Only You

Summer 2006 – Calgary, AB, Canada

You never know what to expect.

I mean look at those cruel and calculating eyes of Fate staring at you. No wonder that we go out somewhere and nothing goes as planned. This is no different. Here I stand in this line at Tim Horton's, waiting for my number to be called. Is it so difficult to get a dozen donuts together? "Number 28?" comes over the counter, and I push a tired man and his wife gently out of my way. I take the bag and inspect the contents carefully, but the man's voice takes my attention again. "Sorry, sir. I forgot to give you this a moment ago." I look back to him and see that maple donut in his hand. Shifting the bag's weight into my left hand, I reach to take the donut just as another hand intercepts the very object from my grasp. "Oh, sorry…This is yours, eh?" he asks innocently. "Heh, actually yes…but why don't we talk over coffee and share breakfast?" I offer generously. Kind brown eyes smile, and I lead him to a booth in the corner by a large window.

Opening the two bags, he sets the maple donut onto a napkin between us. I set out two more on the side, and sit back to take a good luck at this handsome stranger. As new sunlight peeks through the glass, his short and shaggy light brown hair bounces around his deep chocolate eyes. Even sitting here, we are almost exactly the same height. A rich and fluid voice pours over his lips and swirls around my ears, "So what's your name?" I pull my own voice from the depths of my heart, "I'm Jesse Collins. And who might you be?" A smile comes to his calm and graceful countenance, "My name is Nicholas Garnes, but you can call me Nick if you like." I return the grin, "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Nick." He nods the return and slices the maple donut down the center, "I'm turning eighteen towards the end of next month, but how old are you now?" I look up from my plate to those luscious eyes, "Sixteen now, but my birthday is only a month after yours." He smiles and swallows another bite of the donut. The rest of the bag doesn't last long between us.

I look away as he turns his head sensing he is troubled somehow. "Hey, Jesse…I'm sorry," he struggles as a fish gasps hopelessly for air, "I just feel like I've known you for so long…You know what I mean, eh?" My eyes come back to him, "I know just what you mean. If only we had known each other for that long, right?" "That's just what I was thinking," he says taking his head in his hands. I stare at him, searching the deep brown depths for something unspoken, "There's something on your mind, isn't there? You don't have to keep it to yourself. I'm here for you…" His face changes slightly as though he has been mentally wandering the vast reaches of space only now to return. "Ah, sorry…Listen, I was wondering," he states, his voice calm as my turbulent ears await his diction, "if you would want to see me again…only, you know…someplace else." The worry in his face melts away, "Do you even have to ask? I feel, as strange as it may sound, as though I've waited my entire life just to meet you." He smiles lightly, "I know what you mean and all, but how can you know something like that when we've only just met?" I reach across the table and cup his smooth chin in my hand, "I've been with another already, but you are so different from him. Nick, it is only you." I feel his jaw try to fall into my hand, "So you're truly gay then?" I crumple the empty bag in my hands and stand to my feet, "Is something wrong with being gay, Nick?" I stop speaking upon hearing the unintended animosity ingrained in my voice. "Nothing at all," he assures me, "I guess you know I'm gay, too…" I grin at his sudden shyness; at once, I can feel my hidden erection longing to dive inside him, "Yes…I thought as much." Deep in my chest, I can feel my heart racing at the mere thought of challenging him to a floor match. "Can I see you tomorrow, Jesse?" he proposes, "Or do you have plans already?" Unable to look at him any longer, my eyes fall to the floor, "I'm supposed to be on a flight leaving out of here…in two hours." I slide into the booth next to him and rest my head on his soft shoulder, "Oh, Nick…that I could stay here with you forever. I'll always remember maple donuts as a symbol of you. Thanks for the wonderful time together, and I hope you find someone special to love you for you." He sits quietly, and I lunge up to peck him on the cheek. "I, uh, guess this is the end then," he says softly, his faltering voice desperately fighting back the sadness, "I'd better go before I get too emotional." Warm tears roll down his face as he stands and heads for the door.

I listen for the bell to ring as he leaves. My heart aches to see him once more, and before I know it, I'm at the looking out at him myself. I thrust the glass door open, and take the back of his shirt in my hand. I see the surprise in his eyes as he finds himself against the brick wall. I stare menacingly into his fearful face, "That you may know how much I love you." Before he can say even a word, I steal his lips with my own, pulling a groan from deep within him. His eyes close as I embrace his head before my warm tongue rockets into the hot cave, and the two battle for dominance. Mine knows the hollow well and easily wins the match. Nick pulls his head away from my own, but I drag him back under my control. I pull another groan from him before finally releasing him. With a grin, he falls against the wall, gasping for breath. "I'll miss you, pet," I muse staring into those eyes I know so well, and I toss him a note containing my number. He opens the slip and reads aloud, "May we always be together." Brown eyes come back to me with a renewed smile, "Indeed, we shall. Don't miss your flight, and call me when you get home." "Will do," I smile and, turning away, dash to my car. "I mean it, Jesse!" he calls after me. "I know…" I whisper to myself. I spot him in my mirror, still sitting against the wall of the restaurant, and as I pull away, the Tim Horton's donut shop fades into the distance and into memory.