Gym Class Sorrow [Book 2]

In This World Full Of People There's One Killing Me

*HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICOLE*
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Tate's P.O.V

I'm often curious as to why the things that happen to me, happen to me. I'm curious as to why I chose to become an accountant and move to the Pacific coast. I'm curious as to why I just happen to get up and work out every morning instead of sleeping in. Habit, I suppose. My move to America's upper golden coast has shown me something I never thought I'd see. Something more curious than myself. Now don't get my words twisted, I'm not a narcissistic man, I've just never had to worry about someone else.

But enough about my tendencies. The thing, or should I say person, that's caught my attention is my neighbor. It all started when I first moved in. Winter was just starting, so I was all bundled up and had just gotten out of my car to ask for directions. I spotted a man standing next to a relatively sharp looking Audi and decided he'd be my best bet. I came to find out that I was in the right place and that the man I had asked was my neighbor. Christopher Way. His name felt like chocolate in my mouth. Like satin on my skin. Something about him intrigued me from the get go. I don't know if it was the sad look on his face or the air of loneliness hanging about him, but I wanted to know him better.

My wish was granted a few days after that when I walked in the doors of my brand new shiny accounting job at the Peterson Corporation. I was soon acquainted with my new boss Mr.Peterson. He led me to the department I would be working in(accounting) and showed me to the person who would help train me. I'm sure the face I made when I saw Chris there would have been priceless. The first few weeks of work it was painfully obvious how upset he was. He was always late and his appearance was always that of a disheveled god reeking of last nights liquor. I couldn't explain it but no matter what he looked like the image of chocolate and satin came to my mind.

It was late February and we had just came back to work from a long break off because of snow, when Chris asked me a question. It was innocent in its phrasing but now that I think on it perhaps not its intentions.

"Hey Tate, do you, umm, want to maybe come over for dinner Friday?" he stammered out whilst looking at his shoes. I dropped the coffee mug I was holding, spilling the dark liquid all over me in my surprise. Chris never directly addressed me unless he wanted to scold me for something. I ended up saying yes and made plans to go over to his apartment that Friday. When I say made plans I meant got dressed and walked three apartments over to the small one bedroom on the end.

When Chris opened the door I felt my breath hitch in my throat. His hair was combed through and he was in a button up shirt layered with a sweater and khakis. I felt under dressed in my skinny jeans and ragged plaid button up. He invited me into his apartment and ran a hand through his hair with a blush creeping up his neck. I was curious as to why he was acting like that until I noticed the smell of burnt food in his kitchen.

"Chris?" I questioned with a small smile.
"Yes?" he asked back sheepishly.
"You burnt the food." I laughed a little at his embarrassment of me finding out.
"Pizza will be here in 15..." he grumbled poutingly.

I laughed at his cute expression and sat down with him in the living room. I looked around his apartment and saw pictures of him and a brown haired man with shining blue eyes. They looked so happy. Chris looked happy. The man in the pictures must be Chris's boyfriend or maybe, just maybe, a brother? Chris must have followed my gaze because he sighed.

"That's Jesse. He was my boyfriend..." Chris explains. I notice he gets hung up on the word was but I don't point it out.
"What happened to him? I mean you guys look happy..." I ask fearing the answer for some reason.
"Jesse wasn't happy. He wasn't happy for a long time. He-he passed away." Chris answered, eyes and mind far away.

We sat in silence until the pizza came then sat around in an even more uncomfortable silence after. When I went home later that night all I could see and think about was a brown haired, blue eyed man named Jesse. There were a few things I knew. One, was that Jesse didn't just pass away. No one who has a man who loves them as much as Chris loves Jesse would lose their fight to live. The other thing I knew was that Chris was still in love with Jesse. That meant my love for the man was stuck in limbo. The only thing I didn't know...why did Jesse do it?
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