for the others to leave. While
sitting there they overheard some of the other classmates talking.

"Oh, shit Matt I feel so bad for you. You got that blue-haired freak,"
Garett started. He was talking about James. James was 5'10'', a tennis
player's build. His hair color was naturally black. However, while trying
to be rebellious he colored his hair a dark blue. He admitted at times,
that the blue hair did not match him. He still dressed in "preppy" clothes,
and the blue hair didn't mix.

	Matt didn't respond. He actually didn't mind James. They were
classmates in 8th grade and he actually enjoyed talking to him. He also
didn't want to be singled out. He explained to his friends that he had to
talk to James. "Hey, James. I guess you heard we'll be working together,"
said the seventeen year old, star of the baseball team. "Well I really need
a good grade on this so would you mind stopping by on Friday? You can sleep
over and we can talk about the project and then get the supplies on
Saturday. You got a car right?"

"Yeah, I do," James replied.

"Good so we can take your car, well I have got to go, so I'll see you
Friday," Matt said as he left the room. James thought he was a little to
eager, but wrote it off. James and Audrey walked up to the table to see who
she was working with.

"Shit, I got Garrett," Audrey said. She was referring to the 6'2" jock god
of the school.  Both she and James knew about her crush on him, but
personality wise it wasn't happening.

"Oh, well just don't touch yourself to much while your with him," James
replied jokingly.

"Yeah, yeah you too," Audrey said. She was referring to James crush on
Matt. James had came out to Audrey a few years ago and to this day only
those two knew about his status. James loved everything about the 17 year
old classmate. His thin brown hair, his deep eyes, his boyish looking face,
and most of all it was his dashing smile. His smile was one of those smiles
that if used the right way could always make you agree with him.

	James and Audrey went to lunch, and sat and their usual table along
with their friends Jason, Kelli, Liz, and Markus. They rambled on about the
usual meaningless chat, until Garett walked up to them.


"Hey freak," he started looking at Audrey. "We need to talk, about the
project. Can you be at the library after school tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Be there, and we'll start," Garett said while walking away.

"Why don't I buy him a car too. Damn it, if he thinks he can order me
around, he's gonna get smacked the fuck up," Audrey said, a little loud
causing Garett to walk back at the table.

"What the hell did you just say?" Garett asked furiously.

"I said if you think you can talk to me like that your gonna get smacked
the fuck up," Audrey said even louder than before.

"Bitch please, calm the fuck down and take you damn midol tomorrow," Garett
laughily said. He again walked away.

"Well, this should be fun for you. Work for the school's biggest bastard,
for a project," Markus said, saying bastard a little louder than
normal. "J, who you got?"

"No, one better, I got Matt Mr. 'Snobercrombie and Bitch' himself," James
said. "I'm actually going to sleep over at his house. He better not be like
that, or I'll take the F. I'm sure he would love that."

	Next thing Matt came. He didn't look happy as he heard the
Snobercrombie and Bitch statement. He never wanted anyone to hate him. He
never wanted to hurt anyone.  He came to the district in 7th grade. The
fact he was good looking and had money made him popular. He had a paper in
his hand which had his phone number and e-mail address.  "Hey, James here
is my numbers, so we can talk about the project. So, I'll see you Friday,"
Matt said walking away.

"Well, I guess I got the good one," James said.

"Well, hey why don't you talk to him about me," Kelli said. She had a crush
on Matt and wasn't afraid to let everyone know. "Hook me up!"

"Hey, what about me?" Jason asked.

"You want me to hook you up with Matt?" James replied laughily.

"No, you asshole. You very well know Kelli is my girl, and you shouldn't be
thinking about anyone else."

"You know I'm just joking," Kelli said. Kelli and Josh walked away as lunch
was beginning to end. Audrey and Marckus followed as James sat there
contemplating. He was thinking about Matt, and how he had to control
himself around him. While in deep thought he was tapped on the shoulder. He
jumped and turned around to see Matt.

"Yo, J, you don't mind if I call you J do you? Anyway, I am going to be
online at 9:30 tonight, and I would appreciate if you could go on. Can
you?" Matt asked.

"Yes, you can call me J, and sure I'll go on. My screen name is
SyKoPatHIc231."

"Spell that?"

"Forget it I'll im you," James said. They both agreed and went to the last
period classes.  Before James knew it school was over, and waited for
Audrey so he can drop her off.  Audrey came.

"Yo, Markus is gonna drive me home so peace. I think I am going to hook
up!" Audrey said. James went to his car and saw Matt standing there. 'He
must be stalking me," James thought.

"Uh, hi James," Matt said tentatively.

"Hey Matt what's up?" James replied.

"Well, I kind of missed my bus and I was wondering if you could drive me
home," Matt said. If Matt ran he could of made the bus, but he also wanted
to get to know James. He was interested in him. He always wondered what
happened to him. When they first met in 7th grade James was such a prep. He
wasn't rebellious got straight As. In eighth he started being rebellious
got detentions and first colored his hair. He also knew about his suicide
phase. Matt was intrigued by James. His attempts to get to know him was
always shot down either by James or the nervous Matt. He hoped he could
find a friend. All the jocks and the popular people were all superficial
and Matt never trusted them. All the petty fights and the narrow minds were
not for him. He knew James was different and he wanted James to know he was
more than just a dumb jock, or a 'Snobercrombie and Bitch'.

"I guess I could. You live near the old middle school right?" James asked.

"Yeah, I'll give you directions," Matt said. Matt guided James to his
house. James pulled into the driveway and waited for Matt to get out. Matt
decided he would ask James to come in. "Uh, J do you want to come in. Have
a soda or something?"

	James felt really ackward. He really didn't want to go in, but it
seems Matt really wanted him to go in. From the look on his face and the
tone of his voice James really couldn't say no. A few months back James got
over his crush over Matt, and now he realized what made James like him in
the first place. "Sure, I don't want to be a burden or anything."

"Don't worry J, no one's home and I could use the company. Besides if we're
going to spend the weekend together we ought to get to know each other,"
Matt said softly motioning James out of the car. They both walked into the
house, James sat on the couch in the living room while Matt got two
sodas. "So, do you mind if we just ask each other random questions? It's
the easiest way to get to know someone."

"Sure. You can start," James said.

"So, J what's with the hair? What made you decide to color it blue?" Matt
asked first.

"Well, I don't know. You know before I colored my hair I was so plain. I
didn't have an identity I was just that unpopular kid. While changing my
hair color I changed my image my personality. I wasn't just that unpopular
kid, I'm you know whatever you popular people call me know," James
said. When he first colored his hair he wasn't thinking about image. He was
thinking about just acting dumb. After it faded he realized how much the
color was a part of him. No matter how much his parent's protested, the
blue was going to be put in for a very long time. "Now my turn. Why do you
even want to get to know me?  We're just doing a project together it's not
like we have to be near each other for a long time or anything."

"Umm, honestly? I don't know. For some reason you seem interesting. I would
like to get to know you. Your a pleasant change for me. I mean no offense
to my friends, but there just so superficial and I don't know. I am usually
paired with them. To finally get to talk to someone different is, I guess
good for me," Matt said. He know felt ackward, he didn't know how James
would react to such a statement.

"Really? Wow, Mr. Popular wants to be my friend," James laughed.

"Please don't call me that. I get a bad name being popular as it is, and I
just hate that.  Being THE popular kid. I hate it," Matt said.

"Well color you hair pink and turn Goth, you won't need to worry about
that," James said as Matt smiled. The rest of the night they really got to
know each other, and before either of them knew it was 6:00 pm. "Damn, can
you believe we've been sitting here talking for what four hours now?"

"It's been four hours really? Wow, so hey do you want to get a burger or
something?"  Matt asked.

"Sure where do you want to go?" James asked.

"Actually do you know that place right next to the Rockingham Mall, I love
it there but no one wants to take me."

"Sure, let's go," James said. They both got into the car and drove to the
burger joint. They were both really hungry so talking was put into a
minimum. It was 10:00 when James pulled into Matt's driveway.

"Hey, are you still going to go online?" Matt asked.

"I can't, I'd have to take a shower, and I am tired so I won't be able
to. Well, so I'm driving you home tomorrow right? I'll remember to bring
clothes so I can sleep over," James said.

"Cool, see you tomorrow," Matt said. Both Matt and James slept in
anticipation for tomorrow's day. Each had thoughts running in their
minds. Waiting to see each other again.

The Project: Chapter 2

	James felt like an outsider at the lunch table. Not only was he an
outsider of the world, he was the outsider of his own group. The whole time
he would glance and see Kelli and Jason making out. If he glanced to the
other side he would see Audrey and Markus going at it. James was the only
single one. He couldn't stomach to see more making out from his own
friends. He left the table unnoticed and went to the quad in the front of
the school. He sat their contemplating how he wished he had a mate. Seeing
the happiness in his friends faces made him wish he had someone. Lunch had
just started and he didn't want to be there. He decided he would blow off
the last two periods and go to the beach. Something relaxing. Then he
remembered he had to pick Matt up at school.  'Shit,' James
thought. 'Finally I think of something I want to do I have a
responsibility.'

"What are you doing out here?" Matt asked.

"I could ask you the same thing," Josh replied coolly.

"Well, I came out here to see what was wrong with you," Matt said.

"Well my lunch table of 5 had 2 couples and an outsider. So, I left," James
said. "I was thinking about cutting the last two periods to go to the
beach. Then I realized I had to pick your sorry ass up."

"Well let's go," Matt said while walking towards the parking lot. "We have
to stop by my house so I can get my suit and we can leave."

	James and Matt got into the car and drove to Matt's house. "Don't
you have a reputation of perfect attendance to hold up?" James asked.

"Well, going to the beach seems so much better," Matt said as they got out
of the car and went into his house. "Hey, come up here you can leave your
stuff in my room."

	They both went upstairs and into Matt's room. James put down his
things and sat on the bed. Matt went to the bathroom to change. In a few
minutes they were ready to go.  They were on the highway, when Matt turned
on the radio. "Last Resort" by Papa Roach was on. Matt decided that this
would be the best opportunity to ask James about his suicide phase. He
didn't want to be to nosy, but he really wanted to get to know James better
then he did. "James do you mind if I ask you something personal?" Matt
asked.

"Uh, I guess."

"I was wondering about your suicide phase. I wanted to ask you about it,"
Matt said.  James changed the station on the radio quickly as he heard
those words. The song was now "Don't Think I'm Not" by Candy.

"I really don't want to talk about this right now," James said. The rest of
the ride was silent as James parked the car. James went to a beach that
usually had less people, and the fact it was Friday afternoon most people
were at work and this part of the beach was nearly empty. They put down
their stuff down in the middle of the beach and Matt was the first to take
off his shirt. His slightly tanned body glowed from the noon daylight. It
was a sight to see. His chest was better developed than James. However,
when James stripped off his shirt it his best feature was shown. James may
of had the best abs in the high school. He worked hard over the years to
get his abs perfect.

"Let's go," Matt said.

"Go where?"

"To the ocean, we're here to swim aren't we?" Matt asked.

"I'm here to get a tan, I don't know about you," James said.

"Oh, come on. Just put your feet in," Matt said giving James his puppy dog
face that would always work on him.

"Fine," James stopped protesting. He knew he would end up getting soaked
with the icy cold salt water, but he didn't care. As long as he could lay
later in the sun and get the tan he would be fine. Matt had different idea
as they were standing in the water he splashed James.

"You mother-fucker," James said. They splashed the hell out of each other
until they were exhausted. They collapsed on the towels.

"Let's go," Matt said. "We should start on the project."

"I want to get a tan," James replied.

"Fine well I'm gonna go," Matt said grabbing his towel and James' keys.

"You bitch," James said, while chasing after Matt.

"I always get my way, and get what I want. What I want now is to go home
and it's going to happen. Also I want to drive..."

"No, that's one thing you won't get," James said while grabbing the keys
from Matt. They both headed to the car and were on the way back home. "Who
do we have again?"

"Huh, what?" Matt asked stupidly.

"Who do we have to research for the history project?"

"Oh, we have Clara Burton. Do you know anything about her?"

"Oh, yeah she's the woman who started the Red Cross," James said.

"How the hell do you know that?" Matt asked.

"I studied her in eighth grade, before I turned into this," James replied.

"So, what do you want to do tonight?" Matt asked.

"I dunno what do you want to do?" James asked.

"Well, we can order out and we can watch a movie. Want to go rent one?"

"Sure, I'll get one and you can."

"Cool," Matt said while turning on the radio. It was on a hip-hop/r&b
station with Janet Jackson currently on. The ride to the video store was
silent other than the radio. James pulled into the parking lot of the video
store, as Matt got out of the car. "So, what you going to get?"

"Well, my favorite actress is Toni Morisette, so I think I am going to get
one of her films."

"Oh, she's the chick from the Sixth Sense right?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, but I am not going to get that one. I am thinking about getting
'Clockwatchers' I haven't seen that one yet. It has Parker Posey and Lisa
Kudrow too."

"Cool, I think I'm going to get 'Cruel Intentions' I have wanted to see
that movie for awhile. And besides Ry..ugh Reese Witherspoon is really
hot," Matt said.

"That movie is one of my favorites," James replied. With that decided they
got the videos and left. They went back to Matt's house to decide what to
do about the project. After a few hours of research, they had the
information. All they needed to do was get a poster board and paste the
information. It was now 7:00 p.m. "Do want to call take out?"

"Sure," Matt got the phone book out and called the Chinese place to order
the food they had selected before they started the project. Twenty minutes
later the food came. They sat in the living room, and put in
'Clockwatchers'. James took the chopsticks out and began eating. He looked
at Matt and saw he had a fork.

"Don't tell you don't know how to use chopsticks!"

"Shut-up dude I never learned," Matt said impishly.

"Want me to teach you?"

"Sure," Matt said. James grabbed the chopsticks out of the bag and handed
them to Matt.

"You have to hold them like this," James said grabbing Matt's hands and
putting them the way they should be. A shiver went through Matt's spine as
he felt James's hand caress his.  "Got it?"

"Uh..what? Oh, yeah sure," Matt said. They watched the movie. Once
'Clockwatchers' was over James put in Cruel Intentions. When the movie
ended it was now 11:30 p.m. They decided that they both needed to
shower. James was first to go. They both went upstairs, James reached into
his bag to get his clothes. While grabbing his shirt, his journal fell out.
Hoping Matt didn't see he quickly stuffed it back in and went into the
shower. Matt did see the journal. He went to James' bag and grabbed the
journal and flipped to the last page. Matt couldn't read it. He didn't want
to invade James' privacy. A few minutes later James walked in still wet
from the shower wearing only a towel.

"I grabbed the wrong shirt," James said as he bent down to grab his shirt,
his towel came off showing Matt his pale white ass. "Shit."

	James grabbed the towel and ran out of the room. A few minutes
James came in, and heard the taunts of Matt. "James I never knew how nice
of an ass you had."

"Can you stop and take a shower?"

"This is fun why would I want to stop?" Matt asked. A few minutes later he
went in for his shower, and came back dressed. James was preparing to sleep
on the floor, when Matt piped up. "If you don't mind we can just share the
bed. It's big enough."

"Sure." James climbed on to the bed and laid next to Matt.

"So, James I heard a rumor about you and I was wondering if it was true."

"What is it?"

"Well, I heard from someone that you were gay?"

"Do you want to know the honest answer?" James asked.

"Yes."

"Well, I don't know. I am confused. I mean I guess I am attracted to both
men and women. I guess I am bi, but I don't know. Does that freak you out?
Because if it does I'll go sleep on the couch downstairs no problem."

"No, it's cool. So, bi huh?" Matt asked.

"I guess so."

"Well, then are you attracted to me?" Matt asked.

"Uh..."

"Oh, come on I want to know."

"Yeah I guess."

"Really? What do you like about me?"

"Matt, come on. Don't make me tell you."

"Please?" Matt asked flashing again his puppy dog face.

"That damn face again. How the hell am I suppose to say no to that? Well,
you've got a great body an adorable face. A great smile. I also have a
thing with lips. I don't know why, but I do. You have great lips. That's
why."

"Why don't you give my lips a taste?" Matt asked.

"What?"

"This," Matt said. He got on top of James and grabbed the back of head and
kissed. It didn't take long for James to stop resisting, as he opened his
mouth letting Matt's tongue in. They shared this kiss for a minute or so,
as Matt pulled away. "As good as you thought?"

"Uh, definitely."

"Good, glad you like them. You'll be getting some more tomorrow hun, but
now let's go to sleep."

"Does this mean that we're..."

"Yes."

	Matt rested his head on James' chest as they both went to sleep.

---

There here is the new The Project Chapter 1-2. I like this version better
than the first and I hope you do too. Please e-mail me with any of your
comments at TanasugarnFan1@aol.com Please e-mail me if you read this
story. I really want to know what you think of this. Thanks!

-JS (next two chapters by next week I promise)