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Mike
I yawned heartily and stretched. I had spent the first night more than restlessly, but must have fallen asleep sometime. Outside, everything seemed quiet. I looked at my watch. Seven.
It was quite early, but now that I was awake, I might as well get up. Quietly, I pulled up the zipper of my tent. Cool air met me. Somewhere in the neighborhood, I heard a dog barking.
I struggled to get out of my sleeping bag and out of the tent. I stretched again and enjoyed the first rays of the sun rising over the Etruscan mountains of Tuscany.
Actually, I was supposed to be here with Elke right now. But after the last fight, it was over. Damn! With “Mike, you're a wimp,” she had slammed the door behind her and hadn't been seen since.
But I was just as fed up with her nagging and moaning. Not a night went by when she didn't find something to put me down with. The infatuation from the beginning had long since faded.
So this separation was actually quite right for me. So I packed the car alone and went on the vacation we had planned together. And then came what I had feared.
I quickly realized that night, while driving, how alone I was. The sudden loneliness hurt and I had to make a few stopovers because my crying clouded my vision.
And after the three glasses of red wine that I downed last night to forget, my bladder was now reporting. On the way to the medical supply store, I passed the terrace.
The property ended here and there was a beautiful view of the valley in front of you. I had deliberately chosen this holiday home. Another point where Elke grumbled. I was just not the kind of guy who went to a party every night. Well, everyone would say, “You're twenty, so throw yourself into the full life.”
My bladder was reporting and I walked on to the toilet house.
Again, no one was to be seen and I quickly settled the pressure that I felt. After that, I made my way back to the tent. Just in shorts, it was quite fresh for me.
I looked around a bit and decided that my decision to come here had been right. There were only a few tents behind mine and the large house on the hill housed a few vacation apartments.
And then there was the large pool. Everything was done up in Italian style with terra-cotta colored stones. Like the house, the tents were surrounded by bushes and pine trees. Then there was the sanitary building and a small outhouse with a washing machine, refrigerator and sink.
The owner's brown mongrel came up to me, wagging his tail.
“Well, already awake?” I asked and scratched him on the head.
Then he trotted on. I paused again on the terrace and looked down into the valley.
Thomas
At first I wasn't at all thrilled that my big sister dragged me on vacation with her and her girlfriend. The two of them slept in the bedroom and I slept on the pull-out couch in the living area.
But after the disappointment with Marc, my ex-sweetheart, whom I caught in bed with another man, my sister Jessi Samaritan felt she had to play. I should get my mind off things.
I threw back the blanket, got up and immediately my head made itself felt. Yesterday after arriving I had quite a few drinks, although I knew I couldn't handle anything. The only thing I could remember was crying myself to sleep.
A new day?a new life! This sentence from Iris, Jessi's friend, still echoed in my head. A new life?a disparaging smile graced my lips. I had so many plans with Marc, but now it was all over.
I quietly pushed the door open. The sun had already risen. My eyes wandered over the beautiful view and stuck to a guy on the terrace. He was wearing only shorts like me and was leaning against the railing.
A really cute guy, I thought to myself. Everything a gay man's heart desires. The broad back suggested he did sport, as did the muscular upper arms.
I rubbed my hand across my face. Thomas, you really are the worst. You've only just become single and already you're ogling the next man's ass. But he was definitely cute and fit.
But the chance that the guy was also gay and still single was zero? a pipe dream. Surely a blonde bimbo would come along and let him nibble on her.
But nobody came and the urge to see him from the front also grew stronger and stronger. Just curiosity. So I went down to the terrace just as I was, in shorts. At least he looked like a German.
“Morgen!“ I said.
Mike
I was totally absorbed in my thoughts when someone greeted me with ‘Morgen?’ I was startled and turned around to see a guy about my age standing in front of me. He smiled.
“Morgen!” I greeted him back.
“Did you also arrive yesterday?” he asked.
“Yes!”
'Thomas,' he said, holding out his hand.
'Mike,' I replied and shook his hand.
The hand was soft and warm, yet the grip was firm. I realized that I was still standing there in my pyjama shorts and crossed my arms over my chest.
'Are you here alone?' Thomas asked.
'Yes, and you?'
With my sister and her friend. But you? Alone? Isn't that boring?
No, just right.
Thomas screwed up his face, his eyes seemed sad.
I'll go take a shower, I said, nodded again and left him standing there.
Thomas.
Wow! What a cutie! I stood there staring after him. He disappeared into the next tent, presenting his backside to me. It was a good idea to take a shower, because the sight of him made me want to have sex.
And being seen out here with a mola, no, not even I would want to inflict that on anyone. I ran back to the house. Jessi and Iris seemed to still be sleeping, so I went to my suitcase and took out my shower things.
It took a while for my tired limbs to finally wake up. I thought back to all the shower orgies with Marc, which was now also in the past. Jessi had always thought that Marc and I wouldn't be a good match.
But A. who listens to his big sister and B. when you're in love, you're on a cloud. Well, now I knew where I stood. I washed my hair and soaped myself several times until I was interrupted by a heavy knocking.
“Thomas, how long are you going to keep hogging the bathroom? I need to use the toilet,“ I heard Jessi call.
“Almost done!”
“Men!” it was heard through the door.
Without drying myself, I tied a towel around my hips and left the bathroom.
“If your brother wasn't gay, the absolute sin,“ I heard Iris say.
“Thank you, my sweetheart,” I cooed, playfully, and blew a kiss.
“Iris, even if my brother were good-looking, he's a man and men are...”
pigs,“ I interrupted her, ‘I know, sis, you don't have to tell me.”
Jessi and Iris started laughing loudly and I retreated outside as I was. A quick glance at the surroundings to ’make sure” and I took off my towel. Naked as I was, I lay down on the plastic lounger in front of our apartment and let the sun dry me.
Mike
The shower had achieved its goal and I was fine again. Totally relaxed, I packed up my things and made my way back to my tent. I didn't want breakfast, I wasn't hungry, but I needed a cup of coffee now.
My eyes fell automatically on the large house where I would have my coffee later. And they got stuck on the terrace in front of one of the apartments. Thomas was lying there, naked.
He looked somehow beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off Thomas. He seemed to have showered like me; his skin glistened with moisture. His black, curly hair was also stuck to his head wet.
What was I thinking? I thought a guy was beautiful. Was I still all right in the cupboard? Dazed, I crawled into my tent, pulled a pair of shorts and a T-shirt out of my pocket.
In the middle of the movement, I paused. The image of naked Thomas wouldn't go out of my head. I let myself sink onto my sleeping bag. What was the matter with me? When swimming, I always saw my buddies naked.
I had never paid much attention to it before, but now? Thomas? I rubbed my eyes with my hands. Had I been more affected by Elke than I wanted to admit to myself?
No, I was glad to be rid of Elke, I just felt quite alone. And now there was Thomas, to whom I felt attracted. I thought he was handsome. I shook my head as if I wanted to catapult these thoughts out of my head.
I squeezed myself into the shorts and had trouble getting the shirt over my head. Actually, I was stupid, getting dressed was certainly easier in front of the tent. So I crawled out of the tent again.
When I finally stood, my gaze fell again on Thomas, who was still lying there as he had been before. Dressed as if by magic, I walked towards the house, getting closer and closer to Thomas.
Thomas
Before I started to fry here, I thought I'd better put something on. Actually, all I needed was to dry, but in the warmth of the morning sun, I needed to feel comfortable. I opened my eyes and sat up.
I jumped as I saw Mike standing in front of me at a short distance. Somehow he seemed surprised himself, because he flinched just as much as I did. He looked down at the ground, embarrassed.
“Coffee?“ he asked.
“Please?” I asked.
“Do you feel like having a coffee?”
“I'd love to, but I'm already having breakfast with my sister and her friend.”
No problem, it was just an idea.”
Was there something like disappointment to be read in his face? He just kept walking without turning around again. Actually, I could have gone with him, but I didn't really feel like it.
With Marc, I had risked everything and lost everything. Shortly after we met, I had moved in with him, crazy as that may sound. Of course I canceled my lease at my old apartment. I neglected many of my friends because of Marc, well, actually all of them.
I moved out of Marc's in a cloak-and-dagger operation. The assurances that this was a one-time thing and meant nothing more had become meaningless to me. My heart was already broken.
I had loved him divinely, but those few seconds destroyed everything that had been important to me. Somehow it had all lost its meaning. And if it hadn't been for Jessi, I'd probably still be on the street.
It was pure coincidence that she had picked me up? If not, then? No, I didn't want to think about this any further. Now I was sitting here on vacation. Above all, I was sitting here naked. Oh, shit! I had also been naked in front of Mike.
Mike
What had possessed me to ask this Thomas if he wanted to have a coffee with me? I shook my head. I didn't even know him. The image appeared in my head of him lying naked in front of me.
What was it about this guy that was messing me up so much? I had never experienced a guy messing me up before. I went into the main building, where there was a small kiosk next to a small shop.
But also, what I particularly liked, a counter snack. For little money, there was breakfast, lunch and dinner. I sat down on a stool and studied the small menu. I wasn't hungry yet.
The waitress came and I ordered a coffee. I put the menu back down and thought about what to do with the day. I took a cigarette out of the pack and lit it.
Since I had driven so much yesterday, I didn't want to leave by car again today; I was sure I would see the beach soon enough. And when I thought about it, it was probably no fun alone either.
So I decided to lie by the pool later. But before that, I wanted to go into town for a few minutes to get something to eat and drink. That was a must. The waitress brought my coffee, which I paid for immediately.
I thought about yesterday's drive as I sipped my coffee. Several traffic jams due to construction sites had cost me more time than I had planned for. And then there were always these breaks where I just had to stop.
Where I sat behind my steering wheel and cried. Again and again the scene with Elke came to mind. This >wimp< echoed in my head. Laughter tore me out of my thoughts, which was perhaps better that way.
Thomas came running up the road with two girls.
“How about just a coffee?“ ‘Brother, you're too skinny anyway, you should eat something!’ said one of them.
“I like myself the way I am!” “I don't know what you're talking about, Jessi. Do you want me to dress like a typical German, with an open shirt and a beer belly?” replied Thomas.
“Thomas
No, not at all. There are already too many of them around, said Iris.
You see! I started, “That's why I'm not eating this morning. No, seriously, I'm really not hungry.
So I'll order something sweet, that's what I need now, said Jessi.
Your thighs will thank you for it, sis, I chuckled.
“Ass!”
“Allow me, Thomas!” I said, saluting like a soldier.
Jessi shook her head and I received a small slap on the back of the head, which in turn amused Iris. I let my gaze wander and spotted Mike at the bar. He wiped his eyes and smiled, apparently at our conversation.
You just shouldn't mess with your older sister, especially not mention her figure. We had reached the bar.
“Hello Mike,“ I said, and he nodded at me.
“Really, as soon as you're left alone, he's already chatting up strange guys,” Jessi said indignantly.
I wanted to wring her neck for that sentence. I looked at her reproachfully and Iris joined in with another giggle. I sat down next to Mike, with Iris next to me, and Jessie?
She also sat down next to Mike. No chance to protect him from my big sister. Mike had turned back to his coffee, while I began to study the menu like the others.
“Hello Mike, I'm Tom's big sister,“ I heard Jessi suddenly say.
“Hello,” Mike replied quietly.
And this is Iris, a friend of mine,“ she continued.
Mike nodded in her direction.
And you? Here alone?
“That can be a blessing!” I blurted out, and Iris giggled again.
“Yes, I am,” Mike replied.
He finished his coffee and got up. Without saying another word, he just left.
What's up with him, did I say something wrong? Jessi asked, looking after him.
Not everyone can take your morning monologues, I replied.
Iris kept giggling and I sighed.
There's something else, didn't you see how sad he looked? Jessi asked.
“Of course I noticed and what do you want me to do?” I asked.
“Go after him and comfort him.”
“But are you okay, sis? I don't even know if he wants to talk to me. And it's obvious that guy's not gay, right?
How can you be so sure? He's really really cute, don't you think?
Jessi, stop trying to fix me up!
I'm not, I just don't like to see someone sad. I think I'll go to him.
No, don't. OK, I give up, but just so you don't talk him into the ground?
I don't know how she always manages it, but she had me back doing something I didn't really want to do. Jessi just grinned at me as I got up.
“You'll pay for the next coffee!” I said, and followed Mike.
Mike
I really didn't feel like listening to the cackling of hens. No, I was completely fed up with that.
Mike?
I turned around and Thomas followed me. What's going on?
Yes?
Sorry if my sister got on your nerves, he said when he caught up with me.
That's okay.
So now we were both walking next to each other.
“Are you okay?“ Thomas suddenly asked.
I looked up and into his eyes.
“I mean, you look so sad. Have you been crying?”
“If you must know, yes, I was crying,” I said, annoyed.
“Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry.”
“What do you want?” I asked and stopped walking.
Admittedly, my reaction was a bit too intense, but it worked. Thomas shut up and stared at me.
“Sorry, I'm just in a crappy mood and not interested in any nonsense about your sister.”
“Understandable?”
“Please?”
“I completely understand you. Sometimes my sister is just unbearable.”
A slight smile graced his mouth.
“And what about me?” Thomas asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Whether you can't stand my presence either?”
“I didn't say that.”
“Feel like walking a bit?”
I looked around. There were many olive groves around the house, but also paths in different directions.
“Why not?” I conceded.
So we walked past the parking lot, up the path to the next hill. We didn't say a word to each other. Everyone looked at their path in front of them. I had fewer problems with my sneakers, while Thomas only wore flip-flops.
The rocky path did the rest. But as long as he didn't say anything and kept walking, I didn't say anything either. The path now climbed a little more and we both panted for the bet. It wasn't long before we reached the hill.
We both let ourselves fall on a thick, fallen trunk by the wayside.
“It's really beautiful here,” said Thomas, looking down towards the sea.
My eyes followed his down into the valley. On the horizon, you could see the mountains around Livorno.
“Do you still want to go to the sea today?“ Thomas asked.
“I don't know, alone?”
“And how about?”
“No, not with your sister,” I interrupted him.
“With me,” Thomas finished his question with a grin.
“Um, yes?”
?Well, I really didn't want to do that to you, having to go to the beach with my sister and pondering various ladies' fashions in the bikini world. Or possibly gossiping about form-fitting men and women.?
?No, you're enough for me!?, I said and started laughing.
?So it's a deal, the two of us will go to the beach at noon.?
*-*-*
So there we were, sitting on the beach, almost alone. There weren't many people near the dunes. We had made ourselves comfortable on our towels. Thomas had already put on his swimming trunks, but I was still sitting there in my clothes. I looked into the distance again and lost myself in my thoughts.
“Problems?“ Thomas asked.
“Not anymore, no,” I replied.
Thomas
There I was, this beautiful guy sitting next to me, looking sadly into the distance. I would have loved to take him in my arms, but I refrained from doing so. I didn't even know how he would react to my being gay.
“My girlfriend, who I'd been with for two years, broke up with me a week before our vacation,” Mike said quietly, without changing his line of vision.
“Did you do something?” I asked without thinking about what I had just asked.
The bill came right away, and Mike looked at me reproachfully.
“Sorry, I was just assuming. Not everyone catches their partner in bed with someone else. So I should rephrase my question: What didn't she like about you?”
“Everything.”
I don't understand.
Mike looked at me.
You broke up with your girlfriend, too, did you catch her?
Um... well, how should I say this without risking you getting mad at me?
Why would I be mad if we talk about our exes?
There's the small problem that I don't have any exes.