Chapter 3 – Otis
“Otis Young,” the man next to Jasper states, staring at me, as his laughter ends.
“Yep, last time I checked that was me.” And I look around at the guys, hoping that one of them will maybe explain all the laughing.
“Sorry it’s just…” The guy starts. “It’s been years and you look the same, maybe a little older.”
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry, you probably don’t remember me, but we went to school together for about a year before I had to transfer schools. My name is Marcus Jennings. We were in form group together.”
I just stare at Marcus because for the life of me I can’t remember him. But I’m not surprised. School was just somewhere that I had to go. I did okay, but karting and racing were my passions. Most of the lads in school just wanted to play video games or find girlfriends.
“I’m sorry, but…” I start.
“You can’t remember me, oh that’s fine. I never got the courage to come and talk to you and we didn’t share many lessons,” Marcus explains.
“So that’s why you were laughing, because you remembered me?”
“God no. I was laughing because David explained that you have taken his seat next year, and after watching you race, you’re going to give Lars a run for his money.”
“Oh.” And can’t help smiling over to him.
“Hey, Marcus. That’s mean,” Lars admonishes, causing all of us to laugh.
“Seriously, we need to get Marcus a job,” David states. “I need to go and get Richard and Vincent, they have to meet you.”
“Did he just say Vincent?” Marcus states as he looks over to me.
“Um, yes. Vincent is the owner.”
“But, holy shit!” Marcus answers, and I can’t help but chuckle at his reaction. I have no idea how Marcus got into the party, but I do hope he stays. He’s a lot of fun.
“Marcus. Please don’t do or say anything to embarrass me,” Jasper says.
“Did Marcus come with you?” I ask over to Jasper. I had been trying to avoid talking to him. Which I know makes me look rude, but he looks so good and those damn butterflies are back in my stomach again.
“Yeah.” But it’s Lars that is answering for Jasper. “Jasper called and asked if he could bring a friend, and I’m trying to figure out if that was stupid or awesome.”
Looking over to Jasper, I try to gauge his reaction to Lars.
Is Marcus just a friend or is he something more, and he just didn’t want to introduce him as his boyfriend?
Which would make no sense. Especially with the fact that Jasper is out to the team.
If Marcus is Jasper’s boyfriend, how long have they been going out?
How close are they, and why do I hate the fact that him being with someone else is making me jealous?
“Excuse me,” I say. “I’m going to get myself another drink.” I need to get away from this situation. Yet, even as I walk away, I try not to look over my shoulder to see if Jasper is watching. But then why would he? He’s here with Marcus.
“Hey are you okay?” David’s voice sounds next to me.
“Yeah, why?”
“Because you look like you want to punch something?” David replies.
“It doesn’t matter,” I lie, “plus weren’t you getting Vincent and Richard?”
“Yeah, I was. Look,” David answers, and we both turn in the direction of Jasper and Marcus, and I have to admit the vision makes me chuckle. Hell we both chuckle. Jasper is trying not to laugh because Marcus is just staring at Vincent. His mouth wide open.
“Marcus seems cool,” David says.
“Suppose,” I reply, and the second the word is out of my mouth I want to take it back.
“Otis?”
“He came with Jasper,” I mutter.
“This again?” David starts, but there isn’t any malice behind the words, I think there is more worry than anything.
“Are they going out?” I ask, even though I really don’t want to hear the answer.
“I have no idea. But I very much doubt it. If Jasper were dating anyone he would’ve told me. Plus, Jasper does have very unique tastes.”
“What is that supposed to mean? What’s more unique than someone who thought he was straight?”
“I’m sorry but that really isn’t my place to explain. It’s personal to Jasper,” David replies, which just intrigues me more.
I look over to Jasper, trying to figure out what on earth David is going on about, and I’m not sure if he could feel me looking at him, but he turns to face me, and the smile that spreads across his face makes me go weak at the knees.
“Fuck,” I mumble, and turn away.
“Look. Why don’t I organise for me and Lars to take you to a club? You can kiss some guys. See if you like it.”
“No.” The word falls from my lips unaided. The only person I want to kiss to see if this attraction is real, is Jasper. I don’t want to kiss anyone else. I can’t see myself kissing anyone else.
“I think you might have your answer right there. If you don’t want to kiss a man, I think it’s safe to say you're still straight,” David states gently.
I go to tell him that it's only Jasper that I want to kiss. I might be questioning my entire sexuality, but I want Jasper to be the first man I kiss. I don’t want to test myself on some completely random person. But I don’t say this to David.
“Yeah, I suppose so,” are the words I tell him.
“Look I’m going to go rescue Richard from Marcus, maybe Lars too. Why not go and talk to Jasper? Maybe spending some more time with him will help you sort out your feelings.”
“Or make them worse,” I manage to say under my breath, and I don’t think that David hears me.
I watch David go over to Jasper and Marcus, and I’m not sure what he says, but Lars, Richard and Vincent move away.
Marcus is still smiling and says something to Jasper that has him throwing his head back in laughter, which causes a warm feeling to spread through me and I want to go over and join in.
Vincent had gone all out on this party, to the point that he set up a bar with its own bar man, but all the drinks were paid for.
I dread to think how much that cost, but now it comes in very useful.
Going over I ask for three bottles of beer, grabbing two by the neck and holding the other in my hand, I make my way over to Jasper and Marcus.
“Hey,” I say. “Got you both a beer.”
“Thanks,” Marcus says, taking a bottle out of my hand.
“So what do you think so far?” I ask over to him.
“Otis, do not ask him that. I don’t think you would get him to shut up,” Jasper replies with a smile.
“I kind of feel like I’m in a dream,” Marcus replies, as he looks around the room.
“I can understand that. Even though I’ve been with the team for years, suddenly being with these guys I feel…”
“Starstruck,” both me and Marcus state together, and we both burst out laughing.
“Can I leave Marcus in your capable hands?” Jasper asks, and I almost want to say no. That he needs to stay here and talk to us.
“Course,” I reply.
“Something is going on with Jasper,” Marcus says when he’s sure that Jasper is out of ear shot.
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, nothing. Ignore me,” Marcus suddenly mutters, and I get a feeling that he didn’t mean to say the last sentence out loud, and even though I want to push him to explain what he means, I don’t.
“Did we really go to school together?” I ask. “Because I really don’t remember seeing you, but then I don’t remember many people from school.”
“Well from what I recall, you did keep to yourself,” Marcus says.
“I did. Most of the time I never wanted to be there. I just wanted to be at the karting track. I was so happy to leave at sixteen,” I reply.
“Look, I was there when Mr. Jones had the affair with Miss Woods. I think I was in year eight. So maybe thirteen?”
“Oh my God. I remember. They used to get kids to send notes to each other during lessons.” And I can’t help smiling at the memory. All the kids had known what was going on, but hadn’t said anything. Getting out of class for even ten minutes was a Godsend.
“What happened? Did the school find out about them?”
“We were never sure. One day Miss Woods didn’t come in and never came back. There was a rumour going around that Mr Jones left his wife and they got married, but that was it.”
“Oh, there was me hoping for something juicy.”
“Nothing really juicy ever happened in that place. You know, I can’t believe that you remember me.”
“To be honest. I wasn’t sure. When I saw your name being announced at the end of last season I didn’t take much notice, other than thinking that your name sounded familiar.”
“Familiar? Otis isn’t that common of a name.” Trying to pretend to be hurt.
“Yeah it is. I know at least four other Otis’s,” Marcus says.
“Really?” Growing up I was the only Otis, and I loved having that unique name.
“Nope. I’m kidding.”
“Oh that’s just mean.” But I can’t help laughing with him. Marcus is cool and very easy to be with.
“As I said, I didn’t really pay much attention. But then your drive was amazing, and I kept seeing pictures and I couldn’t believe it. I never actually thought I would get the chance to talk to you.”
“I’m sure that Jasper would have introduced us at some point,” I start, and then because I need to torture myself, “so are you and Jasper dating?”
“Jasper? Dating? God, no. Me and Jasper are good friends,” Marcus confirms, and I try to ignore the relief that floods my body.
“Why? Do you know someone who is interested? Is it another team secret and you’re putting the feelers out?”
“Not that I’m aware of,” I reply, trying not to laugh, but it sounds fake even to my ears, and the look that Marcus gives me, he knows it was a weird laugh too. “Just trying to figure him out. I haven’t had the chance to spend that much time with him.”
“Jasper isn’t a complicated person, what you see is sort of what you get. He is one of the good guys.”
“Yeah, I get that impression.”
“Actually,” Marcus starts, “Can you do me a favour?”
“I can try,” I respond, wondering where this questioning is going to go.
“Keep an eye on him. Jasper, for being the good guy, has complete shit taste in men. It’d be nice to know that when you’re flying all over the world there is someone looking out for him, too.”