A Slice of Life - 18. Chapter 17 - From the Ashes

Kyle sipped on his drink as he watched Jasper skillfully guide Xavier around the dance floor; he smiled at the chemistry that permeated the air. Absence had made the heart grow fonder as was apparent by the way Jasper’s eyes never left Xavier; even after their dance had ended, Jasper could be seen periodically making glances in Xavier’s direction. The old Kyle would have been furious and lost himself in alcohol fueled, almost manic-like sexual encounters, but he was not proud of his previous behavior and vowed to stay on the right track not only for himself but also for those who cared about him especially Xavier. He shuddered at the thought of how much of dick he had been so often in the past; he promised himself to never do anything to lose Xavier again or push away the others.

Xavier let himself relax for once in quite some time. The event was a roaring success; all guests were still enjoying themselves and praise continued as investors, clients, and the media made it a point to stop by his table for a few words. He could hardly remember a time in recent years when he was able to just live in the moment. Xavier smiled over at Charity lifting a glass in her direction and nodding. Spinning the cocktail in his hand, he could not help but reminisce about how different things were after leaving them all after high school.

“While I hoped that you would get along well with Galant Industries, I never imagined you would be swooning over their man in charge,” Harold laughed, bringing Jasper a drink, putting a hand up to prevent him from speaking. “When you first approached me for that corner office, I had my reservations, but you always proved that you put work before pleasure, and I can respect that from you. There are some in the office who may not take too well to your lifestyle, but know this, I do not place value on a person based on who they prefer in their bed.” Harold simply tapped their glasses together before moving on to continue to mingle with the other guests. Jasper watched him disappear amongst the sea of people still in shock at his boss's last words.

****  

“You have an eye for this stuff. Are you sure that being a business major is the right path?” Xavier’s partner asked as they closed their notebook computers for the evening. “You know that they say men barely know how to dress these days, but you are always stunning. If you were into women, I would take you for a spin myself,” Xavier’s partner expressed in a flirtatious manner. Xavier blushed bidding her good night. College life had been a breath of fresh air that he so desperately needed, but there were times when his heart ached.

As Xavier walked through the courtyard heading back to his dorm, he could not help but take in the scattered groups of people around him. Again, for a moment he felt an intense longing for companionship as he walked past groups of friends laughing amongst themselves at an inside joke; and couples, both gay and straight, walking together enjoying the warm evening weather. He sighed, adjusting his bag strap on his shoulder, continuing toward his dorm. Regardless of how the past unfolded, he really missed his childhood friends especially Kyle; it was very difficult to ignore the good memories.

It is not that he did not entertain the possibilities and opportunities presented to him, but he felt they were more trouble than they were worth making him feel emptier each time. He decided that it was not the way he wanted to spend his college days, so he threw himself into classes, which ultimately led to his newfound passion for fashion.

“How would feel about doing an internship,” Xavier looked up at his professor in surprise as he was packing up his belongings at the end of his last class the following day. “You have shown a remarkable aptitude for business trends and growth, and I have a close friend who might be a perfect fit to further cultivate your potential.”

Xavier went over the details with his professor and while it was a big commitment and a lot of work, he promised it would not interfere with his classes and could be used as his final project. Xavier agreed without a second thought, it was not like anything was holding him back from taking the job. He mostly kept to himself and if he was not in class, he was studying or playing games back in his dorm. Even more so, it occupied his time so that he could form good new memories and continue moving forward.

****  

“Dude, that is like the fourth time this week, do you ever take a break?” Kyle’s roommate laughed as he watched another boy leave their dorm. He had grown accustomed to Kyle’s frequent visitors, but thankfully with their suite and separate rooms, he was not in the position of being barred from his room.

“Have to strike while the iron is hot. We are on a roll this season, and everyone wants a piece of the star,” Kyle smirked, draped in only a towel with a slight sheen of sweat, he planted himself on the sofa in their common area resting his feet on the table with a beer in hand.

“Oh dude, at least shower first before you spread your man scent all over the sofa,” his roommate laughed enthralled in the sight before him as he launched a pillow at Kyle, trying desperately to keep from drooling.

“As if, we both know you love this man scent,” Kyle leered at his roommate, he knew it was a low blow, they had a brief fling before his roommate realized there would never be anything more as Kyle only participated in sex. Luckily, they had managed to remain on good terms even though Kyle never stopped him when he occasionally found his way back into his bed.

“Not cool dude, you know you are sex on legs, and I know that I am equally at fault for giving into my physical desires with you more than I should, but you do not have to be a dick about it,” his roommate scoffed.

Unbeknownst to Kyle, his roommate suspected that something deeper was driving Kyle toward high alcohol consumption and frequent sexual encounters. Despite his outward bravado, after each sexual encounter, once he checked his phone, a sad and lost look flashed across his face. It almost appeared like regret. “What was he hiding?” his roommate thought. However, if he continued to win tournaments and provided him with the occasional intense sexual encounter, he surmised that it was best to never mention his concerns.

Kyle threw his head back and stared up at the ceiling as his roommate stormed off. He was the big man on campus that everyone both males and females wanted a chance in his bed. Kyle downed the last of his beer in one swig. He opened an old picture of Xavier on his phone and grew irritated with himself and Xavier. Jumping up from the sofa, he opened another beer before opening his hookup app looking for his next target. Kyle knew deep down that this cycle would not resolve his emptiness, but without the guidance of a true friend with his best interest in mind, he was lost. Those currently surrounding him only cared about winning more championships and not him as a person, so all that he could do for now was bandage his pain. “How long can this continue before I go crazy?” Kyle thought, but he just sighed.

****  

“Are you sure that I cannot change your mind?” the coach asked. Jasper had finally come to terms with his decision and felt that it was appropriate to let his coach know what was on his mind. The promise of fame, fortune, and the lifestyle of a professional athlete held no interest to him anymore. He wanted to grow away from that way of thinking; it was time to mature and move away from childhood fantasies.

“Sorry coach, I know it might disappoint some of the guys, but this is just not my future. I like to play as a means of enjoyment, but I am ready to step back from the competitive nature of it all.”

The coach looked up at Jasper and smiled; he stood up from his desk and embraced his player. “You are one of the best guys on the squad, but if your heart is not in the game anymore, I will not cause a fuss. Do not worry about the team, despite being initially disappointed, they will understand.”

Jasper leaned against his car taking in the warmth of the sun. He thought about the new direction that his life would take. “Should we ever cross paths again, I will show you that I am a better man than the one you left behind,” Jasper proclaimed to himself.

****  

Jessica continued to chat with Charity, ever so often, she would glance at the boys and smile. Gone were the days where she could call herself the de facto leader of their little entourage. The boys were now men. She stared out wistfully thinking how different things might have been if she kept her meddling in check. However, “would Xavier, Kyle, and Jasper have becoming who they were today without experiencing the chaos of those last two years of high school?” She contemplated. A comment from Charity brought her back to the present. She knew there were things she felt that she needed to make amends, but for now, she would let things progress at a more natural pace.