The Way It All Started ...
We are on a cold February night in the year 1991 ...
Matt: No. No! Please! I don’t want to die.
Prisoner: You have to die. Now sit still. I have to cut deep!
The man laughs.
Matt: No!
Matt wakes up screaming and sweating, breathing hard with tears streaming down his face. He feels his hand burning. Especially where his scar is. He looks down at his hand where the scar has remained for the past five years.
Matt: God damn it! Not again!
He gets up from the bed and goes straight to the sink, turns on the cold water and holds his hand under the running water. As the cold water drives away the burning, he leans his forehead against the mirror above the sink.
Matt: Please God. I can’t take this anymore. Please help me to forget!
Knowing he will not be able to sleep the rest of the night, he opens the fridge, takes out a beer, and plops down on the couch. The clock on his phone’s display reads 5:15.
Matt: Three hours of sleep. I guess tomorrow I’ll look like a fucking zombie.
~ AT THE SAME TIME ~ SOMEWHERE ELSE ~
Alexander sleeps. Not for long, though. The door to his bedroom opens.
Jace: Hey! Psst! Alexander, are you asleep?
Alexander opens one eye and looks at the clock.
Alexander: What else would I be doing at 5 in the morning?
Jace: Lots of things. You want me to tell you a few?
He pulls the pillow over his head.
Alexander: No, I don’t want you to! Get the hell out of here! I’m tired.
But Jace never obeys. So, instead of leaving, he lies down next to his brother.
Alexander: Why don’t you ever do what I tell you?
Jace: I lose my charm when I do. Come on, get up. I want to talk to you.
Alexander: Why can’t you wait until morning like a normal person?
Jace: I could, but I don’t want to.
Knowing full well that Jace will insist until he gets what he wants, Alexander rolls his body.
Alexander: Sometimes I really wonder why we adopted you and didn’t send you to an orphanage?
Jace: It’s simple, bro! Because I am awesome! Obviously.
Alexander rolls his eyes.
Alexander: Whatever. Tell me what you want to talk about.
Jace: Talk about your sex life.
Alexander: My sex life? I don’t have one.
Jace: That’s the point! You don’t have a fucking sex life!
Alexander: Jonathan Christopher Harronate! Get the fuck out of my room right now!
Jace: Alexander Grayson Firewood! I am not going anywhere until you promise me, we will have a drink on Saturday.
Alexander: Fine! I promise!
Jace: At a gay bar!
Alexander: What? Are you out of your mind? No! No way! No!
Jace: Sorry, bro, but you just promised me!
Jace jumps up from the bed and heads for the door.
Alexander: You asshole! You set me up!
Jace looks at his brother with a smile.
Jace: It was the only way. Good night, brother. Sweet dreams!
The pillow hits the door as it closes behind Jace. Alexander drops onto the mattress and covers his face with his hands, moaning.
~ NEXT AFTERNOON ~
Matt has just finished a fashion show and is exhausted, both from work and lack of sleep. Dressed heavily to protect himself from the cold, he drags himself to his favorite bistro.
All he wants now is a hot chocolate and a chocolate donut. He needs energy and only chocolate can give him that. He’d like to sit down at a table, but he can’t. He’s too tired for that. He’s already dreaming of his bathtub full of hot water and his warm bed. His empty warm bed. He enters the store and gets in line.
There’s a girl in front of him, a beautiful blonde girl who, when she sees him enter, tosses her hair to the side, revealing her neck and most of her breasts. This is something that happens quite often. Women have always been interested in him. They have flirted with him, chased after him, but he’s never been interested in that. He never did. From a very young age, he knew he was homosexual. He never left any doubt about it and accepted it immediately. Yet he kept it a secret for many years. As it turned out, it was a good thing he hid it. When his vicious family learned that an abomination was growing up in their honorable home, they kicked him out. He was only sixteen years old.
He went through hell, but in the end, he accomplished the impossible. Now, at the age of 23, he is a successful and sought-after model. He makes a lot of money and can do almost anything he wants. Almost, because money cannot buy what he really needs. The one thing money can never buy. Love and happiness.
He’s had a few casual relationships in the past, but it was all about sex. No feelings. None at all. With all these thoughts occupying his mind, Matt did not realize it was his turn until ...
Alexander: I am sorry, but it’s your turn! Would you please place your order now?
The heavy, yet melodic voice makes Matt jump and turn on his heel. There is a man standing in front of him. Not an ordinary man, though. This man is from his literal dreams.
Matt can’t believe it. His dream man really exists! He’s dressed thickly and his cheekbones are red because it’s so cold outside. His brown-green eyes look Matt straight in the eye and he has a bright smile. Matt’s heart is racing and he can feel all his blood pooling on his cheeks. Without realizing he’s not talking to the barista; Matt opens his mouth.
Matt: I’d like a hot chocolate, extra sweet and a chocolate donut, please.
The stranger, smiling even wider, says ...
Alexander: Right away, sir!
Out of nowhere, Matt sees the stranger pass his order along with Matt’s to the correct recipient this time.
Alexander: A hot chocolate, extra sweet, a double black espresso and two chocolate donuts.
Without taking his eyes off Matt, the man pays the bill and takes the change. Eyes shining, he turns to Matt, who looks at him with wide eyes.
Alexander: I think we need to move.
Matt: Move where?
Alexander: To a table, of course.
Matt: Together? You and me?
Alexander looks to his left and right.
Alexander: I don’t see anyone else, so yeah. Unless you don’t want to.
Matt: Of course, I want to.
Alexander: Then let us go.
He walks towards an empty table and Matt follows him as if hypnotized. All the while looking at his perfectly shaped ass in his tight pants.
They sit down across from each other.
Alexander: I am Alexander.
Matt: The Great?
Alexander: If you are Hephaestion, why not?
Matt: Unfortunately, I am not.
Alexander: Then who are you?
Matt: My name is Matthew, but you can call me Matt. If that’s what you’d like.
Alexander: Only if you call me Alex.
Matt: We have a deal, Alex.
Alexander: It looks like we have one, Matt. Now drink your hot chocolate or it will get cold.
Alexander offers the hot cup to Matt, who holds out his hand at the same time. Their fingers touch for just a second, which is enough to give them both an electric shock. They take a sip of their drinks and look into each other’s eyes.
Alexander: It’s a pleasure to meet you, Matt.
Matt: It’s nice to meet you too, Alex.
