The Adventures of Denver Houston (Part 1 and 2)
Denver’s first day at college was not what he expected. No sooner does his mother drop him off at the campus than he gets swept up with his dorm mates into a night of partying and shenanigans. Things don’t go as expected as one misadventure leads to another. All Denver wants is to get back to his dorm room bed so he’ll be ready for classes starting in the morning.
Note: Lucidity College is an adult gay male college roleplay community in Second Life. I am taking a great deal of creative license in this story with both the college campus and people named. So while I am using actual Lucidity locations and student names, their descriptions and the characters I have written are entirely fictional.
Scene 1 - First Day on Campus
“Good luck, honey! Your father and I are so proud of you! You’re going to meet lots of new people and have such a great time with your classes! I can’t wait to hear all about it!”
Amelia Houston stood in front of her 19 year old son, Denver. She was attractive, 43 years old, wearing a pink sweatsuit. She liked to look cute while also being comfortable. Her brown hair was pulled back into a long, simple braid. If you looked closely, you could see a few grey hairs starting to show.
Taking after his mother, Denver dressed for comfort, too. Jeans and a sleeveless t-shirt worn loose over his football player build. His shoulder length blonde hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail.
Mrs. Houston didn’t like being away from home, so they had flown from Memphis to Los Angeles early that morning. Her return flight was booked for later the same day, leaving her just enough time to get Denver to the dorm before having to say goodbye. They had a quick walk around the college campus as they looked for the dormitory office to get Denver’s room assignment and time was getting tight.
Mrs. Houston was excited. Maybe a little too excited. Her only son was starting his first day at college in the morning.
“Mom,” Denver said, taking a breath attempting to hide his exasperation. Clasping her elbows with his hands and looking directly into her eyes, he continued as quietly and calmly as he could.
“I’m going to be fine.”
Inside, Denver was mortified. They had just arrived at the college campus, suitcases and a couple of moving boxes were in a heap in one corner, the dorm room door was still open and he could see other students and their families were milling about having similar conversations. Still, Denver hoped their voices weren’t carrying and no one could hear this embarrassing exchange.
Mom had always been a bit over protective. Denver suspected she was worried about empty nest syndrome. How was she going to deal with life with Mr. Houston without Denver in the house? Mom had a bit of the crazy eyes—a little more wired than the situation called for—as they said their goodbyes.
Denver smiled, continuing to hold her gaze in an attempt to reassure his frazzled mother. He hoped she wasn’t going to cry.
Mrs. Houston finally took a breath of her own. Coming back to herself, she took a quick final look around the dorm room. The room was empty except for a full size bed with a sturdy wood frame, a basic wood desk, and some shelves. The tile floor and painted brick walls made the room echo a bit.
“This is a big room. And you have this all to yourself?”
Denver knew she was worried he’d get homesick and not make new friends to spend time with… or date...
“Apparently so, mom. As soon as you leave, I gotta unpack. Classes start first thing tomorrow.” Denver winked at her and smiled, hoping she’d get the message he was ready for her to leave without being rude about it.
“You’ll make lots of new friends soon enough and won’t have time to be lonely.”
Denver nodded. He was going to miss his family. He also was eager to get the room squared away so he could explore the campus a little more before bedtime. He was thinking the campus coffee shop he spotted earlier looked like a happening place. But his 8:00 a.m. Biology class was going hurt with the 2 hour time difference.
“Well, I should get going. The flight back to Memphis leaves in a little bit.”
“Yeah,” Denver agreed. “LAX is a lot bigger than Memphis’ airport. The TSA line is going to take a while...”
“I love you, baby,” she said, looking Denver up and down but avoiding his eyes.
“I love you, too, mom.”
Denver wrapped his arms around her and held on until she pulled away. And then mother Houston headed to the airport.
Denver surveyed his room again before he began unpacking.
Less than a minute later, a freckled face with a shaggy mop of red hair and a great big grin appeared in the doorway.
“I thought she was NEVER going to leave!”
Startled, Denver looked up and found himself tongue tied in the presence of this unexpected cutie.
“Um, what?
Red chuckled, aware of the effect he was having.
“Come on!” Red gestured excitedly. “A bunch of us are going to The Shelter!”
Before Denver could ask, “What’s The Shelter?” he found himself sucked into Red’s wake as they headed down the dorm room halls.
Scene 2 - The Shelter
Red continued to lead Denver through the dorm halls, down a flight of stairs, and around a corner, deftly navigating the college maze. Denver found himself amused at how easily Red collected several other guys as they passed one room after another. He caught the names Zachary, Finn, Lee, and Handel, but there were two or three more who’s names he didn’t catch as the pair became a gang, gathering boys as they barreled through the building.
Red’s bright red hair and freckles were as arresting as his broad smile and enthusiasm were infectious. Red seemed to know who he was picking, but all of them had the same surprised look as Denver when he asked them to come along.
Denver observed Red’s modus operandi and thought, “Only a natural leader could draft a bunch of freshmen strangers like this. I bet he’s majoring in Political Science. Tonight is going to be … interesting …”
Moments later, the troupe was out the college’s front door and headed down the street on foot. Just a block away from the college they arrived in front of a somewhat dilapidated building. White paint peeled from the building’s brick exterior and nondescript door. Some amateur graffiti sprinkled here and there was the only color. Denver could see no signs or other indication this was any kind of business. It could have been apartments for all anyone could tell. Or abandoned. Red was first to the front door. He pulled the door open with a quick glance back at his followers. A flash of grin, a twinkle of his bright green eyes, and Red disappeared into darkness. The group followed to find themselves just inside the dive-iest dive bar they’d ever seen.
“Welcome to The Shelter!” Red yelled over the thumping dance music, raising his arms and twirling about 360°.
An empty small dance floor took up the center of the room. On the opposite side from the entrance was a well worn, somewhat dingy oak bar. Behind the bar, a bartender was making a rum-and-coke. Dropping a lime wedge into the glass before looking up at the newcomers, the bartender said, “What have you brought me tonight, Red?” He surveyed the group and continued, “These boys look green.”
“FreshMEN! Fresh MEAT!” Red responded, drumming his hands on the bar top. The two chuckled. Denver suspected they’d had this particular exchange before.
“Yeah, yeah,” the bartender said as he put down a napkin and slid the drink across to the patron sitting in front of him.
A series of empty banquettes lined the wall on the right side of the room. On the left, more banquettes and a short hallway to another room beyond that looked like it held a pool table and dart board. The place was clean but well used and shabby. Duct tape and bumper stickers held together some of the broken down vinyl banquette seats. The ceiling’s painted black acoustic tiles were covered with what looked like toothpicks.
The small and previously empty dive was now full. The guys spread out to occupy some of the booths while Zachary and Lee started grinding on each other on the dance floor, essentially dry humping standing up.
Red turned around to grab Denver’s arm and pulled him onto a barstool.
“What can I get ya’?” the bartender asked.
Denver cut his eyes to Red who answered for them, “Pitcher of beer and two glasses!”
As the bartender turned around to retrieve an empty pitcher and began filling it at the tap, Denver leaned over to Red.
“I’m only 19…” Denver whispered through clenched teeth, his eyes wide.
Red nonchalantly waved a hand, “Don’t sweat it. Wes never checks IDs here.”
Wes sets the pitcher of beer and two frosty mugs in front of the pair.
“Enjoy,” Wes says before grabbing a bar towel, tossing it over his shoulder, and walking out from behind the bar. Denver watches as the bartender moves to the closest table and begins taking orders from the other guys.
Red takes a sip of his beer and sets it back down. Turning to Denver, he asks, “So what brings you to Lucidity College, friend?”
Denver grimaces and sips his beer. “Well, my parents didn’t react very well when I came out to them and I needed to get away from home. Lucidity was the farthest I could get and still have my parents pay for college.”
“Smart. I’m guessing they’re religious?”
“Yeah.”
“They’ll come around eventually. Most do.”
“Well, I hope so…”
“Let me give you some advice, Denver. Keep your parents on a need-to-know basis.”
Denver arched an eyebrow but didn’t say anything in response.
Red gave Denver a knowing look, “What they don’t know won’t hurt you, if you know what I mean.”
Denver nodded and turned around on his barstool to watch Zach and Lee on the dance floor.
Red did the same and continued, “All the guys at Lucidity have a coming out story. Some happy, some not so happy. But here you’ll get the chance to figure out what you want, try some new things, maybe get into a little trouble…”
Denver grinned wryly.
“Speaking of trouble...” Red pulled out his cellphone and made a call. “Hey, Finn! Get your butt to The Shelter. I got someone I want you to meet.”
