--The Grand Table--

When I awoke there was a cold space beside me, David was gone but I was not alone.

�Looks like he�s not staying for seconds.� A familiar voice sneered.

I grabbed the bedcovers in an attempt to cover up, but Stuart ripped the blanket from my hands.

�My goodness a shy rent boy!� he laughed staring down at my nude lower frame, which I quickly covered with a pillow.

�Tell me Darrel, did you enjoy your initiation?� He asked while circling the bed in a menacing manner, a wry grin on his lips.

�No complaints from either party.� I answered �And it�s Darren.�

�I assume you used protection then.� He smiled broadly at my stunned expression. �I�ll take your �deer in headlights� expression as a no shall I?� He walked gracefully over to my bedside dresser. �Here.� He said opening the second drawer. I scooted over to look and felt my jaw drop at its contents. Lubricants, flavoured condoms, dildos, handcuffs and a Polaroid camera were few among many.

�My favourite�s the ghetto ring.� Stuart shared, yawning and looking at his watch.

�What in hell�s a ghetto ring?�

�I�ll tell you when your older Darrel.�

�Well, we must do this again sometime.� I looked towards the door, to him and back to the door again.

�Don�t flatter yourself I didn�t come to chat. I was sent to collect you. We�re congregating downstairs in ten minutes.�

�We?�

�The boys.� He looked at me and yawned to show I was the source of his boredom. He was damn charming when he wanted to be.

I was almost afraid to ask the next question and embarrassed to admit the only rooms I had ever gone to were Dr Lewis�, the bathroom and mine.

�I�ll show you down.� He said as if reading my thoughts. �Just hurry up and get dressed, you come down like that and Elijah will pitch a fit.� He tried unsuccessfully to keep the jealousy out of his voice. I smiled inwardly at my slight triumph over him. I dressed quickly, aware of Stuart�s watchful eyes. When I was fully clothed he wrinkled his nose in disgust and I politely told him he could go copulate with himself. Laughing under his breath he turned from me and made a motion for me to follow and reluctantly I did.

*~*~*

I walked behind him down the winding long stairway ignoring the knots in the pit of my stomach. Instead I concentrated on the houses� d�cor, it truly was a beautiful mansion. I was busy praying for a quick and painless death when I realised that we had reached the bottom.

�We really need to get a lift huh?� I quipped smiling brightly at Stuart.

�Shut up.� Sighing loudly I did as he requested.

He ushered me into a large dining hall. It appeared we were the last to arrive.

�Don�t talk to me, don�t look at me and don�t have any horny thoughts about me.� Catching my look he continued. �Oh please someone like you is bound to dream about someone like me. We always want what we can�t afford.� Before I could think of a bitter retort he had already took a seat, leaving me looking awkward in front of the table.

I kept my eyes on the floor and bribed it with goodies if it would just swallow me up. Finally Paul spotting me cried �Darren!� and leapt to his feet drawing me to a seat near him at the head of the table. �Sit, Sit! Please.� I thanked him and sat down, grimacing as the chair squeaked across the hard wood floor. Paul patted my hand in a reassuring manner. �You�ll be fine.� he whispered.

Clearing his throat he announced �Our hero has arrived, after Elijah�s continuous patter you can finally found out if he really is the Second Coming.� There was some chuckles and groans from others, at the far side of the table sat a very red Elijah. Meeting his eyes I grinned and he happily smiled back.

�Let�s go back to play-school shall we? We�ll go around the table and introduce ourselves. Won�t that be fun?� Paul asked, ignoring the cries of protest he continued �I�ll go first. My names Paul McGann I am co-owner of this little establishment. I enjoy Charles Dickens novels and the odd V.C Andrews. I also play squash in my spare time. Continue�� He made a motion with his hand to the beautiful brunette at his left.

�My names Orlando Bloom I�ve been here for two years now...err I like�err football.� He blushed and I smiled at him, trying not to sink into those warm brown eyes. The next voice startled me out of my trance.

�Brian fucking Molko, like fucking could fuck all night, every night. Wanna fuck YOU! in fact.� He smiled toothily at me.

�Brian!� Paul leant over and slapped Brian�s hand gently �Naughty boy! No swearing at this table and do not make our new friend embarrassed.� He tutted fussily.

�But look at him! He�s hot! I�d be a fool not to.� He gestured wildly at me and licked his rouged lips suggestively, adding a wink to top it off.

�Brian I won�t tell you again.� Paul warned. �Now moving on��

� I�m Darius Danesh.� A deep silk throated voice said. The voice belonged to a coffee skinned young man who was incredibly tall with thick black hair �Charmed to make your acquaintance.� He held out his hand and I took it but instead of shaking it he placed gentle kisses all the round my wrist sending shivers up my spine.

�Damn wish I thought of that.� Said Brian ��Cept I�d take his coc...�

�BRIAN! This is a dining table! You want to talk smut feel free to leave and do so outside. Understood?� Brian crossed his arms and pouted.

�Understood?� Paul said again.

�Yes, Sir.� Brian said sneaking a mischievous glance my way.

The role call continued coming to a man with unruly blonde hair and a large friendly smile.

�Heath.� He said.

�Care to elaborate�� Paul enquired and the man shook his head wildly still grinning as a blush crept up his neck.

�May I?� Stuart inquired. �Heath Ledger I�m a moron all year round. Done.�

�Stuart if that�s what is surpassing for wit these days I�d hate to see you on a bad day.� Paul chided and Stuart�s smug expression immediately fell. Fiddling with an unseen piece of lint on his clothes he grew silent.

�Err� Jason Berh, pleased to meet you.� A well-built young man said breaking the tension.

�Pleased to meet you as well.� I answered politely causing Stuart to mutter insults under his breath.

�Well you know me!� Elijah laughed. �And this is Joshua Hartnett you�ll get even less out of him then you will out of Heath.� He pointed to his side at a handsome sullen looking boy whom nodded at me, I nodded back feeling like a mimic and concentrated on the last person at the table.

It was Dr Damian Lewis.

�You know me but I fill you in on what I do here.� He begun straightening up in his chair. � I help Paul run the place and mainly help out with illnesses that many other Doctors would get suspicious about.� He raised his eyebrows at Brian.

�Well, stop giving me the diseased ones!� the pretty one shouted.

�Does that happen a lot then?� I asked ignoring Brian�s foot nudging my own.

�Well we check our clients before they are allowed with our boys. You have to become a member you can�t just wander in off the streets and once you�re a member they�re subjected to monthly check-ups but yes sometimes a disease slips through.� He concluded.

�Has anyone ever gotten�� I paused uncertain but aware that this new illness that was sweeping the world that had already falsely became referred to as �the gay disease�.

�AIDS? Never.� There was a defensive quality to Damian�s voice now. �But we still insist on protection being worn at all times.�

�Your first rule broken Darren.� Stuart chirped up. Trust him to finally get my name right now. I felt the others eyes on me and my face grew hot.

�I guess I forgot.� I mumbled

�You FORGOT?� Dr Lewis� voice was accusing in its tone.

�Oh I like a rebel.� Brian chuckled nudging my foot again.

�What�s wrong with you? You idiot boy?� Lewis was shouting now.

�Oh no this won�t do stop it boys.� Paul spoke calmly sipping his tea naturally as if nothing had happened �You checked Darren�s blood while he slept and Bowie we know is a honest regular we�re crying over nothing here. Heath pass the cookies please.� I felt a mild annoyance at the invasion in my sleep but said nothing.

�You said he was street-wise Paul! Really! If you�re going to let any child join could you at least look for ones with something between their ears.� Damian finished angrily.

I stared at the tablecloth until I felt tears burn the back of my eyes. We sat quiet for a while until I could take it no more and pushed my chair out.

�Excuse me. � I said in a strangled whisper and ran from the room never looking back and ignoring Elijah�s shouting.

Once there I lay on my bed running through my head as many swear words directed at Lewis and me as I could manage. After a while it grew dark and exhausted from the day�s event�s I started drifting off to sleep only waking when I heard someone enter my room.

�Hello?� It was Paul

�Hello.� I replied dully. He lay on his side down beside me on the bed his head resting on his hand and looking at me for a while. �I know what will make you happy again.�

�What?�

� Well Stuart wanted it to be a surprise but I guess�� Interested now I sat up and looked at him.

�What is it?�

�We�re having a party.� I almost laughed at the absurdity of it.

�A party? In honour of my leaving.�

�In honour of you yes, your leaving? Not on my watch soldier.� He said saying the last part in a camp voice. I laughed and pulled my knees up to my chin.

�And what happens at this party?� I asked.

�Stuart will kill me.�

�At the party? What happened to �Pin The Tail On The Donkey�?.� He smiled at this and stoked my face.

�You�re so sweet Darren. Melodramatic, but sweet.�

�For the love of all that�s good and pure tell me!�

�Well, Stuart has asked me to invite our most distinguished clients and has organised the entertainment.�

�Which is�?�

�Why, you, Darren. You�re the entertainment.�

�tbc