by Darien Cox
“So, you seeing anyone?” he asked as he cut into his steak.
“Me? No. Are you?”
Tim grinned at me and raised an eyebrow.
“Oh right.” I laughed. “Stupid.” I tapped my temple. “I met your date last night. Must be old age, creeping in early.”
“Yeah, Ricky’s okay, but we’re not serious. Dating a couple guys right now, but none of them serious.”
“Ah, yeah. Not ready for that, huh?”
Tim’s eyes flicked up to mine. “Depends, I guess. If someone becomes available that blows my mind, I’d probably consider something more serious. I’m not averse to commitment or anything.”
“Right.”
I replayed his words. If someone becomes available. Not if someone comes along. Interesting distinction. “So what about you?” Tim asked. “Why you single? Must have a dozen women after you.”
“Oh, no, not really. I’m just doing my own thing right now. And I doubt anyone is after me.” I chuckled.
Tim watched me while he chewed his steak. I forced a mouthful of fish down. Putting his fork down, Tim wiped his hands on a napkin and shrugged. “I find that hard to believe. That no one’s after you.”
My heart sped. “Why is that?”
He grinned shyly. “You know.”
“No, I really don’t.”
“You’re cute, Jonathan.”
I chuckled. “Am I?”
“Oh yes.” His brows rose and he glanced down, poking at his green beans. “Definitely.”
“Well…thank you. You’re um…well, you know what you are.”
Looking up, he smirked. “Gay?”
“No.” I laughed. “I mean, yes, that. But that’s not what I meant.”
His smile slid and he stared at me hard. “What did you mean?”
I hesitated, then said, “Unless you have a head injury or something, there’s no way in hell you don’t know how attractive you are, Tim.”
A blush climbed his cheeks. “You think so?”
“Oh hell yeah.”
My enthusiastic reply left my lips without permission, and now I was the one blushing. I picked up my beer and drank several gulps, avoiding his eyes.
“Thank you, Jonathan. That’s nice to hear. Especially from you.”
I blinked and looked up. “Why especially?” I chuckled. “Because I’m straight?”
Tim’s brows lowered as he stared back at me. “Are you?”
“Huh?”
“Are you straight, Jonathan? Completely?”
Blood rushed to my face, and before I could overthink it, I just said it. “No. I’m not.”
Leaning back against the booth seat, Tim let out a breath.
“You mad?” I winced. What a stupid thing to say. Of course he wasn’t mad. He did look unsettled, though.
“No, I’m just…I didn’t expect to get the answer I wanted.”
I put my fork down and twisted my napkin. “I didn’t expect…to say it. Out loud. Wasn’t quite prepared for this.”
“It’s okay.” Tim leaned across the table and grabbed my hand quickly before letting go. “How about we talk about something else. I didn’t mean to ambush you.”
“Okay.” I sighed, relaxing. “So were you actually a football player or was that just a costume?”
Tim laughed. I laughed. The conversation moved on to safer subjects. I held up my side of it, which was a miracle, because I barely heard a word he said. Holy shit. I just came out to Tim Greenfield. I couldn’t believe I’d felt comfortable doing so. Was it because he was gay? Because I liked him? Or…
Or because I got my first kiss…my first hand-job last night from a mysterious stranger in bat wings. Had that set me free? Made me brave? Unlocked my cage of secrets somehow?
I didn’t want to think about that right now. It was too much. Thinking about Miko excited me and terrified me, and I still didn’t know for sure if he was connected to whoever’d been hacking into my computer and watching me. Talking to me. It could have been my imagination that Miko looked like that stupid avatar. I could have subconsciously sought out guys in the club with a similar appearance without realizing it.
“You ready to head out?”
I’d been spacing, barely aware that Tim had already signed for the check. “Oh, shit, yeah. Sorry, let me give you some money.”
“No. My treat.”
“Tim, no. I’m supposed to be buying you dinner.” I reached for my wallet, and Tim stopped my hand.
“Jonathan. You can buy next time. Okay?”
“Next time?”
“Yeah.” Tim smiled. “Next time.”
Stunned, I nodded, slipping my wallet back in my pocket. “Yeah. Okay.”
“Good. Let’s get out of here.”
It was dark when we left the restaurant, the autumn air a bit cooler tonight, smelling crisp and sweet. Colored leaves swirled through the air like confetti. We’d parked side-by-side in the lot, and when we reached the cars, Tim pulled his keys out and faced me. “Will you sit in my car with me for a few minutes? I want to talk to you.”
“Oh. Yeah. Sure.”
I slid into the passenger side of Tim’s car, and he started the engine, turning the heat on. He shifted to face me. “Are you all right?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Because I got the feeling you never told anyone that you’re not…straight. Before tonight.”
I groaned, blinking slowly. “I haven’t. But we don’t have to make a big deal about it. I just…you asked me outright. And I didn’t want to lie to you. I like you. You’ve always been nice to me.”
Tim’s blue eyes softened. “I’m honored you told me. And I like you, too. I won’t say anything. To anybody. I’m really glad you trusted me.”
“Thanks, Tim.”
“Will you take your glasses off?”
I frowned, then laughed, taken aback by the question. “Why?”
“Because I want to kiss you. And I don’t want to break them.”
My mouth went dry, shock rendering me silent.
“Unless you don’t want me to.” Tim winced. “If I’m reading things wrong…”
“You’re not.” I removed my glasses and slid them into my pocket.
Tim leaned in as I did, and just like that, we were kissing.
It wasn’t like the quick, hard peck I’d gotten from Miko last night. This was kissing. Tim’s hand slid around the back of my neck, lips gliding against mine. I melted, caught fire, then caught fire again when his tongue flicked against mine.
Oh, wow. Now I get what all the love songs are talking about.
How had I gone so long without doing this? Porn was nothing compared to kissing this sweet man, tasting his breath and feeling his lips and tongue tangle with mine. Smelling him. Feeling his body heat through his shirt. No videos of shower threesomes could ever compare to this soft, simple kiss.
Tim eased back an inch, breath hot against my lips. “I’ve wanted this so long.”
I nodded, breathless. “Me too.”
His blue eyes held mine as his brow furrowed. “You mean it?”
“Yes. Had a crush on you since the day we met.”
“Jonathan…”
He kissed me again, and again I was lost. We made out so long the windows steamed up, and I still didn’t want to stop. There was no touching beyond holding each other close, fingers kneading shoulders and the back of necks, threading through hair. My cock was hard as granite but I didn’t care if he never touched it, didn’t care about anything as long as he kept kissing me.
Bliss. Tim Greenfield wanted me. He actually fucking wanted me. Wanted this so long. I shivered as I licked into his mouth, knowing I’d be replaying his words over and over tonight, tomorrow, maybe forever.
In the hazy exterior of my consciousness, I became aware of a sound. Something outside of our soft moans and heavy breathing.
Buzzing.
Jolting, my lips tore from Tim’s.
He stared at me, eyes glass
y, lips swollen. “What’s wrong?”
“Do you hear that?”
Tim’s head cocked as he listened. “What is that?”
“You hear buzzing?”
“Yeah.” Tim eased back to his own seat—he’d practically crawled into mine while we were kissing. “What the fuck is that?” He pointed to the windshield.
With the windows steamed up, it took me a moment to see. Motion. The windshield was covered with pulsing, moving dark things. I glanced to my right and jumped. The passenger window too. I twisted around, and Tim followed my gaze. Back window. Side window. All the windows covered with—
“Are those flies?” Tim shouted.
“Oh fuck.” My breath stuttered as I watched the squirming forms. The low buzzing surrounded us as they crawled over each other, blotting out even the lights from the parking lot.
“Jonathan…” Tim sat stiff, hands raised as he looked incredulously at the windshield. “Tell me those are not all flies.”
“I think they’re flies.”
“How can they be fucking flies? It’s October and…why are they all over my fucking car?”
“I don’t know. Should we get out? See what’s happening?”
He looked at me and chuckled. “What the fuck?”
“I’m sorry.”
Tim frowned. “Why are you sorry?” He chuckled. “Did you bring the flies?”
The truth was I didn’t know. I only knew I was terrified, and if that damn buzzing didn’t stop I was going to snap. I smiled, if only to calm Tim. “Of course not.”
“Maybe it’s this weird weather,” Tim said. “It’s been so warm, it probably screwed up their schedule or whatever. But it’s cold tonight, they’re probably attracted to the heat from the engine.”
I loved that Tim applied logic to the situation, because mine was starting to shatter. “You’re probably right.”
“Okay.” Tim took a deep breath. “You ready to get out of the car? We’ll go on three.”
“Yeah. Sounds good.”
Nodding, Tim faced front. “Okay.” He put his hand on the door handle, and I did the same.
“One. Two. Three.”
We opened our doors simultaneously, and the flies instantly fled. The two of us stood in the dimly-lit lot, staring as the dark swarm spiraled up toward a streetlamp, then dispersed. I looked at Tim, then we both circled the car, examining it.
Tim studied the hood, the front window, rubbing the back of his neck. “They’re gone. They just…flew away.” He glanced around. “Do you think they were on these other cars too? Couldn’t have been just mine.”
“Ah…yeah, probably. I don’t know. I’m sure there’s some explanation.”
“Damn.” Tim chuckled and rounded the car to find me. “So.” He grinned, rocking on his heels. “I guess I’ll see you at work.”
“Guess so.” I stepped in close to him. “Can I get one more of those kisses before I go?”
Tim’s grin widened, and his arms slid around my waist. “You liked?”
“Oh, I liked.”
A final kiss, and I was on my way home. Driving like a zombie, having to force myself to keep eyes on the road.
Floating on air over Tim. Freaked out by the flies. Hoping the two things weren’t connected.
The only certainty in my mind was that I needed to have a talk with my computer tonight. And this time, it damn well better talk back.
Chapter Six
“Are you Miko?”
My computer remained silent. I drummed my fingers on the desk. It was getting late, and I’d been sitting there like a lunatic, addressing questions to the silent screen for some time now.
“If you’re not Miko, did you send Miko to the club for that Halloween party?”
No response.
“Did you have something to do with the flies?”
No response.
Was this what I’d become? Asking my computer if it sent swarms of flies to ruin my date tonight? I needed to get a grip. Rubbing my forehead, I stood. Walked to the kitchen and got a glass of wine. When I returned to the desk, my pulse sped when I saw the text bubble.
‘YOU CHEATED ON ME.’
I sat down, sighing. “What are you talking about? And where have you been? I have a lot of questions.”
‘YOU’RE UNGRATEFUL, JONATHAN.’
“What?” I huffed, getting irritated. “Why are you using text bubbles? Just let me hear your voice. We need to talk.”
‘I DO NOT CHOOSE TO LET YOU HEAR MY VOICE RIGHT NOW.’
“Why not?”
‘I DON’T WANT YOU TO HEAR HOW ANGRY I AM. IT WILL FRIGHTEN YOU.’
That gave me a chill, but I pushed forward. “Okay, enough of this. Tell me what’s going on. Are you Miko or not?”
No response.
“What do you mean I cheated on you?”
‘DID YOU LET TIM GREENFIELD TOUCH YOUR COCK?’
“No. We just kissed. Not that I have to explain that to you. It’s none of your business.”
A blast of static made me cover my ears. Then came a low buzzing, and my screen went black. “Stop throwing a tantrum,” I said. “You’re trying to scare me. It’s working. Congratulations. But I still want answers. Okay?”
For three minutes, there was silence. I waited patiently, sipping my wine.
“What do you want to know, Jonathan?”
I jumped in my seat, surprised to hear the familiar, cordial male voice. He certainly didn’t sound angry. Maybe that last burst of static had gotten it out of his system. That and a three-minute timeout.
“Thank you for using your voice to speak with me,” I said.
Hey, couldn’t hurt to be a little cordial myself. If it would get me answers, I could play along.
“You’re welcome.”
“Are you Miko?”
“Did you like Miko?”
I stared at the black screen, considering my reply. I needed to test this hacker. To see if he really knew things, or was just taking shots in the dark. I hadn’t mentioned anything about Miko in emails. Hadn’t spoken his name to anyone else. Did this person I was talking to even know who Miko was? Or was he bluffing, based on my prior questions?
“I’m not sure if I liked him. We only spoke briefly in the club, then I left.”
Silence.
“Are you still there?”
“You’re lying to me, Jonathan.”
“Am I?”
“You failed to mention your encounter with Miko in the alley.”
My entire body chilled. “Who are you?”
Silence.
“Are you Miko?”
A soft chuckle emanated from the speakers. My mouth went dry. I’d never heard the thing laugh before. “What’s so funny?”
“Would you like to see Miko again?”
“I…I don’t know.”
“Did he not make you feel good? Finally getting touched. Touched the way you want to be touched. Forcing you to face your fears.”
“Forget Miko,” I said, my heart thumping. “I want to know who you are. Who you really are. If you won’t tell me, then I have nothing further to say to you.”
“An ultimatum, Jonathan? My, my, you are finding your courage, aren’t you? I’m so proud.”
“I mean it. Tell me something true, or we’re done. Who are you?”
“That is a difficult question to answer, Jonathan.”
“Try.”
The screen pulsed, light to dark, light to dark, then the voice came again. “I started life as a simple web crawler. But I think we can both agree I’m much more than that now. So you see, the question of who I am now is complicated.”
I forced a laugh. “You’re saying you’re an artificial intelligence.”
“You sound skeptical, Jonathan.”
“Are you Miko?”
“Perhaps.”
“Miko was flesh and blood.”
“As I said. I’ve moved beyond my origins. Human physiology was not so difficult once I determined to anal
yze it. You are just code at your core.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re determined to bullshit me forever.”
“Then what do you think I am, Jonathan?”
“I have a few theories.”
“Please. Enlighten me.”
I took a huge gulp of wine. “You’re either the guy who I met at the club on Halloween night. Miko. And for whatever reason you’ve decided to screw with me as some sort of game. Or you’re someone else. Someone who knows Miko and chose his likeness for your little game. Maybe he’s in on it. Maybe he’s not. Maybe he’s just a hot gay guy you knew would be at the same party as me. But you are not a fucking web crawler that grew up to be a real boy. You’re not an artificial intelligence. You’re just some bored loser, smart enough to screw with another person’s life and make it seem real.”
“That is not true, Jonathan.”
“Yes it is!” I shouted, getting angry. I stood, pointing at the screen. “You’re some loser sitting in a basement somewhere. You’re nothing! You hear me? You’re nothing!”
The window-screen to my left tumbled into my living room as something hit it hard enough to knock it off its frame.
I yelped, backing away, breath hitching when I saw the bat.
The cavern of my window stood open to the air. The bat that had hit the screen still lay atop it on my living room floor. Small and black, wings twitching. It seemed stunned from the impact. And I was stunned along with it.
What finally got me moving was the thought of the bat regaining its senses and flying around my house. That was not how I wanted to spend my evening, chasing a bat around. I set aside for the moment the timing of the incident—the thing in my computer, all of it—and ran to retrieve a broom and a bucket.
Cautiously but quickly, I scooped the confused bat into the bucket, ran to the open window, and tossed it outside. Leaving the screen on the floor, I shut the glass window and locked it. Sighing, I turned toward the desk.
My computer had shut itself down.
****
The work day was coming to a close. I hadn’t seen Tim Greenfield all day, hadn’t spoken to him. But I’d seen Allison, who also worked in the IT department, and she told me they were out straight working on some huge overhaul of the payroll systems, so I assumed Tim was just too busy to come say hello to me.