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Description
     Light jazz music was playing from the nearby CD player but Johnnie barely heard it as his hands formed his clay into the desired shape.  He even missed the text though the obnoxious tune from the incoming call was able to break through his intense concentration.  Johnnie snatched up a nearby pencil and used the eraser to hit speaker on the portable phone.  First thing he heard was the alternative music before the caller attempted to shout over it.
     "Johnnie!"  Came his friend's loud voice.  "Where you at?"
     Johnnie grinned as he recognized Jimmie's voice and picked up the nearby towel as he stood to stretch.  He'd been sitting for longer than he'd realized.
     "I'm in Africa," he answered.  Johnnie seriously doubted anything he said would be understood as the music was pretty loud on the other end.  "You should see the trees!"
     "What?"
     Johnnie grinned.
     "The lions are dancing with giraffes.  It's amazing."
     There was a pause from the other end though it might have been just distraction from the party and not an attempt to comprehend the odd responds.
     "Whatever," came the dismissal then the order.  "Get up here.  You're missing the party!"
     Johnnie snorted and picked up the phone carrying it to the kitchen.  He spotted the wall calendar and realized it was the last Saturday night of the month.  Once a month, the building opened up the 7th floor to all residents for a huge mixer.  Johnnie wasn't a huge fan plus he wanted to get these vases finished by Wednesday.
     "I'm right in the middle of that project, Jimmie."
     "Ok, so see you in five, right?"
     Johnnie rolled his eyes.  For someone who was 'supposedly' telepathic, Jimmie could be pretty dense at times.
     "Right."
     Jimmie must have heard what he wanted and hung up as he shouted to someone about bringing the cheese.  Well he could have said something about singing in the trees, but honestly Johnnie didn't really care.
     Leaving the phone on the counter, he washed his hands and poured himself an orange juice before returning to his work.
     About 20 minutes later there was a knock on his door.
     Johnnie ignored it but one turned into three.
     Sighing, he grabbed his towel again and headed for his apartment's front door before three became six.
     "Jimmie, I'm working on those vases, for your mother, might I add,' he announced loudly enough to be heard through the door.  "Would you rather me here or up there?"
     "Not Jimmie" came the return call.
     Johnnie frowned and used the towel to open the door.
     Standing there was definitely not Jimmie.  The young man was dressed in a well fitting red Lycra shirt, tight lowcut blue jeans and new reddish colored boots.  When he triumphantly held up his 2 domestic beers the shirt's hem rose up an inch to expose a tanned and fit stomach. Johnnie's eyes were drawn there briefly before traveling back up to face belonging to the tone tummy.
     Long brown hair of luscious curls where shaken back from his face as he grinned smugly and offered the bottles.  "I come baring gifts."
     There was something about him that looked familiar but the guy could have just been one of the building's residents whom he didn't see often.  Johnnie shook his head.  "Are you even old enough to drink?"
     Unabashed, he glanced over Johnnie and then his eyebrows suggestively. "Are you coming like that?"
     Johnnie snorted.  He was wearing worn baggy sweat pants stained with clay and paint.  His tee-shirt, not looking much better, held the words "sculptures do it on the modeling wheel" nearly faded from age and washing.
     "How about no for both of us?"  He didn't wait for an answer before reaching out to take both bottles and place them on the small table near the door.
     "Look, I know Jimmie means well, but I'm really busy right now."  He used the back of his hand to rub his cheek as he turned back to his visitor.
     "Thank you for coming down," Johnnie said in attempt to dismiss to the fine looking distraction, "but no thank you."
     He stepped back intending to shut the door but the other male closed the distance, blocking the move.
     Johnnie frowned again.
     "Do I know you?"
     There was a brief attempt at offense which quickly melted into a happy smile.
     "I know it's been two years but I can't believe you forgot me."
     Johnnie put up a hand up between them to hold him back and waited for him to continue.
     The other man laughed.
     "The last time you saw me was at the Estate when I was barrel-racing Thunder."
     Johnnie stared at him for a second more then blinked in realization.  It was Jimmie's little cousin though clearly not so little anymore.
     "Jonathan?"
     Johnnie couldn't believe it.  The last time he'd seen him had not been barrel-racing but rather when Jonathan and his father were leaving for a long trip to Europe.  The awkward boy had been fresh out of high school with chubby cheeks, braces and short hair.  The attractive self-assured young man before him had grown at least 2 inches taller, was dramatically slimmer and had perfect teeth with long curly hair.
     Jonathan smiled as he reached out to touch Johnnie's cheek.  It was a gentle caress and Johnnie flinched from the connection as his hand pulled back from Jonathan's chest.
     Jonathan was clearly amused.
     "Something on your cheek," he offered in explanation, holding his empty hands up as if to show he had no ulterior motive.
     Johnnie was clearly doubtful. "What do you want, Jonathan?"
     He grinned.  "I was sent by Jimmie to, and I quote, 'Go get Mr. Walker and get his tholitary ath up here."
     Johnnie smirked.  He must have been too distracted to notice the lisp during the phone call.
     "How drunk is he?"
     Jonathan chuckled.
     "Getting more so every minute."
     He sighed.  Jimmie would probably call him an overprotective sot but he needed to get up there.  He was a really sweet level headed guy, but as some people got loud and rude when they drank, Jimmie tended to turn into a flaming bitch.
     "Alright," he ceded.  "Let me change and I'll go up."
     Jonathan's eyebrow raised in both surprise and doubt.  That was almost too easy.
     "Really?  I mean, I like the pants and all but..."
     Johnnie gave him an impatient look.
     "You have a better idea?"
     Jonathan's responding smile reminded him simultaneously of the Cheshire cat and a roguish thief setting Johnnie on full alert mode.  He stepped closer presumably to show him why he liked the baggy sweatpants but Jonathan didn't realize his target had been taking self defense classes at the local Y.
     Assertively, Johnnie batted one wrist away and grabbed the other, taking control over the situation.  He forced Jonathan to walk backwards out into the hall and against the far wall.
     "Jonathan, don't..." he started to growl out but the sound that came from hiw oppenent's throat gave him pause.  It was a needy sound and Johnnie watched as his eyes glazed with desire. His own eyes immediately narrowed in response for a split second but his own sudden flare of want was squashed.  Pushing the envelope with his best friend's cousin, who was five years younger, would be exceedingly irresponsible and completely unacceptable.  Plus there was the distinct aroma of alcohol which diminished anything else that might rise.  Instead he closed his eyes and and took a slow cleansing breath.
     "Jonathan," he tried again opening his eyes. "I can't do this.  Go home," he said softly.  "I'll call Jimmie and explain why neither of us are there."
     Without waiting for an answer he pulled back abruptly and returned to his apartment, slamming the door shut behind him.

     Jonathan stared at door in surprise, letting out the breath he'd been holding in several quick huffs.
     "Well, fuck," he muttered in frustration.  He swallowed, relaxing a bit, trying to figure out the last few minutes.
     A little smile tugged on the corner of his mouth when he realized he knew of two chicks and at least one guy, who 'could do this.'  His smile grew as he stepped away form the wall and adjusted himself; there was a party waiting.
     "Later, alligator," he told the door with a two finger salute before heading back to the elevator from which he had come.

     Back inside, Johnnie stood in the middle of his front room, hands clenched at his side.  Why in the world was he so worked up?  He normally had patience to last forever.
Johnnie swore under his breath as he closed his eyes forcing himself to relax.  Several deep breaths later he slowly opened his eyes.  Sitting on the big potter's wheel was the Vase he was in the middle of forming for Jimmie's mother.
     Jimmie.
     "Crap," he growled.
     Quickly he rushed into the bedroom and stripped off his tee shirt and sweats.  He cleaned off the clay then grabbed a clean pair of jeans and a earthy brown shirt from his dresser.  He wasn't staying, just retrieving, so wasn't worried about his bare feet. Keys and cell phone were grabbed and pocketed on the way out the door to the elevator.

Description
     Light jazz music was playing from the nearby CD player but Johnnie barely heard it as his hands formed his clay into the desired shape.  He even missed the text though the obnoxious tune from the incoming call was able to break through his intense concentration.  Johnnie snatched up a nearby pencil and used the eraser to hit speaker on the portable phone.  First thing he heard was the alternative music before the caller attempted to shout over it.
     "Johnnie!"  Came his friend's loud voice.  "Where you at?"
     Johnnie grinned as he recognized Jimmie's voice and picked up the nearby towel as he stood to stretch.  He'd been sitting for longer than he'd realized.
     "I'm in Africa," he answered.  Johnnie seriously doubted anything he said would be understood as the music was pretty loud on the other end.  "You should see the trees!"
     "What?"
     Johnnie grinned.
     "The lions are dancing with giraffes.  It's amazing."
     There was a pause from the other end though it might have been just distraction from the party and not an attempt to comprehend the odd responds.
     "Whatever," came the dismissal then the order.  "Get up here.  You're missing the party!"
     Johnnie snorted and picked up the phone carrying it to the kitchen.  He spotted the wall calendar and realized it was the last Saturday night of the month.  Once a month, the building opened up the 7th floor to all residents for a huge mixer.  Johnnie wasn't a huge fan plus he wanted to get these vases finished by Wednesday.
     "I'm right in the middle of that project, Jimmie."
     "Ok, so see you in five, right?"
     Johnnie rolled his eyes.  For someone who was 'supposedly' telepathic, Jimmie could be pretty dense at times.
     "Right."
     Jimmie must have heard what he wanted and hung up as he shouted to someone about bringing the cheese.  Well he could have said something about singing in the trees, but honestly Johnnie didn't really care.
     Leaving the phone on the counter, he washed his hands and poured himself an orange juice before returning to his work.
     About 20 minutes later there was a knock on his door.
     Johnnie ignored it but one turned into three.
     Sighing, he grabbed his towel again and headed for his apartment's front door before three became six.
     "Jimmie, I'm working on those vases, for your mother, might I add,' he announced loudly enough to be heard through the door.  "Would you rather me here or up there?"
     "Not Jimmie" came the return call.
     Johnnie frowned and used the towel to open the door.
     Standing there was definitely not Jimmie.  The young man was dressed in a well fitting red Lycra shirt, tight lowcut blue jeans and new reddish colored boots.  When he triumphantly held up his 2 domestic beers the shirt's hem rose up an inch to expose a tanned and fit stomach. Johnnie's eyes were drawn there briefly before traveling back up to face belonging to the tone tummy.
     Long brown hair of luscious curls where shaken back from his face as he grinned smugly and offered the bottles.  "I come baring gifts."
     There was something about him that looked familiar but the guy could have just been one of the building's residents whom he didn't see often.  Johnnie shook his head.  "Are you even old enough to drink?"
     Unabashed, he glanced over Johnnie and then his eyebrows suggestively. "Are you coming like that?"
     Johnnie snorted.  He was wearing worn baggy sweat pants stained with clay and paint.  His tee-shirt, not looking much better, held the words "sculptures do it on the modeling wheel" nearly faded from age and washing.
     "How about no for both of us?"  He didn't wait for an answer before reaching out to take both bottles and place them on the small table near the door.
     "Look, I know Jimmie means well, but I'm really busy right now."  He used the back of his hand to rub his cheek as he turned back to his visitor.
     "Thank you for coming down," Johnnie said in attempt to dismiss to the fine looking distraction, "but no thank you."
     He stepped back intending to shut the door but the other male closed the distance, blocking the move.
     Johnnie frowned again.
     "Do I know you?"
     There was a brief attempt at offense which quickly melted into a happy smile.
     "I know it's been two years but I can't believe you forgot me."
     Johnnie put up a hand up between them to hold him back and waited for him to continue.
     The other man laughed.
     "The last time you saw me was at the Estate when I was barrel-racing Thunder."
     Johnnie stared at him for a second more then blinked in realization.  It was Jimmie's little cousin though clearly not so little anymore.
     "Jonathan?"
     Johnnie couldn't believe it.  The last time he'd seen him had not been barrel-racing but rather when Jonathan and his father were leaving for a long trip to Europe.  The awkward boy had been fresh out of high school with chubby cheeks, braces and short hair.  The attractive self-assured young man before him had grown at least 2 inches taller, was dramatically slimmer and had perfect teeth with long curly hair.
     Jonathan smiled as he reached out to touch Johnnie's cheek.  It was a gentle caress and Johnnie flinched from the connection as his hand pulled back from Jonathan's chest.
     Jonathan was clearly amused.
     "Something on your cheek," he offered in explanation, holding his empty hands up as if to show he had no ulterior motive.
     Johnnie was clearly doubtful. "What do you want, Jonathan?"
     He grinned.  "I was sent by Jimmie to, and I quote, 'Go get Mr. Walker and get his tholitary ath up here."
     Johnnie smirked.  He must have been too distracted to notice the lisp during the phone call.
     "How drunk is he?"
     Jonathan chuckled.
     "Getting more so every minute."
     He sighed.  Jimmie would probably call him an overprotective sot but he needed to get up there.  He was a really sweet level headed guy, but as some people got loud and rude when they drank, Jimmie tended to turn into a flaming bitch.
     "Alright," he ceded.  "Let me change and I'll go up."
     Jonathan's eyebrow raised in both surprise and doubt.  That was almost too easy.
     "Really?  I mean, I like the pants and all but..."
     Johnnie gave him an impatient look.
     "You have a better idea?"
     Jonathan's responding smile reminded him simultaneously of the Cheshire cat and a roguish thief setting Johnnie on full alert mode.  He stepped closer presumably to show him why he liked the baggy sweatpants but Jonathan didn't realize his target had been taking self defense classes at the local Y.
     Assertively, Johnnie batted one wrist away and grabbed the other, taking control over the situation.  He forced Jonathan to walk backwards out into the hall and against the far wall.
     "Jonathan, don't..." he started to growl out but the sound that came from hiw oppenent's throat gave him pause.  It was a needy sound and Johnnie watched as his eyes glazed with desire. His own eyes immediately narrowed in response for a split second but his own sudden flare of want was squashed.  Pushing the envelope with his best friend's cousin, who was five years younger, would be exceedingly irresponsible and completely unacceptable.  Plus there was the distinct aroma of alcohol which diminished anything else that might rise.  Instead he closed his eyes and and took a slow cleansing breath.
     "Jonathan," he tried again opening his eyes. "I can't do this.  Go home," he said softly.  "I'll call Jimmie and explain why neither of us are there."
     Without waiting for an answer he pulled back abruptly and returned to his apartment, slamming the door shut behind him.

     Jonathan stared at door in surprise, letting out the breath he'd been holding in several quick huffs.
     "Well, fuck," he muttered in frustration.  He swallowed, relaxing a bit, trying to figure out the last few minutes.
     A little smile tugged on the corner of his mouth when he realized he knew of two chicks and at least one guy, who 'could do this.'  His smile grew as he stepped away form the wall and adjusted himself; there was a party waiting.
     "Later, alligator," he told the door with a two finger salute before heading back to the elevator from which he had come.

     Back inside, Johnnie stood in the middle of his front room, hands clenched at his side.  Why in the world was he so worked up?  He normally had patience to last forever.
Johnnie swore under his breath as he closed his eyes forcing himself to relax.  Several deep breaths later he slowly opened his eyes.  Sitting on the big potter's wheel was the Vase he was in the middle of forming for Jimmie's mother.
     Jimmie.
     "Crap," he growled.
     Quickly he rushed into the bedroom and stripped off his tee shirt and sweats.  He cleaned off the clay then grabbed a clean pair of jeans and a earthy brown shirt from his dresser.  He wasn't staying, just retrieving, so wasn't worried about his bare feet. Keys and cell phone were grabbed and pocketed on the way out the door to the elevator.