Neighbors, Part 2: John and Jhett

Jhett snorted derisively and shook his head disbelievingly. This guy was talking pure nonsense! He simply did not have the time to listen to it. Throwing his back pack over his shoulder, Jhett picked up his small suitcase and started for the door.

"Look...John, I'm flattered that I got you all hot and bothered, but, you know, that is my job- or,was my job, anyway...well, whatever, I gotta go."

"But I-"

"Listen, it's just not a good time, okay? I need to get out of here before the son of darkness has me thrown out." Jhett relented a little when he saw the hurt in John's kind eyes. "Maybe I'll see you around or something, okay? But, right now, I really have to go."

"Wait, please. Where are you going? I can give you a ride. It's freezing out there! At least let me do that much."

Jhett stopped at the door, looking dejectedly at his feet. That question: "Where are you going?". Jhett had no earthly idea where he was going. The seriousness of his predicament came rushung at him once more like ten-ton brick and Jhett felt a new wave of tears overcome him.He lost his grip on his back pack and it fell to the floor with a thud.

Between sobs, he managed to choke out, "I- I- I don't know! I-"

John rushed to Jhett's side and scooped the younger man up in his arms. Holding him close to his chest, John stroked the flaming red hair and tried his best to quiet Jhett's racking sobs. 

"Shhh...it's okay. It's okay. It'll be all right..."

"No! No it won't!" moaned a distraught Jhett. "It's not okay! It will never be okay! I've lost everything and I don't know what to do, John! I just...don't know...what to...do!"

"What do you mean? What happened?" asked John, his voice full of concern. "What did you lose?"

Jhett pulled away and wearily sunk into a nearby folding chair, hanging his head in defeat. John knelt beside him and gingerly took one of Jhett's hands in his own. John's hands were so much bigger than his and Jhett began to calm down as he absorbed their warmth. 

Choking back even more tears, he filled John in on everything that had happened, from being kicked out of his apartment building to his argument with Lorenzo. When he was finished, he fell silent, sure that John saw him for the loser he was. But, John didn't see it that way at all. He finally seemed to understand what had drawn him there to Jhett that night - he and Jhett were soulmates! Jhett was in trouble and needed him. Now that he knew why he and Jhett had met, he knew exactly what he had to do.

Breaking the silence, John gently asked, "What is your name?"

"Huh? Does it matter?"

"Yes, it does. I want to know."

"Jhett. My name is Jhett. I'm an unemployed, homeless idiot that no one wants!"

"It's ok. Don't worry about a job right now. Everything is so hectic around Christmas. You can look for work after the holidays."

"What?", exclaimed Jhett indreduously. "Are you daft?! What in the hell am I supposed to do until then? Where am I going to stay?!"

"With me," came the answer. It was said so simply, so softly, but the impact was deafening. Had he heard John right? Was John offering him a place to stay?

Jhett chuckled humorlessly. "So what? You give me your couch for one night, and then what? Where do I sleep tomorrow night? Or the day after that, John?"

"With me," he pressed gently. "I'm not offering you just a place to sleep, Jhett, but a place to live. And after the new year, you can start looking for work."

Jhett shook his head, not ready to accept his good fortune. "B-b-b-but I don't know you...you don't know me! Why would you do something like that for a total stranger?"

"I don't know, Jhett. I mean, at least I think I know, but I can't explain it," John returned, usure of his words; he didn't want to scare Jhett off. "I just need you to trust me, okay? What have you got to lose? You have no job, no home - so why not come with me?"

Jhett looked down at his shoes, trying to make up his mind. He had to admit that John was right, though. He had nothing, absolutely nothing, to lose. And the crazy thing was is that he did trust John. There was just something very comforting and secure about him; he had a quiet strength about him that Jhett found strangely appealing.

He met John's expectant gaze and nodded his head in affirmation. "Okay," he decided. "You're right. I'll go with you."

John's smile could have lit up the world. He was beaming from ear to ear as he led Jhett by the hand out of that God-forsaken club and away from that Satan-spawned Lorenzo. He was taking Jhett home with him, where he belonged.

Jhett was impressed when he saw the apartment building, located just below Federal Hill (one of the most affluent neighborhoods in downtown Baltimore), but once he was inside, he was completely blown away! This was no apartment - it was a condo! 

"Whoa!" he breathed in amazement. "You don't have any money, do you?"

John chuckled. "I got an inheritance when my grandmother passed away. I miss her, but I have to say that it came in handy for me, being a broke student with about a gazillion loans."

"You're a student?" Jhett asked, raising his eyebrows. Just his luck - this guy was rich and smart! It would only be a matter of time before this guy kicked him out on his rear."What do you study?"

"Law. I'm in my first year."

Jhett didn't think it was possible to feel any smaller that he already did, but it turned out he was wrong. He did feel smaller, and not just smaller, but poorer and more than stupid. He had never been adopted out to a loving family, had bounced from foster home to foster home, each place worse than the next, and in school he had maintained a straight C average. John would be sick of him in no time flat!

Sensing his discomfort, John took Jhett's bags and carried them to a door off the living room. "Here, I'll take those. I'll put them in your room."

"I have my own room?!"

John found himself chuckling again. "Why? Did you think I'd make you sleep on the couch?"

"Well, yes - I mean, no. I meant...ah forget it! I can't get my thoughts straight!

"You're probably hungry. Can I get you something?"

"No, I think I'd better just go to bed." He motioned to the door John was returning from. "That's my room there?"

"Yeah, that's it..." John's voice trailed off as he contemplated his next step.

"Okay, then...um, I think I'll just..."

"Yeah..."

"...um, go get some sleep...". Jhett was caught off-guard by a glint in John's eyes. He was up to something...

Jhett opened the door to his room and gasped. John had to be playing a trick on him. He turned to call for John but nearly slammed into him, as John was right behind him.

"This is your room!" burst Jhett.

The gleam in John's eyes intesified, a quiet fire burning within him. "Correction...it's our room!"

And suddenly, it was Jhett's turn to understand - to understand why he had lost both his job and apartment, why John had been dying to meet him, and why John had shown up just as he was about to spend this winter night on the street...

Destiny, or fate, or whatver you want to call it, had brought them together...they belonged together!

Before Jhett even knew what was happening, John's lips were upon his in a gentle yet passionate kiss, the likes of which neither had ever known! 

When Jhett woke up the next morning, his face was buried in John's muscular chest and their nude, intertwined bodies were being warmed by the late morning sun. John was still asleep and Jhett couldn't help but stare at the face of his lover while he slumbered on. Last night had been a turning point for both of them - they had fallen in love and pledged their eternity to one another after having known each for mere hours. It was nuts, but at the same time it made sense. They were meant to be together and they had found each other. Jhett smiled. He could face anything now with John by his side. He knew now that he'd finally found the family he'd always wanted!