It has been a year since that night at the gym. A lot has changed in my life. In finished my courses and graduated. I have a full-time career job with a tax company. I don't work at the gym anymore, but now I am a paying member. I still live in the same apartment, but now I have enough disposable income to afford my needs easily and save some extra along the way.
With school behind me and just work to fill my days, I find myself with free time on my hands. This is new to me and my evenings and weekends can get lonely. I am 23 now and I it's time to think about dating. I have only been on a couple of dates in my life, each one with different girls. First dates only, never anything further. The last few years, there had been no time for a social life with full-time work and school.
Now that I have realized that I am gay, I am even more unsure of how to go about meeting someone. There are a couple of good looking guys at my gym. I know nothing about their personalities or their interests. How would I know if they're open to being with another guy? I am at this new phase of my life but I am inexperienced and clueless.
I made a decision. I pulled out that phone number that I had hidden away a year ago. That number that I didn't think I would ever call. I still thought about that night at the gym. Honestly, not a single day goes by without thinking about it. I didn't think I'd ever call this number, but then again something made me hold on to it. Believe it or not I didn't even know his name. He spent 3 hours that night performing personal acts on me, tickling me, violating me, humiliating me and giving me the most intense sexual release of my life. But I still don't know his name.
I do know that he asked, practically begged me, to call him sometime. Why not now? I knew he wouldn't hurt me. He didn't hurt me that night. In a strange way I kind of feel like he protected me from real harm. Between his bigger partner in crime and their angry boss, things could have gone very differently in a bad way. But he was there and things went his way. Now I found myself dialing his number.
In a gruff, hurried and irritated tone, he answered. I recognized his voice. What do I say? How do I address him? I felt like an idiot. I began, "Uh, hi. This... is uh..."
He cut me off, "I know who this is." His tone immediately changes. Softened. "I was starting to think you'd never call." I could hear the big smile on his face as he spoke.
"I...well...I think I want..." I stammered on.
"You want..."
"I want to see you."
"I'd be glad to. I am free this weekend. That work for you?" he asked.
I said, "Yes."
He said, "Where and when Little Dude?"
I knew he knew my name. He knew where I lived. He knew where I worked at the time. He and his cohorts had broken in to my apartment and searched every inch of it. But they never said my nameor each other's . This one referred to me as "Little Dude" a few times. I responded, "How about Saturday at noon at the coffee shop next to the gym? You remember where the gym...?"
He cut in again, "I remember. I'll be there."
I said, "I don't know your name."
He chuckled, "My name is Dan. I will see you Saturday, Eric," and he disconnected the call.
I suddenly felt a wave of fear. What have I done? What if I just re-started something that I would regret? What if this turned out to be dangerous? Torturous? What if I misread this guy, Dan? Was there a way out? Should I just not show up Saturday? No, he probably remembers where my apartment is. Should I call him back and tell him to forget it?
I spent the next few hours thinking, contemplating the situation. I decided that it was time for my life to begin. I had just come to realize a year ago that I am gay. I have now crossed a bridge from one part of my life to another. But I was stuck, just treading water. Not only was I clueless about how to even begin the process of meeting someone, but I also hadn't even publicly come out as gay yet. I haven't told my mom or my younger brothers. No one at work knew. Meeting up with Dan would help get me going. I won't cancel or bail.
Just then my phone pinged - an incoming text. It wasn't from one of my saved contacts, but I recognized the number from having dialed it earlier. Dan. The message read: "Do you still have those same beat up, smelly old sneakers from last year? Wear them on Saturday."
I flushed with embarrassment at the memory. Now that I had some disposable income, I had in fact bought myself a long overdue new pair of sneakers. I had not, however, thrown out my old tattered pair. Of course I would do as he said and wear them.
Saturday came and I showed up early at the coffee shop. I hung out on the sidewalk until just before noon and then went in and took a booth. As I sat there waiting for Dan, I thought about what I really wanted to get out this unlikely reconnection. I know he isn't likely to be a dating or relationship expert, full of advice and tips. I guess I was hoping he could help me with the physical side of my emerging sexuality. I have never been with a man. I have zero experience. A little knowledge and skill would boost my confidence. And Dan would probably enjoy teaching me.
Just then, I saw him come through the door. He looked exactly the same. I had changed a little over the past year. With more time on my hands I was working out more, trading time on the treadmill for time with the weights. I hadn't transformed into a bodybuilder or anything, but I had added a little toning to my previously little-boy figure. I am 5' 10" and just about 150 pounds. I recently added an inch to waist going from a 29 to a 30. Would Dan notice the changes? He found me and slid into the booth across from me.