Chapter 1: They Meet
The oppressive heat of September in small-town Kansas was a thick, soupy blanket that draped itself over the landscape, leaving everything stifled and gasping for breath. A constant, cacophonous symphony of cicadas buzzing their mating calls, punctuated by the occasional, discordant outbursts of the unbearably neurotic mockingbirds that roosted in the barren trees lining the campus. The whole world seemed to exude an abundance of sweat-streaked, sexually-charged energy.
This energy found a physical manifestation in the form of Jake, the long-haired, lanky stoner with the hairy, sinewy body. He was a creature of comfort, both in his own skin and in the natural world around him.
"Let me help you with that, David." Jake offered, his voice thick with a mischievous and sensual edge.
David, the closeted, sheltered gay man who'd recently moved in with Jake, hesitated.
He'd been raised in a conservative household, one that placed a heavy emphasis on the importance of purity and abstinence. It was all so unbearably foreign to him. His desires, his impulses, all of it violently clashed with the upbringing that had been drilled into his brain.
But in this moment, as he gazed into Jake's eyes, he saw something pure and genuine. He saw a man who loved himself, who was unapologetic about his own desires and experiences. "Hey, thanks! Jake, was it?" Jake helped David push his luggage into a storage closet shelf. David found his face inches away from Jakes sweaty armpit.
The pungent, musky smell of body odor overwhelmed his senses. The smell of sex and sweat, of the earthy, carnal essence of a man.
"Oh, sorry man! I don't shower every day. You know, for the environment," Jake explained.
David hesitated, unsure of how to respond to this.
"You're... you're so different from anyone I've ever met, Jake," David finally said, a slight tremble in his voice.
"I know, I'm a weirdo. Fuck it's hot in here." Jake peeled off his shirt, revealing his sinewy, hairy chest. "When I came out a lot of people gave me shit. I decided then that I'd do whatever made me the most happy." Jake reached for the small, glass pipe, his thumb tracing the intricate, swirling patterns of the delicate object. "Want some, David?" he asked, his eyes locked onto David's.
David hesitated. He knew that what he was about to do was a direct violation of everything his parents had taught him. He knew that he was going to be risking everything, and that the stakes had never been higher.
But still, there was a kind of safety in Jake’s hands. There was a feeling that Jake could guide him through this, that he would be able to teach him things that no one else could.
So, David nodded, and Jake took it as a sign of agreement. As Jake lit the pipe, the smell of weed and burnt herbs filled the room, overpowering any other scents.
Jake took a long drag, then passed the pipe to David. David inhaled, feeling the smoke fill his lungs, then slowly exhaled.
He felt the drug take effect almost immediately. He felt his mind expand and contract, shift and sway, as though his very consciousness was floating and bobbing along the currents of the wind.
"This is... this is amazing. But, Jake, I'm not sure this is a good idea." David said, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and excitement.
Jake leaned in close, his lips brushing against David's ear. "Relax, David. You said you wanted to experience new things, right? Let's start with this." Jake whispered. "We're in college. Your parents are states away. Sit back and relax. Tell me about you." Jake whispered, his breath hot and heavy on David's neck.
"I-I don't know," David stammered, his mind spinning. "I-I'm from Kansas. I've never... I mean, I've never really done anything before. I-I'm still in the closet."
Jake was shocked. He had no idea David was gay. "Whoa! They stuck two faggots in the same room. Don't worry, bud. Your secret is safe with me." Jake's words lingered in the air, heavy with the promise of safety.