It had been months since the split, in actual fact it was nearly a year.

Jeff had been SO devastated, that for the first 3 months he barely left his bed. He was consumed by his heartbreak, and for months his friends took in turns to stay with him, keep him safe, and fed.



Shannon and Shane were the only two that could really get Jeff to do anything, so once a week they would get together and tag team him! They'd FORCE him to take a shower, then one (usually Shane) would strip his bed and put on clean sheets, and the other (Shannon...coz Shane couldn't cook worth a damn!) would do him a plate of food.



They'd talk to him, even though a lot of the time he didn't talk back. When he hurled his abuse, they took it and said nothing.

And when he cried, they were there too, to hold him and tell him everything was gonna be ok.

Because of Jeff's track record, they made sure he was never on his own for very long.



Eventually though, he started to emerge from his depression, and Shannon and Shane felt he was finally well enough to be left alone for a few days at a time.

Jeff would loose days, sat in his chair letting his thoughts and feelings flow into his journal.

It healed his shattered heart slowly, to put his emotions into words.

Shannon watched as slowly but surely, his friend came back too life.



Then, when he thought he was strong wnough to hear it, Shane suggested that maybe Jeff should start going out again.

Going to the grocery store, or to get in fresh art supplies he could just about manage, but when Shane suggested getting back on the dating scene, Jeff was less than willing.

"What if...what if HE rings?" Jeff asked as he sat cross-legged in his chair, braiding a length of his hair.

"He's not gonna ring" Shane sighed

"He might" Jeff whispered

"He WON'T" Shane said firmly

"No..." Jeff whispered, looking at Shane

"We know a decent club we can hit" Shane said, "We can have a few beers..."

"Maybe" Jeff sighed

"You go take a shower, and put on a clean shirt" Shane smiled, in triumph

"An hour...then I am comin' home" Jeff siad as he went to get changed...



Between them, they managed to get Jeff to the club every Saturday night for a month. However, that came to an abrupt halt when a guy made a move and bought Jeff a drink. It took a fortnight of constant nagging to get Jeff to go back!

"I don't want some guy buying me shit!" Jeff growled as he nursed a vodka

"Look, I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it" Shane said as he scanned the faces in the club

"He just thought you were hot!!" Shannon laughed, " A date might do you some good"

"I'm not interested..." Jeff said as he got up to leave

Just then, the guy that had bought him a drink the last time, walked into the club.

"I'm goin..." Jeff siad

With his head down, and his colour-faded hair shrouding his face, he headed out of the club....



The next time Jeff went to the club, he had ventured out on his own. He had gotten sick of Shane's INCESANT nagging, and decided that he DID need to start getting out more on his own.

He wasn't at the club long when he noticed someone coming and sitting next too him at the bar.

"Hey," The guy smiled, "Nice too see you're staying put...for a change"

Jeff nodded, looking at their reflections in the mirrors behind the bar.

"I'm Phil, By the way" He siad

"Jeff" Jeff said quietly, swirling the ice cubes in his glass

"Well, it is nice to finally meet you, Jeff" Phil said



"Look...I don't wanna be rude" Jeff started, "But if you're just after a quick fuck, then I ain't interested"

"Hey!" Phil frowned, "That's not why I come here...I'm not like that"

"Ok...I'm sorry" Jeff said, "It's just..."

"Hey, if it is your past, then let it stay in the past, man" Phil sighed, "You are here. So you seem ready to move on"

"I am talking to you, that's as much as I am capable of right now," Jeff said quietly

"That's ok" Phil nodded, "If that is all you can offer right now, then that is all I want"

And for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, a gentle smile played over Jeff's lips...



Shane and Shannon watched, as day by day, Jeff started to take back control of his life. He started painting again, he started writing his poetry, and better still, he was seeing Phil on a regualr basis.

Even though they weren't TECHNICALLY dating, they DID meet up every Saturday at Dark Daze for a drink.

Jeff never noticed his emotional pain disappearing, to be replaced by the content feelings he had when he met up with Phil.

He liked being around Phil; he was a no bullshit kinda guy. Like his tattoo said, he was NO GIMMICK.



It was only gonna be a matter of time before one of them tentertively took their relationship to the next level.

They had been together, so to speak, for about 8 months and things were moving along quite smoothly when it was Phil that took that step.

"So...are you gonna ask me in for coffee?" Phil asked one night as they got back to Jeff's apartment from the cinema, "I'd love to see some of the artwork you told me about"

"Sure" Jeff replied without hesitation, " I got no coffee though"

"That's ok" Phil chuckled " I don't drink it anyway"

Jeff plucked his keys from his pocket, and he let Phil follow him up to his apartment.

"I got soda...I think" Jeff said, " I haven't been shopping for a while"

"Anything will be fine" Phil said as Jeff tossedhis keys into a bowl on the shelf unit in his lounge, "I'm not really fussy"

"Make yourself comfy..." Jeff called as he went through to the kitchen, " There are cd's...find something to suit..."

"Like music do ya?" Phil smiled as he saw a WALL of cds, " Jeez, you got thousands"

"Yeah, I got one of two" Jeff chuckled, "Regular or diet?"

"Either ..." Phil said, "You've got a real eclectic ear"

"Yeah" Jeff said, coming through with 2 cans of soda, "...Or we can watch a movie"

"Movie sounds good" Phil smiled, "You choose"

Remembering an earlier conversation, about people that made them laugh, Jeff picked out a movie he knew Phil would enjoy.

He quickly put in the DVD, then plonked himself down on the sofa, next to Phil. Neither man said anything, they just sat watching the movie, laughing and drinking their sodas.



When the movie finished, Phil got up and stretched whilst Jeff took the empty cans through to the kitchen.

"Guess I'd better ring a cab..." Phil yawned as he pulled on his jacket

"...You can stay...if you like..." Jeff said from the kitchen

"Y'what?" Phil frowned as he hunted his pockets for his cell phone.

"You can stay...if you like" Jeff repeated, coming through from the kitchen

"Oh that would be so great" Phil smiled, "It's gonna be a nightmare getting a cab at this time of night"

Jeff nodded and watched as Phil started re arranging the cushions on the sofa.

"This *Jeff motions to the sofa* isn't what I meant" Jeff said, "C'mon..."

They went upstairs and Jeff let him into his bedroom.

"I'm gonna grab a quick shower..." Jeff said as he got a spare pair of pj bottoms for Phil, who gratefully accepted them, "Then the bathroom is all yours..."

Jeff never questioned himself as he took a much-needed shower. He liked Phil; he liked him more than he thought he would.

There was definatly aphysical attraction between them, and Jeff wanted to see if he was ready to take the next step.



"Bathroom's free" Jeff said, going back to his room with a towel around his waist.

"Ok" Phil nodded

"If ya look in the cabinet, there should be a spare toothbrush" Jeff said

"Thanks" Phil said

Jeff got dried, tossedhis towel into the laundry hamper, pulled on a clean pair of jockey shorts and climbed into bed.

He lay, with his arms behind his head, listening to Phil singing (surprisingly well) in the shower.

When he came back through, freshly showered, Jeff was waiting for him.

"You ok with this?" Phil asked as he got into bed next too Jeff, "I really wouldn't have minded taking the sofa"

"You know what I have missed since I have been on my own?" Jeff asked "Ummm..." Phil shook his head

"I've missed being kissed.... and kissing someone back" Jeff said as he turned onto his side, facing Phil

Phil turned onto his side to face Jeff, Surprised to see how Vulnerable Jeff looked right now. Without saying a word, Phil moved in closer, and with his hand cradeling Jeff's face, Phil pressed his lips too his.

Jeff moaned quietly as Phil kissed him softly, he felt a small spark, a surge of passion that he hadn't felt for a long time. He reached and placed his hand on Phil's exposed side, he felt his skin goosebump beneath his fingers.

Phil hesitated slightly before forcing Jeff over onto his back and deepening their kiss.

Jeff broke the kiss, suddenly feeling panicked at how fast this was moving.

"What?" Phil whispered, his silky black hair shrouding his face

"...I'll see you in the morning" Jeff said quietly

"Yes, you will" Phil said, smiling

After another tender kiss, Phil agreed to cuddle upto Jeff's back as they settle down to sleep...



Jeff was the first one up the following morning, but he didn't want to get out of bed. Phil was laid, flat on his back, arm draped lazily across his face, asleep.

Jeff carefully moved Phil's arm, and smiled when he saw his face. He mumbled in his sleep, too Jeff's amusement.

This time, it was Jeff moving in closer and gently kissing him. When he moved back, Phil was wide-awake!

"...Morning" Jeff said. With a smile

"Hey" Phil smiled back, stretching his body as he woke up, "...What time is it?"

"Dunno..." Jeff replied as he traced his fingers over the bristle that covered Phil's chin, "...Have you got to be somewhere?"

"Only right here" Phil said, lacing his fingers into Jeff's colour stripped hair and bringing him back in for another kiss.

This time, instead of panicking, as their kiss got deeper, Jeff fell right into it.

"...Fancy some breakfast?" Jeff whispered

"Mmm...sure" Phil replied

"I got nothing in..." Jeff said as he nuzzled at Phil's neck

"That's ok..." Phil gasped, " I'm not really a breakfast person"



Jeff grinned, Phil chuckled

"I'm sorry 'bout last night" Jeff whispered, " I guess...I got a little freaked out"

"S'ok" Phil sighed, " But...you liked kissing me...right?"

"Oh yeah" Jeff chuckled, "You kiss great"

They both chuckled

"Fancy spending the day here" Jeff asked

"A day in bed?" Phil smiled, "Yeah I can do that..."

Phil let Jeff make all the moves, and take things at his own pace.

Jeff, who kissed down each of Phil's colourfully tattooed arms before moving his lips and tongue to his chest, was silently grateful that there was no pressure in moving their relationship forward.

He flicked his tongue over one of Phil's pierced nipples, then gently suckled it.

Phil let out a surprised gasp as Jeff gripped the silver bar in his teeth and twisted his nipple, sending a shot of pain through his body.

Once his left nipple was hard, purple and stinging (pleasurably), Jeff kissed his lips before taking too his right nipple, licking,kissing,chewing and twisting until Phil was arching up off the bed.

Jeff ran his hand over Phil's abdomen, down to toy with the waistband of his PJ's. He moved down the bed a little lower and traced his tongue over the letters tattooed across Phil's belly, his fingers still toying with the waistband.



Phil gasped loudly as Jeff's hand finally moved over his cotton-covered crotch, massaging his growing erection through the thin material. Jeff looked at Phil and smiled, as he hooked his fingers into the waistband and slipped the PJ's down Phil's thighs, releasing his straining hard on.



Fisting his hand around it, Jeff kissed Phil passionatly whilst he pumped his leaking cock.

Phil reached for Jeff's shorts, and frantically them down as far as he could, he moved Jeff onto his back and grinned before kissing him, breathlessly

Jeff stretched his body as Phil teased him with his lips, kissing his nipples in turn before licking them with the flat of his tongue.

Jeff had forgotton how good it felt to be touched, and how much he loved the feel of a tongue against his skin.

He felt his body begin to tremble, as Phil's carress got lower, he reached and laced his fingers into Phil's hair and let out a shaky gasp.



Using the flat of his tongue, he licked slowly up from just under Jeff's navel, over his belly, his chest. He let out a soft growl as as he chewed over Jeff's collerbone and then kissed up his neck.

Jeff moved, quickly settling between Phil's legs. He wrapped his fingers around the base of the hard cock in front of him. Using just the tip of his tongue, he teased the head of Phil's cock, lapping at the salty fluid that leaked out.

Jeff growled, licking the head of his cock heavier before positioning himself so that he could take it in his mouth.



He took his time, sucking his full length slowly before pulling back and licking the head. Phil, desperate to taste Jeff, moved so that he was on his side. Jeff took the hint and moved so that Phil could get between his legs.

Comfortably in the 69 position, Jeff continued his oral on Phil. Phil licked up Jeff's shaft, eliciting a moan from his lover.

Both men licked and sucked eachother, hips bucking, groans filling the room.



Phil was the first one to break away, whispering for Jeff to stay on his side.

"You got lube?" Phil whispered, lightly kissing Jeff

"In the drawer" Jeff replied, breathlessly

Phil smiled as he grabbed the lube, and climbed over Jeff so that he was laid behind him. Using a liberal amount of lube, Phil gently started to finger him.

Incoherant gasps came from Jeff as Phil stretched him, all the time kissing his neck and shoulders.

Jeff craned his head back enough so that he could frantically kiss Phil as he slowly guided his cock in to him.

With his hand firmly on Jeff's hip, Phil drove his cock deep, gasping against Jeff's neck with every thrust...

...Jeff watched as Phil slept, a thin sheen of sweat still evident on his face.

He liked the way Phil slept, completely silent apart from the odd dreamy mumble. He liked the way; he slept in one position, flat on his back with an arm across his face.

And he liked...like REALLY liked the way that Phil held him after they had made love.

Jeff grinned...a HUGE grin. Last night wasn't just sex, wasn't just a fuck...they had made love.

Phil had ignited Jeff like NOBODY ever had before and Jeff loved it!

Carefully he climbed out of bed, pulled on a pair of shorts and trudged through to the kitchen.

He chuckled when he remembered that he had nothing in...he REALLY should go shopping at some point.

"Jeff..." He heard Phil call from upstairs

As he turned to go back upstairs, he noticed it...the light on the answering machine flashing.

He hesitated for a second before hitting the play button

"Hey there Jeff...um, it's me...I know it's been a while...I think it's time we talked."



"No, I don't think it is," Jeff said, hitting the delete button, not wanting to hear anything else his EX lover had to say. His time for talking was long gone...Jeff had finally moved on.

As an after thought, he unplugged the phone and headed back upstairs to Phil...