by A. V. Zeppa
With only one more day left before heading back to New York, David’s parents decided to take them to Boyne Mountain for a day of skiing and snowboarding. David and Marco had the time of their lives. Both were excellent skiers, but only so so on snowboards. They had a blast trying to get down the hill in one piece. They also snuck as many kisses as they could whenever they were alone.
Everyone met back at the lodge later that afternoon so they could have dinner and relax before heading home. With a crystal clear night being promised from somewhere on high, David couldn’t wait to take Marco to his special place.
Marco followed David up the steep incline on the freshly shoveled path that led to the top of his hill. David was surprised to see that the viewing area had been cleared off as well. He would thank his father later. After putting the telescope in place, he turned around to see the reaction on Marco’s face. Marco didn’t say a word as he took it all in. The deafening silence, the crescent moon casting shadows, the black silhouettes reaching toward the sky, and the white crunching cold, were poetically juxtaposed against the vastness of the multi-colored Milky Way. It sent chills down Marco’s spine. “David, this is….” His words disappeared. David smiled. “Welcome to my secret world.”
“I feel like I just entered heaven.”
“This is heaven. It’s a place where you can think and dream and be yourself without the interference from the world below.”
“I’ve never seen so many stars in my life.”
“Yeah. Seeing the galaxy this way is magical.” As soon as those words were spoken, a flurry of meteors began falling through earth’s atmosphere over Lake Michigan.
“Look at that,” Marco said, pointing at the sky.
“Let’s pretend they’re shooting stars and make a wish.”
Marco gazed at David affectionately. “I’ve already received my wish.”
“W-what did you wish for?” David asked, stuttering once again.
“To meet someone like you.”
They looked at each other, their eyes saying everything that needed to be said. David put his hand in Marco’s. “Thank you for saying that.”
“It’s the truth. I hope you believe me.” David squeezed his hand. He knew it was now or never. “Marco, I really like you and…I…I was wondering….would you be my boyfriend?”
“I would be honored to be your boyfriend.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
David let out a huge sigh of relief, smiled, and tried on the new words. “We’re boyfriends. You and I are boyfriends. I like the sound of that.”
Marco’s heart soared. He looked up at the Milky Way and yelled, “I want the whole universe to know that David Emerson is my boyfriend.” He put his arms around David not ever wanting to let go. Neither one said a word as the warmth of their bodies glowed while billions of stars shined down on them.
Marco pulled away just a little and put his hands on David’s angelic face. Then he slowly leaned in until their lips met. It was their first kiss as boyfriends. A distant rumble echoed mysteriously across the entire sky. Neither one heard it at first, but as their kiss intensified, so did the thunderous rumble. David suddenly pulled away and looked toward the western horizon. “Did you hear that?”
“Hear what?” Marco asked. He put his arms around David and started kissing him again. The sound of thunder intensified tenfold as flashes of light exposed the distant horizon.
A shiver went down Marco’s spine, making his whole body shake. He stopped kissing David and asked, “What’s going on?”
“This is so cool. It’s Thundersnow.”
“What?”
“Thundersnow. A winter thunder storm.” They stood there listening to the low menacing roar and watched the flashes of light approach from the west. David smiled. “This is so rare. I’ve only seen this once before. It happened the year I came out.”
“It seems so surreal,” Marco said, in an uncomfortable tone.
David held his hand. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.” He kissed Marco as the wind kicked up and the thunder roared through the sky.
CHAPTER 18
CHRISTMAS VACATION
NEW YORK
David gave his parents one last hug before boarding the plane for New York. Marco thanked them for their hospitality. “Mr. and Mrs. Emerson, I had a wonderful time. It was so generous of you to let me spend some time with David and your family. I promise to take good care of him.”
“We are counting on it,” David’s father said as they shook hands.
After all of the goodbyes and hugs were done, they walked down the ramp of the jetway. David turned and gave his parents one last wave before disappearing from view. He tried to put that first separation from his family into context so he could calm his anxious feelings. He should have been excited about the trip, but something was gnawing at him. Something deep down bothered him. This trip was the prelude to everything he had ever wanted, and now that it was happening he couldn’t understand his trepidation. He began to wonder if his dream should just stay a dream because he was scared stiff to leave his family and his friends.
“Hey, are you ok?” Marco asked as they entered the plane.
David came out of his thoughts. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“I hope you won’t get angry with me, but I upgraded our seats to first class.”
“Really? Are you kidding? You shouldn’t spend your money like that.” It made David feel inadequate that Marco was spending money on him when he couldn’t return the favor.
“I didn’t upgrade our seats to show off, I just want us to be comfortable, and to have a bit more privacy. It’s my way of showing you some New York hospitality.”
“Thank you. This is the first time I’ve ever flown first class.”
A hot looking steward welcomed them aboard and personally escorted them to their seats, a whole six feet away. Marco smiled at the obvious flirting. The steward couldn’t keep his eyes off David.
“So, are you excited to see New York again?”
“Yeah. It’s all I’ve thought about since the interview. It’s exciting even though I’m nervous about it.” Marco put his hand in David’s. “Why are you nervous? We are going to have a great time, I promise.”
“I know. It’s just…I’m nervous about leaving home and being on my own and meeting your parents and all of your friends.”
“I know how you feel. The first time away from home is always the hardest because you’re on your own and have to rely on your survival skills. The first time I traveled by myself was scary. I felt like I had been abandoned.”
“How old were you?”
“Thirteen. My parents sent me to summer boarding school in Windsor, England. I was homesick to the max. It felt like I was being punished. Then two guys from Switzerland started picking on me as soon as I got there. They made fun of my skin color and for being mixed race. They called me an Asian nigger and a slant-eyed poof. Then other guys started picking on me. And I got homesick on top of that. I finally got so fucking frustrated that I challenged those two guys to a fight in front of everyone. I was in my fourth year of martial arts training, so as soon as I got into my fighting stance they backed off and walked away. No one bullied me after that and I eventually became friends with some pretty cool people.”
“You were really brave. I don’t know what I would have done in that situation.”
“I learned two valuable lessons that summer. You have to stand up for yourself. And being on your own is part of growing up. Whether you know it or not, your parents are slowly letting you go. They trust you and know you’re going to be ok.”
“You’re right. It just feels strange.”
“And please don’t worry about my parents or my friends. They are going to love you.”
Marco kissed him hoping it would have a calming effect.
Something else had been bothering David and he needed to let Marco know. “Don’t take this wrong, but as you know, we come from ve
ry different situations and I’m afraid that I might not fit into your world. Do you know what I mean?”
“Yeah, I think so. Look, there is no difference between us at all. My parents are wealthy, not me. I do have a lot of privileges, but if you really think about it, you and I are on exactly the same page. We are both broke. And whether you know it or not, you’re one of the richest people I know. Look where you live and how smart you are. You have a loving family and great friends. I’ll take all of that over a large bank account any day.”
David knew Marco was right, but he also knew their worlds were light years apart. He hoped they could find a way to make it work. “I hope your friends like me. I’m kind of shy around people I don’t know.”
“Please don’t worry about anything. I love your shyness. It makes me want to hug you and never let go. And underneath that shy exterior is someone who knows exactly what he wants and isn’t going to let anyone or anything get in the way. My friends will see that soon enough. Actually they already kind of know you.”
“What do you mean?”
“They’ve checked you out on Facebook and I’ve been bragging about you. I know some of them will probably try to hit on you, so be prepared.”
David started blushing. “You’ll protect me, right?”
“Of course I will.”
Fifteen minutes later David was hanging on for dear life as their jet raced down the runway, pushing them back in their seats as it rose majestically into the blue Michigan sky. David was heading to a world of wealth and privilege that only a few teenagers had ever experienced. Little did he know that he was in for one hell of a ride.
David was so excited to see the Statue of Liberty and the Freedom Tower as they flew around the lower tip of Manhattan. He had forgotten all about being homesick as he looked at that emerald skyline.
“It gives me goosbumps every time I see Manhattan,” Marco said.
David kissed his cheek. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Just think, we get to go to college together down there.” Marco moved closer so that his face brushed gently against David’s.
“It’s ours for the taking.”
They walked to the baggage claim and were met by Marco’s chauffeur.
“I hope you had a pleasant trip.”
“We did. Max, I would like you to meet David Emerson.”
“I’m very happy to meet you Mr. Emerson.”
“It is nice to meet you too. Please call me David,” he said, feeling embarrassed.
They walked outside to where a black Cadillac Escalade limousine was parked.
“What about our luggage?” David asked.
“The porters are getting it,” Marco said in a casual tone. David shook his head knowing he had now entered Marco’s world.
Max opened the limo door. David thanked him and slid into the back where plush leather seats faced each other within the glow of mood lighting. Marco slid next to David and immediately kissed him. After they composed themselves Marco asked, “What do you think of all this?” David looked at his surroundings. “I’m completely overwhelmed.”
Marco smiled. “So am I because you’re here with me.”
“Awe, I feel the same way about you.” David leaned in and kissed Marco on the cheek.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“Sure.” Marco got a couple of sodas out of the mini fridge. David took a few sips and tried to calm down. He discreetly adjusted himself because kissing Marco had gotten him all worked up. Marco tried to get him to relax. “I just want you to know that I’m not showing off with all of this. My father never lets me take a cab to the airport for safety reasons. You know how protective your parents are, right? Well, so are mine, and this is one way they protect me. Hopefully the limo thing doesn’t bother you.”
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’m intimidated, but I’m also amazed that real people live like this.”
“Cool, I’m glad this isn’t freaking you out. I want you to experience my world just like I did yours. We’re both lucky to live where we live.”
A few minutes later the porters brought their luggage and then they were off to the Upper East Side.
Cruising onto the island of Manhattan in a limousine was beyond David’s wildest dreams.
He couldn’t wait to tell Melissa all about it. He decided not to say anything to Tyler, fearing it might upset him. The guilt he felt about being in love with him and Marco made his insides ache even more after he made his choice. He gave Marco a kiss and asked, “Do you always ride around in this limo whenever you go out?”
“No. I only use it if I’m going somewhere special with friends or with my parents. Remember, this is my parents ride. I love walking and taking cabs. I never use the subway if I can help it because it’s so dirty and overcrowded. We’ll go on it so you can see for yourself.”
“I love walking too. I think it’s a great way to see the city.”
“I can’t wait to show you my hang out spots and take you shopping. Shopping during the Christmas holiday in New York is so much fun. The Christmas lights look fantastic, and 5th Avenue looks like heaven when it’s all lit up,” Marco said, grinning like a little kid.
“That sounds like fun.”
David looked out of the side window at all of the beautiful apartment buildings along Park Avenue as they made their way to Marco’s place. He had to keep pinching himself to make sure it wasn’t all some sort of crazy dream that he was about to wake up from. A couple of minutes later they pulled up in front of a beautiful Art Deco building. The doorman walked up and opened the limo door for them. “Marco, it’s good to see you. I hope you enjoyed your trip to Michigan,” Maurice said.
“I had a wonderful time. I would like you to meet David Emerson.”
“It is very nice to meet you sir,” he said, shaking David’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Marco, your parents arrived home about an hour ago.”
“Great.” He held David’s hand and walked into the lobby.
“Well, this is where I live. What do you think?”
“It’s unbelievable,” David said, looking at all of the Christmas decorations and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Two ornate chandeliers lit up the lobby in a warm glow, and he loved the marble floor with its classic Art Deco inlay.
“I love the Art Deco period. It reminds me of old 1930s films. And just think, you get to live here.” David loved everything about it.
“Yeah, I know I’m lucky. I love this place.”
They took the elevator up to the 28th floor. “Please don’t be nervous when you meet my parents. My mother is a little off the wall, but my father is a great guy.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting them.”
Marco took his keys out when they got to his apartment door. It was a masculine looking mahogany door with beautiful carvings. It was twice the size of a standard door.
“Wow, this door is awesome,” David said, as his fingertips caressed the carvings engraved in the wood.
“I think it’s pretty cool. My father brought it back from India a few years ago. He is really into Hinduism. A priest gave it to my father as a gift because he donated $100,000 dollars to their temple. A hundred grand is a lot of money here, but it’s a fortune in India. It equates to a little over six million rupees.”
“That’s an amazing story.”
“There’s more. This door is thought to have special religious significance. It has ties to one of Hindu religion’s three major lords. It was supposedly touched by Vishnu. He is a very important lord who reincarnates himself into different forms to help the people on earth during times of crisis.” David immediately took his hand away from the door. “I’m sorry I touched it.”
“Don’t worry, everyone touches it. My father thinks it keeps all of the bad vibes out. I don’t believe in that stuff. I just think it looks cool.”
David looked down the hall and noticed there was only one other door. He thought
that was a little strange. “How many apartments are on this floor?” David asked.
“Just two. Ours and Mr. Jensen’s. He’s this eccentric art dealer.”
Marco gave David one more kiss before opening the door. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
He opened the door to a world David never could have imagined.
“Well, this is where I live.” David realized that he was now at the epicenter of wealth and privilege as he stood in the sleek spacious entrance hall.
“This is unbelievable.”
Marco grinned. “Yeah, I like it.” He led David to a large gathering room decorated in an elegant modern motif. It had a winding staircase off to the side leading to the upper level. David never realized that penthouses could have more than one floor. “I don’t mean to be nosy, but how big is your house?”
“It’s has eighteen rooms on two floors. My parents bought half of the 29th floor ten years ago and doubled the size. We also have an enclosed rooftop terrace. I’ll show it to you later.” Marco felt proud. He looked at David’s face and knew he was spellbound. “I love the modern furnishings. It reminds me a little of Melissa’s house. Your parents have excellent taste.”
“Yeah, my mother does have a flair for visualizing how a room should look.”
David walked over to a wall of floor to ceiling windows and couldn’t believe the view. Park Avenue was just below, followed by Madison, 5th Avenue and Central Park. He could see a good section of the park and the Upper West Side.
“You are so lucky. What is it like to live here?”
“Well, you know how you feel about living in Harbor Springs, right? I have that same feeling living here. We both live in a little part of heaven.”