Chapter 1 Jackson

I parked the car a little away from the more crowded sections. I had no desire to be here to begin with so the quicker the escape route the better off I would be. With quick movements I exited the vehicle, stuffed my hands in my pockets and walked rapidly towards the main street.

It was like stepping into a whole new world. The lights and noise were overwhelmingly encouraging to join in on the fun. If you liked that kind of thing, of course.

I didn't.

This wasn't my scene. It had never been and I couldn't see how it ever would be. According to the few good friends I had, I was born old.

I liked quiet. I liked my work. And I liked to be bothered by as few people as possible. Unfortunately, there were times like tonight, that I couldn't do what I liked.

I saw the bar instantly. I couldn't miss it if I wanted to and I wanted to very badly.

It wasn't subtle.

It was a kaleidoscope of rainbow fluorescent lights. A child could easily mistake it for the second happiest place on earth. The smiles on the faces of the many men and the occasional stray woman entering and exiting the very welcoming purple door would surely attest to that.

I silently groaned and mentally rolled my eyes as I stopped for a second outside on the sidewalk.

My best friend was getting married. This was his bachelor party.

"So, suck it up!" I growled to myself.

A few snickers to the side of me, startled me and I stepped back. For the first time I noticed the small group. I blushed and rolled my eyes again.

"Jackson!" a voice giggled beside my ear.

I turned to the glowing face of my best friend's fiancé. My brows arched at the heavily made up man with his newly colored purple hair.

I grinned.

"New look for tonight, I see. It suits you," I approved with my typical small but genuine smile.

Percy giggled again apparently thrilled about the coming night and my compliment. Percy locked arms with me and started walking forward.

"Come on big boy," he coaxed, pulling me along with him.

I mentally rolled my eyes again at the 'big boy' jab. My friends loved to tease me about my diminutive stature, especially knowing how much I hated it. I had known Percy for a few years now and he had taken up the habit as well.

"Where's Archer?" I asked in an almost shout as the music inside was pulsing at us in waves.

Percy gave a head nod towards the area they were walking towards. "I had to run out to the car for my phone. He's waiting!" he answered, leaning down and speaking directly into my ear.

I tried hard not to stiffen and cringe. I hated my personal space being invaded.

"Everybody else is here, too. You're late!" he said accusingly and began walking faster, unlocking arms and grabbing me by the hand to pull me along behind him.

I would never admit that I had planned it that way. The look Archer, my best friend, gave me though, said he knew it already.

I evaded his knowing look and focused on saying hello to the group of four gathered in the VIP area. Drinks were in various stages of being drunk and a few of them as well by the looks of Mick and Noah.

Thankfully it was a tad bit quieter where we were and only loud talking instead of shouting was needed. I stepped over to Archer and we embraced each other in welcome.

A few people slid down so I could sit beside Archer and Percy sat down at his other side.

"I started to wonder if you would come," Archer said.

"You know I wouldn't not come," I replied offended.

Archer laughed and slapped me on the shoulder. "I know. It's why I won the bet." He stood to his feet. "Pay up ladies," he yelled down the table.

I watched in astonishment as with frowns and moans of complaints my so-called friends began withdrawing twenty dollars apiece and passing it down to a satisfied Archer.

"I can't believe you guys thought I would skip out on Archer and Percy's bachelor party?"

Branson, a guy that totally looked like his name, big and brawny in flannel and jeans laughed in response. "Jackson we can hardly get you to meet us at our regular bar let alone a place like this!"

"Hey!" Percy protested in defense of his favorite bar.

"Oh, Percy don't get your panties all twisted out of shape. Leave that to Asher!" he added getting a couple of chuckles in response. "You know what I mean. Jackson is as boring as they come. Getting him outside of his house is a miracle in of itself!"

I sat back, no longer interested in trying to defend himself. I wouldn't win. Seeing as how they all agreed with Branson it was five against one. The odds were not in my favor. Never had been.

As I sat and watched the jokes fly and the laughter erupt, I reflected on how genuinely surprised I was that I was a part of such an odd group of friends. Though all very different, each of us had outstanding personalities and careers, except for me. Well I had the career, but my personality definitely lacked.

I was the quiet one in the group. I didn't sparkle or shine. There was nothing eye catching about me. On the short side with brown hair and brown eyes I was average. My personality wasn't outgoing nor very forthcoming. I was quiet and private and I never liked to draw attention to myself. I was just Jackson.

The five of us had met as freshman in high school. Actually, it would be more accurate to say the four of them had met me when we were freshman. Noah, Mick, Archer, and Branson had played on the varsity football team despite being freshman.

I had been the typical geek.

In a very cliché, John Hughes type way, I had been being pushed around by a group of guys on the football team. When the four had walked up on me being shoved around by some of their own teammates, instead of joining in or simply walking away, they had quickly ended the bullying with a few shoves and warnings of their own.

While my bullies had walked off in a huff, the other four had started helping me pick up my strewn belongings from off the ground. They had also invited me along to join them at the local mom and pop's that was often frequented after school by a lot of kids. It was known for having several old-fashioned video games.

I had never been.

In an un-Jackson like move, I had gone and the five of us had stayed fast friends ever since.

Despite being the odd man out amongst them, not being a bit sporty nor interested in even watching, the guys were very protective of me. They included me in everything and I in turn did... nothing.

I had never understood why the guys had latched onto me like the little brother none of them had, but they had and to this day still did.

Over time Archer and I had grown closer. I was the first-person Archer told that he was gay. It had been an emotional moment between us and forever sealed the bond of brotherhood between us.

It had been my unqualified acceptance that had encouraged Archer to tell his family and then our friends. Branson and Mick, short for Miguel, had been a bit more than shocked than the others. Their initial reaction had been painful to watch but it hadn't taken very long for them to realize they were being idiots.

Now, twelve years later we all sat together in the most stereotypical gay establishment that ever lit the streets, laughing and teasing and wishing our dearest friend and his soon to be spouse the utmost happiness in life.

Our backgrounds, our race, or sexual preferences didn't matter. We were like brothers from different mothers. It was nice.

"Let's dance!" Percy suddenly exclaimed as the new music changed to a deep thrumming beat that I could literally feel pulsing through my chest.

I watched as everyone climbed to their feet to follow the blushing bride.

"Oh no!" Archer said, as I continued to sit. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. "I have to dance then you have to dance," he ordered.

Archer laughed at the expression on my face. I could only imagine what it looked like. If it looked anything like how I felt it had to be pretty comical.

"Arch," I started to plead but suddenly Branson was there on the other side of me, laughing down at me as he helped Archer pull me along.

The two large men who once played defensive lineman not only in high school but college too, drove me through the throng of swiveling bodies out onto the floor with the ease they once exhibited out on the field.

Laughing and in the mood to celebrate everyone moved as the base boomed. Hands in the air, shoulders bouncing, hips swaying the friends danced with each other in their small inner circle.

All except for me. I found it impossible to relax enough to let go.

Percy, catching sight of my pitiful state danced over to me and draped his long mocha colored arms across the tops of my shoulders and smiled down at me. "Come on big boy, let's show them how we do this."

With nothing more said and only a wink to prepare myself for who knew what came next, I waited for Percy's next move. The wait wasn't long.

Percy rocked his body left and then swayed it back right. His hips bounced and shifted, his motions fluid and languid. They also pulled me along with them.

In shock I found myself swaying along with Percy. Our bodies touched and skimmed as he moved us to the rhythm. It felt awkward but amazing at the same time.

I glanced around surreptitiously as we danced. No eyes were on us. That made it suddenly easier. With the music and Percy's help I found myself for the first time ever understanding why people loved to dance.

Closing my eyes, I gave my trust to Percy not to let me make an ass of myself and gave myself up to the moment. With his guidance, I followed his body and let my own respond in kind.

We stayed like that through two songs. By the third I was feeling a little more comfortable. Enough at least to open my eyes. I should have known by then the other guys would have noticed.

They were all smiling and winking at me. It was clear they were happy to see me enjoying myself. I had to admit it felt kind of good.

Mick and Noah glided over toward us. Percy slipped away allowing them room to sandwich me in between them. I knew my face turned red as they moved suggestively in front and behind me. Noah grabbed my waist and shouted in my ear, "Lighten up!"

Despite myself, I did. It wasn't as easy or as fun as it was with Percy, but I did let go enough to move with the two idiots trying, I knew, to get me out of my shell. It was easier to go along with it than it was to fight.

So once again I closed my eyes, and let them move me to the music, my hands raised upwards as Noah's remained at my waist and Mick's on my shoulders. Our hips synchronized to the pulsing music and three moved as one.

Time slipped by relatively quickly after that. I danced with Archer and even Branson later. It was a silly night for me. I had never felt this free before and knew I most likely never would again.

It was a moment out of time. One to be shared on special occasions such as your best friend getting married.

In that spirit I closed my eyes and moved along with the fast-paced tempo. The music vibrated through my body and I was surprised to find that not only was I enjoying myself but I wasn't half bad at dancing either.

As I moved my hips, Branson jostled into me and I opened my eyes as he laughingly looked down at me with an apology. I laughed back up and stepped back just a step to make more room for him when my eyes were suddenly ensnared by a man maybe ten feet away from me.

He wasn't dancing. He wasn't moving at all. He wasn't smiling or frowning.

He was standing very still and he was staring very directly and very intently.

At me.