!#$%$!%! [Darryl]

[Adam Collier]

Adam was pissed beyond all get out. He understood somewhere back in the back of his mind why Chase was so upset and had chosen to take it out on Adam. Really though? He had no reason to take it out on him he was a victim in the story just like Chase was. it was James who deserved all of their anger. But no Chase had to go and make stupid asinine comments and piss Adam off, then once he was mad he just started pissing Chase off any more.

Adam was also pissed at himself he should have done this a long time ago before there was a child involved. Hell he should have said something back when Chase first came to the school, but no he let remain hidden for years. True be told he was still hurt over how James had treated him, he covered it up telling himself and anyone else who knew they had been together that he was fine with everything because they obliviously loved each other.

Now it was Adam who was looking like the ass hole and James and Chase the victims.

Adam wanted to stomp around, throw a tantrum, but he was at school there were children around, and he was 38 years old not 4. He would have to instead make do with sulking, pouting and being pissed off in the teachers lounge. With any luck there would be someone he could vent to. If there was no one else he was going to have to call his sister, who would tell his mother, and then she would be on the first plane out here to try and comfort her son and kick James' ass.

Adam walked into the teacher lounge and once the door was closed and he knew no students were around he let out a frustrated almost scream, "UGH"

[Darryl Bond]

If his life was a movie, the part he was in at the moment was the montage to sum up events that weren't terribly important to the plot--which was his life. His schedule had become terribly monotonous in the entire two weeks he'd been at the school, and that upset the man greatly. He was a man of spontaneity, not drab routine. But, even if he was against doing the same thing every day, he still did it. He woke up, showered, got dressed, arrived at school, got some breakfast, ate outside or in his class room, had morning classes, breaked for lunch in the lounge, had afternoon classes. Then he went home. He hadn't even had a date yet. How absolutely pitiful!

As it was, it was his daily time spent in the teachers lounge. He was the first to arrive that day, and while he didn't mind being alone, he mainly went to the lounge to grab coffee and socialize with people of his own kind. Not sip scalding liquid on his own. He flipped on the maker after it was filled with water and coffee grounds and waited while the thing burbled next to him. He let his eyes wander about the room, not landing on anything really special or important. Time passed in boredom, and of him mumbling his favorite lines to himself.

Finally, the pot stopped making that awkward noise and he poured himself a cup, and made it just to his standards. His back was to the room when he heard the door open. He was an eager thing for conversation, but he didn't want to jump down the person's throat as soon as they had entered the room. He stirred in his creamer but jumped when the scream of frustration filled the room. Not what he was expecting. He let out a little curse because of his little surprise, he knocked his coffee over before he even got a drink and it spilled against the entire counter. So far it hadn't reached the edges and he hastily grabbed the roll of paper towels and used his reflexes to cover the spill. He hissed a little as the hot coffee scalded his fingers. He licked off the offending drink and mopped up his mess with the mound of browning paper towels.

"Whatever it is." Darryl said to the unknown person over his shoulder, "I'm sure it's better than getting mugged by some crack dealer out for a fix." Darryl continued wisely, even though he still had no idea who it was that had yelled. He balled up all the used up paper towels and dropped them in the bin. He looked at the trash can for a beat more before he turned to look at the person who was in such a bad mood. He hadn't seen the guy before, but that was still not a surprise. This place was big as hell.

He gave a little, 'can you believe that just happened?' sort of look at the guy, as he turned back to the still damp counter and wiped it down it two towels folded together. He felt proud that he had amended the situation before the coffee had gotten too far on the counter. He wiped down the side of his cup and threw that away as well.

"You need some coffee." He didn't really say it like an offer, but as if he was prescribing the perfect cure for the man's woes--whatever they may be--and to strengthen his suggestion, he took out another cup of coffee and filled it along with his own (again). "Cream? Sugar? Milk?" He asked the guy as he refixed his own cup of heaven. He looked at the bright side. In the time it took him to clean up the mess he made, the coffee probably cooled down enough to not be scalding hot anymore He turned a grin towards the man, a sort of reassuring kind of thing. Things couldn't be all bad, after all. There was coffee.

[Adam Collier]

Adam was startled when another man had spoken. He hadn't even noticed him when he had entered the room. He must have been new around here Adam didn't recognize him. It did not escape his attention that the new man was extremely good looking.

Adam almost smiled at his attempt to the make him smile. "Sadly I think I would rather have someone attempt to mug me, then deal with what I have to right now."

Adam felt bad the man spilling coffee in front of someone you just met was not fun by any means. It also meant that coffee was being wasted!

Adam loved coffee, drank more then a pot of it a day, and a cup sounded amazing right now, maybe it would even calm him down a little.

"I like it strong and hot beyond that I am up for just about anything." Adam couldn't help the double entendre, it was just too easy.

"I'm Adam by the way. Adam Collier. I don't believe I have had the pleasure of meeting you yet."

[Darryl Bond]

Now there was a guy, on the other side of the room, that had some how messed up getting his ducks all in a row--or so the saying went. Darryl kept that particular comment to himself. He was from Nowhere, south of Hicksville, and he definitely wasn't going to let that become apparent with someone he just met. And that saying was too barnyard for anyone anymore. Darryl wiped his hands out on another paper towel and looked at the man for a half second. "You're still kicking, obviously, so it ain't all bad. It's when you lose the spirit that you've gotta start worrying." Darryl grinned to himself at his non-too-shabby advice. He should be a therapist.

He made the male's coffee to his specifications, though it wasn't that very hot anymore. He noticed there was also something that was implied in what he said, but Darryl just didn't think along those lines. Though, if that man was a woman, Darryl would have laughed and replied with something equally playful, but that guy was a man, so--Adam--couldn't possibly be doing something like that. Darryl shrugged it off. This guy was probably like him and liked to pass of bouts of anger with humor. Yeah. That was it; humor.

"Nice to meet you, Adam." Darryl said like the good friend he could potentially be. He carried the mans coffee over to him and held it out. "Strong and hot, just like the man likes it." He waited for him to take it before he tipped his hat a little. "I'd be Darryl Bond, the new theater director, it's no surprise we haven't met yet. I think I've been here for...two weeks." He looked sideways for a moment as he counted back and the nodded. He more or less spun on his heel and took a seat at one of the couches and immediately he looked right at home.

"Now what's the trouble? I mean can it really be worse than getting held up by some trashcan stank, tweaker with a twitchy hand? I think not." Darryl then took a small sip and smiled. Perfect.

[Adam Collier]

Adam smiled when the man gave him his coffee. Though he half wondered if Darryl caught the innuendo he either hadn't and was just giving him his coffee, or he had caught it and was flirting back. Adam wasn't too sure which of the two it was. He hoped it was the second option. He was good looking and Adam was always looking for someone new to flirt with.

Adam took a sip of his coffee, it wasn't even too bad for school coffee. It may have something to do with a number of teachers complaining about the quality until some higher power was forced to change what kind of coffee was served maybe a new machine was even bought.

"mmmmmm. Thank you Darryl. It would seem it is very, hot and strong." Adam smirked into his his cup while looking at Darryl, there was no way the man missed that one if he had he was very naive.

Adam smiled when Darryl said he was the drama director now. He had met a fair number of male drama teachers in his time and they all had at least one thing in common... They loved to flirt. Adam planned to take full advantage of that... though maybe not right now he was still to upset to properly flirt.

Adam needed to vent and if Darryl was going to ask him about what was going on Adam was going to tell him.

"Hmmm its a bit of long story stretching over four years. Have you by chance met James Campbell or Chase Kilbourne? Well fours years ago James and I were... involved. It was nothing serious on either side. But we were together. Well he ends up going on one of his many recruiting trips, I think nothing of it as it was completely normal then and still is I believe. Well While in Arizona he meets Chase. Its love at first sight yada yada yada they end up sleeping together." Adam took a deep breath. "James then comes home. Not surprisingly given what has happened he ends things with me. A few weeks later, James gets Chase a job here at Hammel where he has been working and dating James for the past four years. During this time James has never told Chase that he and I were together when they first met and slept together nor had I. I am not the kind of person to hold a grudge and I figured that James would tell him eventually. Well a few days ago I hear that they are considering adopting a child. Now I don't know about you but I think bringing a child into a family that began as a lie, while that lie has not been confessed is a horrible idea. It was bound to come out and the child would get hurt. I did not want that. So I gave James one more chance to tell Chase, or I was going to. He didn't so all of 5 minutes ago I got to go tell Chase that James had made him the other man when they got together. Let's just say that it did not go well."

Adam let out a sigh, he had hit the major points, a few details here and there may have been left out, but that was that.

"In conclusion I would say that yes I would rather get held up by 'some trashcan stank, tweaker with a twitchy hand' then deal with this shit storm. A mugging is over and done with quickly. This, this will stick around for a long time."

[Darryl Bond]

The repeated use of 'hot and strong' was just starting to creep him out. He shifted a tad uncomfortably on the couch and smiled wanely at the guy. He was upset about something, so Darryl'd do his best to give him the benefit of the doubt and be nice to him. The dude was having a shitty day, after all. He took a drink and nodded his head. Chase, he hadn't met but he knew the name, and he knew James' from the teachers lounge--always getting onto him about making a mess and not putting the filters back where they needed to go. Just really boring--

Did he just say they are together?! Darryl had been in the process of swallowing and nearly choked on it. He thumped his chest with his fist a couple of times and got himself in working order during Adam's long-winded speech about being cheated by another man. He tried to..not take it...in a homophobic way, because seriously, what was he, fifteen? He took another calming drink of coffee and coughed once more. "That does sound pretty...awful."

"But hey." Darryl said with honest sincerity. "At least...you didn't find out your other cheated with you years ago and never said anything, right? I imagine the guy is devastated. It's all understandable. But, it's water under the bridge now, innit? You told the guy and now it's all out of your hands." Darryl leaned forward with his coffee in one hand and patted the guy on the knee twice. "The thing now is to move on, right?" He wasn't really sure, because he had never had that much relationship drama, with a man or otherwise, so he was just being his undyingly optimistic self.

He sat back and took another little sip of his coffee. It stung the back of his throat where he had choked before, but he was sure he'd get over it soon enough and be able to enjoy this pleasant cup of coffee. If not, that'd be a disappointment. He already got conned out of his first one.

[Adam Collier]

Adam had to smile weakly at Darryl's attempt to make him feel better. It did help... a little.

"Well yes he was devastated, but reacted with anger and lashed out at me. They are both basically blaming me for all the shit that they now have to work through. So now it is up to them to work through. But I sadly have a feeling they will be taking it out on me for a long time to come."

Adam had to smirk a little when Darryl said it was time to move on. Did he mean to move on... with him? Or just move past what was going on.

"Move on... easier said then done. I have been over James for years. My feelings for him was never strong so that aspect wasn't that difficult. This has just blown up in my face." Adam placed his head in his hand. "I never thought that this would happen, I guess it was a little naive huh?"

Adam did not like being this guy, this emotional mess. He prided himself on being able to control his own emotions not just others. He was in general a happy guy, he needed to do something to get himself out of this funk. Maybe another night jump was in order, maybe he would even try and pull some others along with him.

[Darryl Bond]

Darryl himself wasn't naive and knew that just because he had told Adam not to worry, the guy wasn't just going to brighten up and forget all about it. That was unrealistic. He was glad, however, to see that his words did have some affect and the guy smiled a little. "But what do you care, right? You said your peace. The longer they drag it out, the worse it'll make them, and not you. Take the high road, and don't be uh...spiteful? I suppose. I dunno. I'd ignore them." Darryl shrugged though, because he honestly didn't have a clue what he would do if he was in Adam's place. And he didn't even begin to picture it. He just didn't like the universe where he didn't like women. He didn't think there was anything wrong with other people not liking women, but he didn't like the idea of himself not liking women. He took a drink of coffee to give himself a mental breather.

"You know what you need? A night with lots of alcohol." Darryl answered his own question without pausing to let the man even guess. He grinned because, even if this guy pitched for a different team, they could both enjoy some liquor, or beer if the guy was so inclined--Darryl was a rum guy, himself-- and it would give Adam a chance to 'get back out there,' or to just forget all the stress and drama he had along with him. And if the fates would allow it, Darryl could have some fun himself, though he wasn't terribly sure if toting around a guy like Adam would hurt his chance with any potential women; and again, not there was anything wrong with him, Darryl just wasn't used to the idea. "Eh?" He asked with a little grin.

"It'll be fun." He promised over the rim of his coffee as he took another drink.

[Adam Collier]

Darryl made a very good point, he had said his piece what happened now between James and Chase had no effect on him it was up to them now. He only hoped he would be allowed to ignore them. His biggest fear now was that the drama would spill over into their work environment. But then he supposed he had made that happen just by telling Darryl what had happened. For all he knew Darryl was a huge gossip and would tell everyone he could what had gone down.

"I suppose you are right, I need to let them deal with it and move on. This really can't take over my life."

The idea of a night out for drinks with Darryl sounded great. Though Adam once again had to wonder if the man was flirting with him and asking him out or if he was being a friend and trying to distract him.

"A night out sounds great. And alcohol sounds even better." Adam would have to be very careful though. With his own emotions running high adding alcohol to the mix could end in disaster. "Sadly I wont be able drink as much as I'd like, but a few beers would be nice."

[Darryl Bond]

Darryl had always been fond of knowing what was going on around him, so he tended to make good friends with the gossipers though, he himself, never indulged in the business. He just liked being well informed in the know-how. The chances that he would repeat any of what he had just learned were so slim, Adam (or the unknowing Chase and James) had nothing to worry about. Darryl was good at being the guy people confided in, mostly because of his friendly and 'friendlier' tendencies. He was just a trustworthy guy, alright?!

"O'course I'm right." Darryl grinned with a laugh, "I always am." He told him confidentially with another grin. He was glad to see that what he said had helped the man to any degree. He felt triumphant, sorta, because he did so--and not just because he totally had a reason to get shit faced but because he had helped a coworker deal with his dirty laundry or whatever you wanted to call it. He went to take another drink of his coffee when he was severally disappointed with the mouthful of liquid that slid from the mug. It was barely a full swallow. He leveled a glare at the empty cup and stood, in mind to go remedy it.

He was at the coffee maker, then, plotting out the finer points of a possible night of debauchery. "Really?" Darryl asked over his shoulder at Adam's admittance to not being able to drink very much. "Well that's no fun." He muttered to himself as he prepared him another cup of coffee, "a few beers won't take the edge away, just magnify it." He knew his alcohol. "Indulge me, at least, with a bottle of rum. How bout it? It's sweet, not got too much alcohol, and generally inexpensive." In cases of getting what he wants, Darryl was pretty good at manipulating--but in this case it was for Adam's own good. He needed to let go, right?--and usually he was a pretty good sales pitcher. He took a drink from his new cup of coffee and smiled, though it was as creamy as he loved it, it wasn't exactly hot anymore. He returned to his seat with his fresh cup and smiled a bit at him. "What do ya say?"

His hand slid into his pants pocket and pulled out his sleek and shiny touch screen phone (he was a man of indulgence, leave him alone) and checked the time. He had roughly four minutes before his necks class he stood again. "We'll meet at the bar at say...eight?" Thank the Lord it was Friday, right? He smiled one of those smiles that let him always get his way--again, it was for Adam's own good.