I was sitting in my compartment on the southbound train, heading for Los Angeles. I hadn't seen my girlfriend since she left for UCLA ten months ago. Why am I taking the train? I'm terrified of flying and I fall asleep while driving. But the expense was worth it to have my own compartment where I could stretch out to sleep. I'm six-six and the chairs in the cattle car just aren't conducive to sleeping. Also, I could shut out the kids.
We actually left Seattle on time, passing Safeco Field and heading south to Tacoma. I had a great book but wanted something to drink so I headed to the club car to see what was happening. I was lost in contemplation, thinking about Angela. We hadn't been together since last summer. But I remained faithful. I looked and I had a prurient fantasy or two, but I kept it in my pants. I really thought she could be the one. We met while at the University of Washington. I got my degree in finance and got a job at the software giant (you know which one I'm talking about) while she wanted to further her education and went to LA. Well, this was my first chance for a vacation and I couldn't wait to surprise her.
When I got to the club car, it was packed. I slowly made my way to the counter so I could get a drink. But the milling crowd caused me to bump into someone. I turned to apologize and looked into the eyes of my neighbor, Alan. I smiled at a familiar face and we started talking. He told me he was on his way to San Diego to meet his brother's ship when he got to port in a few days. I asked why the train and he told me he hated flying. I smiled and agreed. We were chatting back and forth and I asked him to come back to my compartment, the bed was folded into a couch and there was a comfy armchair there as well. He agreed and we set off down the halls of the train. Once in the compartment we talked some more. I told him I was going to surprise my girlfriend.
We talked through several stops, and then decided to have dinner once we passed Eugene. Over dinner we talked about the apartments where we lived. It was a great old building in Pioneer Square near downtown Seattle, the area hardest hit by the earthquake two years ago. From my apartment I could see the Pike Place market and the ferry terminal. Alan lived across from me and didn't have a view. But as I was leaving in the morning, over time, I had seen a couple of guys leaving, in various states of undress. I knew he was gay and I could care less. Alan was an EMT and worked for the city. He was maybe a year or two older than my twenty-four. He was tall, about six-three and was strong, but you would have to be to do all that lifting.
When dinner was done, Alan made to go back to the cattle cars where he was sitting. But he was almost as tall as I and needed that extra space. Plus, I really wanted someone to talk to. So I invited him to stay with me. He smiled and said he really appreciated it. He was lonely too. When we got back to the compartment, the porter had turned the sofa into a bed. My plan might have hit a snag. There was no upper birth, the sofa turned into a queen-sized bed. Well, what the hell. I invited Alan in and I sat in the armchair and he got comfortable on the bed. We talked some more and I realized that I really liked him. We had talked in the hall a few times, but I found that he was a great guy. When we were both home, I was going to make a point of spending more time with him.
Alan leaned back against the wall and was watching the view as we passed through the mountains from Eugene to Klamath Falls. I watched him. Like I said he was almost as tall as me and definitely stronger. But he was also handsome. His skin was like milky porcelain. He had a very smooth face; almost beautiful complexion that I knew many women would kill for. His lashes were long and thick. But he wasn't feminine looking; he was definitely a man. He had a dark five o'clock shadow and his cheekbones were more masculine then feminine. He had dark, golden brown hair. His fingers were long and graceful while being strong as well. His legs were long and his feet were big. I mentally shook myself, what the hell was I thinking?
I had messed around a little with my freshman roommate. I wanted to try it and see. We kissed a little and jerked off together. I let him suck me often, but I only tried it once. He was so excited he shot off almost instantly and I choked, and then puked. That kind of killed the passion for me. The year ended and we parted friends, but I hadn't met any other guy or even had an urge to be with one since. But I was starting to think about it. Then I felt guilty because of Angela. Again, just a prurient thought or two, but I would keep it in my pants.
Once we passed Klamath Falls, it was past eleven. We were both tired. We would reach LA tomorrow afternoon and I wanted to go to bed. The next few minutes were awkward. I normally sleep in the raw. Alan admitted that he did too. But we agreed skivvies would do. I shucked my jeans and shirt then turned. I really felt inadequate. I was not even close to being as muscular as Alan. I was toned, more like a long-distance runner, but he was really buff and very defined. I was so much hairier too. It coated my chest and belly, up my arms and legs. My ass was so hairy, all the way up to the small of my back. Like the rest of my hair, it was dark brown, almost black. But I was skinny, almost gaunt compared to Alan. I turned red. Alan just looked at me and smiled. He had a light sprinkling of golden hair on his chest and a thin trail from sternum to belly button before it fanned out into the waistband of his briefs. Well, inadequacies are one thing, but all we were doing was sleeping. So I crawled in first, facing the wall and Alan followed, facing the opposite way.
The rocking of the train soon had me asleep. Even the occasional stop in Northern California couldn't wake me. One of our first stops in the morning was in Sacramento. I woke up when the train had stopped. I found myself with Alan wrapped around me. I normally sleep on my back and he was lying with his head on my shoulder and an arm and leg thrown over me. I wouldn't have cared regardless, but I was glad just to have someone in my arms. It has been a very lonely ten months. It's so easy to get used to sleeping with someone beside me, but a bitch when they are gone. So I just lay there for a few minutes, savoring the moment. Then he woke up. He sat away from me and started apologizing.
"I'm sorry Bill. I just miss having someone to sleep next to."
He looked vulnerable and a little sad. "I understand Alan. It's been a long time since someone slept next to me too. Don't be embarrassed." He broke out in one of the largest grins.
We got up and got dressed and headed for the dining car as we set out from Sacramento, heading for the coast. Over breakfast, he started relaxing again. We talked a lot. We talked about his job and then mine. He was interested in it all. And I found myself just as interested in his work. We had a lot in common: music, movies, books, everything. We were still talking when we got to Santa Barbara. The six hours just flew by. We were heading into Los Angeles when I asked what his plans to get to San Diego were. He told me he was taking a bus. I told him that I was renting a car. Since it was Thursday, I knew Angela would have class tomorrow. I told him that we would drop off my stuff and I would take him to San Diego and come back and spend the weekend with Angela. He was hesitant at first, but I talked him into it.
We got to the station in LA and we got my car and drove to Angela's place. It was about seven and traffic wasn't too bad. We pulled up in front of the little house she was renting and we got out. I walked up to the door and rang the bell. But Angela didn't answer the door. David did. He was a graduate student we both knew from our time at the University of Washington and who had talked Angela into going to UCLA during last summer. He looked shocked to see me.
"David. Is Angela home?"
"Bill. What are you doing here?"
"I came to see Angela. What are you doing here? Study session?"
He ran his left hand through his hair. I noticed a gold ring on his finger. It all clicked into place. I looked over at Alan. Pity flooded his face.
"So, when did you get married?"
"Last month. In Vegas."