"Sunset Road" - An AU RPS Story - Chapter Eleven
Continuation of my story, with Jake and Heath as actors on a nighttime soap opera.
Chapter Eleven
“Are you nervous?” Heath asked Jake. It was the day of the interview on The Ellen Show. Heath was talking to him over the phone as he got ready.
“A little bit,” Jake replied. He paused before saying, “Okay, more than a little bit.”
“You don’t have to tell her everything,” Heath said. “Just say that you’re seeing someone and leave it at that.”
“Heath, we’ve been over this. Didn’t we agree that I was going to tell the whole truth, if I was asked? Now, you want me to back out?”
Heath sighed. “No, I guess not. Tell her what you want.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah. You’re right; best to get it all out and get it over with.”
“And, I’ll tell her that you’re the best lover I’ve ever had,” Jake said.
“No, don’t say that!” Heath exclaimed.
Jake laughed. “Okay, okay. Look, I gotta go. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck, babe. Let me know how it goes.”
“I’ll call you as soon as it’s over,” Jake promised.
Heath spent the next couple of hours in his apartment, drinking coffee, reading the latest “Sunset Road” script and pacing like a madman. A part of him wished he were down at the studio with Jake, giving him moral support behind the scenes.
Finally, his phone rang. Heath couldn’t answer it fast enough. “How’d it go?” he asked right away, his heart pounding.
“Everything went fine,” Jake said. “The audience was really supportive. Lots of cheers and ‘whoos’ and all that.”
Heath grinned. He could imagine the primarily-female audience going crazy. “When does it air?” he asked.
“Monday,” Jake said. “But, the big news is probably all over the internet already.”
“No doubt,” Heath said, his stomach beginning to churn.
“It’ll be fine,” Jake assured him.
“I hope so.”
As expected, the media went wild with the news. TMZ led the pack, bursting out of the gate with its story, JAKE & HEATH: LOVERS! Other gossip blogs quickly followed, with stories like JAKE SEZ: “I LOVE HEATH” and HEATH & JAKE’S REAL-LIFE LOVE! When the Ellen Show episode aired, it became her highest-rated show to date. Heath and Jake were bombarded with interview requests, most of which they turned down. They did agree to talk to The Advocate, a gay magazine. They gave a joint interview. The issue sold out in virtually not time at all.
Meanwhile, back in fictional Lakeview…Jack Twist was still struggling with his sexual identity. Was he attracted to Ennis del Mar or not? If so, did that mean he was gay or bisexual? He couldn’t talk to his parents. He was pulling away from Lureen. The only person he could really turn to was Ennis, the very source of his confusion.
Finally, it came time to film the last episode before Summer break. In it, Jack at last tells Lureen that they must break up, that he is attracted to someone else. Angrily, she demands to know who, and when he tells her, she flies into a rage and then breaks down crying. The episode ended with Jack meeting Ennis in the woods, the pair embracing and sharing a kiss.
“Cut!” yelled Mr. Lee. “That’s a wrap!”
Heath and Jake stood with their arms around each other for a moment longer, then parted to claps and cheers from the rest of the cast. “See you in September,” called Mr. Lee, as everyone left the set.
Jake went over to Anne and gave her a big hug. Heath saw Michelle standing by herself and walked over to her. “Well,” he said, “I guess I’ll see you in September.”
“I guess so,” she replied softly. She seemed about to say something else, but at that moment Jake came up to them.
“I stole your ma--an,” he sang teasingly.
The smile she gave him didn’t reach her eyes. “Go on, rub it in,” she said. “Jack Nasty.”
Jake threw back his head and laughed. “Come on, Heath, let’s get outta here,” he said.
Heath allowed himself to be steered away, toward the dressing rooms. When he looked back over his shoulder, Michelle was gone.
Outside, it was a perfect May evening. Heath and Jake walked out of the building and were greeted by a small group of autograph seekers. Many had copies of The Advocate for them to sign, others had “Sunset Road” memorabilia, such as pictures and t-shirts. The two men spent time signing everything and talking to the fans; afterward, Jake took Heath’s hand and pulled him away, asking, “Are you coming to my place?”
“Sure, I guess,” Heath answered.
“I’ve been thinking,” Jake said, “maybe we could, you know, move in together.”
Heath stopped in his tracks. “What?”
“Don’t you think that’s a good idea? I mean, you practically live at my place, anyway.”
“I don’t know, Jake…it’s a little soon…”
Jake moved closer. Heath could smell his cologne; it made him dizzy with want. “Heath,” Jake said, his voice lowered, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Heath said.
“I want to spend as much time with you as possible. I want us to have a life together. Don’t you want that, too?”
“Let’s talk about this at your place, okay?” Heath asked. “Not out on the street.” He squeezed Jake’s hand.
As if on cue, a photographer came up to them and began taking pictures. ‘Hi, guys! How’s it goin’ today?”
“Just fine,” Jake said. He and Heath began walking again.
“Where’re ya headed tonight?” the guy asked.
Jake didn’t answer. Heath felt his anger rising to the surface.
“Anyplace special?” the guy prodded.
Heath took his hand from Jake’s and turned to face the photographer. “Why don’t you just leave us alone, huh?” he asked.
“Oh, come on, Heath, don’t be like that,” the guy said.
Jake took Heath’s hand again. “Let’s just go, come on,” he said.
“You going back to Jake’s apartment?” the guy asked them.
“Fuck off!” Heath growled. “Go bother somebody else!”
“No need to be like that,” the guy said, but he backed off. Jake and Heath continued on their way.
“You really shouldn’t have told the guy to fuck off,” Jake said.
“Why not?” Heath asked.
“I try to be polite to them, unless they’re blocking my car or something.”
“Politeness doesn’t work with them,” Heath said. “I haven’t been dealing with them for very long, but I know that.”
“Wait ‘til they start writing nasty things about us,” Jake said.
“I don’t care,” Heath replied. “Let ‘em write what they want.”
Jake said nothing more. They walked the couple of blocks to his building and went inside. Once they were behind the door of Jake’s apartment, the kissing and caressing and undressing started, and they didn’t say anything for awhile.
“You’re not mad at me, are you?” Heath asked sometime later, as they lay naked and panting in the bed.
“No, of course not,” Jake replied. “I just think you should be more careful with what you say around the paparazzi.”
“Well, I do want them to fuck off.”
“They have jobs to do, like we do. As long as they don’t interfere--”
“But, that’s just what they’re doing,” Heath said, sitting up. “They get in our faces with those cameras, and ask all those stupid questions.”
Jake shrugged. “That’s part of being famous,” he said, “dealing with crap like that.”
“Well, I don’t like it.”
“I don’t either. But, what can you do?”
“Tell ‘em to fuck off!”
Jake laughed. After a moment, Heath joined him. “Just be careful,” Jake said, rubbing Heath’s shoulder. “I don’t want you to become one of those guys that gets into fights with the paparazzi and ends up getting sued or some crap like that.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not that type. Unless I felt genuinely threatened, or if they were threatening you. Then I’d have to smack somebody down.”
“My hero,” Jake said, and kissed him. The kiss quickly escalated, and soon they were rolling around on the bed again.
Heath got on top of Jake and held him down. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said softly, and began to kiss his way down Jake’s body.
“Heath, Heath,” Jake murmured. “Ohhhh…what you do to me…”
“Wait until you see what I’m about to do to you,” Heath said with a smile. He continued to travel downward until he reached Jake’s erect dick, dripping and waiting. He licked the length of it and then put it into his mouth, causing Jake to gasp and cry out:
“Oh, shit, Heath!”
“Mmmm, baby,” Heath said, his mouth full, “you taste so good.” He licked and sucked the rigid flesh, while Jake writhed beneath him, grabbing his hair and calling out his name, until at last Jake could no longer hold back and let go, filling Heath’s mouth with his seed.
“That,” Jake said breathlessly, “was fucking spectacular.”
Heath smiled.
Jake got up on his elbows and looked down at Heath. “So…what do you think about living with me?”
Heath thought for a minute. Everything was happening so fast. Just a few short months ago, he was starting on “Sunset Road,” not thinking of anything except having a job. Now, he was famous and out as a gay man, in love with his male co-star. Was he ready to live with Jake? Was he prepared to make that kind of commitment? Heath looked into his lover’s eyes. At that moment, he couldn’t imagine living his life without Jake. And Jake’s place was closer to work. While his head was saying to take it slowly, to wait awhile, his heart was telling him to jump in and take the chance.
Heath decided to follow his heart.
TBC
Chapter Eleven
“Are you nervous?” Heath asked Jake. It was the day of the interview on The Ellen Show. Heath was talking to him over the phone as he got ready.
“A little bit,” Jake replied. He paused before saying, “Okay, more than a little bit.”
“You don’t have to tell her everything,” Heath said. “Just say that you’re seeing someone and leave it at that.”
“Heath, we’ve been over this. Didn’t we agree that I was going to tell the whole truth, if I was asked? Now, you want me to back out?”
Heath sighed. “No, I guess not. Tell her what you want.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yeah. You’re right; best to get it all out and get it over with.”
“And, I’ll tell her that you’re the best lover I’ve ever had,” Jake said.
“No, don’t say that!” Heath exclaimed.
Jake laughed. “Okay, okay. Look, I gotta go. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck, babe. Let me know how it goes.”
“I’ll call you as soon as it’s over,” Jake promised.
Heath spent the next couple of hours in his apartment, drinking coffee, reading the latest “Sunset Road” script and pacing like a madman. A part of him wished he were down at the studio with Jake, giving him moral support behind the scenes.
Finally, his phone rang. Heath couldn’t answer it fast enough. “How’d it go?” he asked right away, his heart pounding.
“Everything went fine,” Jake said. “The audience was really supportive. Lots of cheers and ‘whoos’ and all that.”
Heath grinned. He could imagine the primarily-female audience going crazy. “When does it air?” he asked.
“Monday,” Jake said. “But, the big news is probably all over the internet already.”
“No doubt,” Heath said, his stomach beginning to churn.
“It’ll be fine,” Jake assured him.
“I hope so.”
As expected, the media went wild with the news. TMZ led the pack, bursting out of the gate with its story, JAKE & HEATH: LOVERS! Other gossip blogs quickly followed, with stories like JAKE SEZ: “I LOVE HEATH” and HEATH & JAKE’S REAL-LIFE LOVE! When the Ellen Show episode aired, it became her highest-rated show to date. Heath and Jake were bombarded with interview requests, most of which they turned down. They did agree to talk to The Advocate, a gay magazine. They gave a joint interview. The issue sold out in virtually not time at all.
Meanwhile, back in fictional Lakeview…Jack Twist was still struggling with his sexual identity. Was he attracted to Ennis del Mar or not? If so, did that mean he was gay or bisexual? He couldn’t talk to his parents. He was pulling away from Lureen. The only person he could really turn to was Ennis, the very source of his confusion.
Finally, it came time to film the last episode before Summer break. In it, Jack at last tells Lureen that they must break up, that he is attracted to someone else. Angrily, she demands to know who, and when he tells her, she flies into a rage and then breaks down crying. The episode ended with Jack meeting Ennis in the woods, the pair embracing and sharing a kiss.
“Cut!” yelled Mr. Lee. “That’s a wrap!”
Heath and Jake stood with their arms around each other for a moment longer, then parted to claps and cheers from the rest of the cast. “See you in September,” called Mr. Lee, as everyone left the set.
Jake went over to Anne and gave her a big hug. Heath saw Michelle standing by herself and walked over to her. “Well,” he said, “I guess I’ll see you in September.”
“I guess so,” she replied softly. She seemed about to say something else, but at that moment Jake came up to them.
“I stole your ma--an,” he sang teasingly.
The smile she gave him didn’t reach her eyes. “Go on, rub it in,” she said. “Jack Nasty.”
Jake threw back his head and laughed. “Come on, Heath, let’s get outta here,” he said.
Heath allowed himself to be steered away, toward the dressing rooms. When he looked back over his shoulder, Michelle was gone.
Outside, it was a perfect May evening. Heath and Jake walked out of the building and were greeted by a small group of autograph seekers. Many had copies of The Advocate for them to sign, others had “Sunset Road” memorabilia, such as pictures and t-shirts. The two men spent time signing everything and talking to the fans; afterward, Jake took Heath’s hand and pulled him away, asking, “Are you coming to my place?”
“Sure, I guess,” Heath answered.
“I’ve been thinking,” Jake said, “maybe we could, you know, move in together.”
Heath stopped in his tracks. “What?”
“Don’t you think that’s a good idea? I mean, you practically live at my place, anyway.”
“I don’t know, Jake…it’s a little soon…”
Jake moved closer. Heath could smell his cologne; it made him dizzy with want. “Heath,” Jake said, his voice lowered, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Heath said.
“I want to spend as much time with you as possible. I want us to have a life together. Don’t you want that, too?”
“Let’s talk about this at your place, okay?” Heath asked. “Not out on the street.” He squeezed Jake’s hand.
As if on cue, a photographer came up to them and began taking pictures. ‘Hi, guys! How’s it goin’ today?”
“Just fine,” Jake said. He and Heath began walking again.
“Where’re ya headed tonight?” the guy asked.
Jake didn’t answer. Heath felt his anger rising to the surface.
“Anyplace special?” the guy prodded.
Heath took his hand from Jake’s and turned to face the photographer. “Why don’t you just leave us alone, huh?” he asked.
“Oh, come on, Heath, don’t be like that,” the guy said.
Jake took Heath’s hand again. “Let’s just go, come on,” he said.
“You going back to Jake’s apartment?” the guy asked them.
“Fuck off!” Heath growled. “Go bother somebody else!”
“No need to be like that,” the guy said, but he backed off. Jake and Heath continued on their way.
“You really shouldn’t have told the guy to fuck off,” Jake said.
“Why not?” Heath asked.
“I try to be polite to them, unless they’re blocking my car or something.”
“Politeness doesn’t work with them,” Heath said. “I haven’t been dealing with them for very long, but I know that.”
“Wait ‘til they start writing nasty things about us,” Jake said.
“I don’t care,” Heath replied. “Let ‘em write what they want.”
Jake said nothing more. They walked the couple of blocks to his building and went inside. Once they were behind the door of Jake’s apartment, the kissing and caressing and undressing started, and they didn’t say anything for awhile.
“You’re not mad at me, are you?” Heath asked sometime later, as they lay naked and panting in the bed.
“No, of course not,” Jake replied. “I just think you should be more careful with what you say around the paparazzi.”
“Well, I do want them to fuck off.”
“They have jobs to do, like we do. As long as they don’t interfere--”
“But, that’s just what they’re doing,” Heath said, sitting up. “They get in our faces with those cameras, and ask all those stupid questions.”
Jake shrugged. “That’s part of being famous,” he said, “dealing with crap like that.”
“Well, I don’t like it.”
“I don’t either. But, what can you do?”
“Tell ‘em to fuck off!”
Jake laughed. After a moment, Heath joined him. “Just be careful,” Jake said, rubbing Heath’s shoulder. “I don’t want you to become one of those guys that gets into fights with the paparazzi and ends up getting sued or some crap like that.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not that type. Unless I felt genuinely threatened, or if they were threatening you. Then I’d have to smack somebody down.”
“My hero,” Jake said, and kissed him. The kiss quickly escalated, and soon they were rolling around on the bed again.
Heath got on top of Jake and held him down. “God, you’re beautiful,” he said softly, and began to kiss his way down Jake’s body.
“Heath, Heath,” Jake murmured. “Ohhhh…what you do to me…”
“Wait until you see what I’m about to do to you,” Heath said with a smile. He continued to travel downward until he reached Jake’s erect dick, dripping and waiting. He licked the length of it and then put it into his mouth, causing Jake to gasp and cry out:
“Oh, shit, Heath!”
“Mmmm, baby,” Heath said, his mouth full, “you taste so good.” He licked and sucked the rigid flesh, while Jake writhed beneath him, grabbing his hair and calling out his name, until at last Jake could no longer hold back and let go, filling Heath’s mouth with his seed.
“That,” Jake said breathlessly, “was fucking spectacular.”
Heath smiled.
Jake got up on his elbows and looked down at Heath. “So…what do you think about living with me?”
Heath thought for a minute. Everything was happening so fast. Just a few short months ago, he was starting on “Sunset Road,” not thinking of anything except having a job. Now, he was famous and out as a gay man, in love with his male co-star. Was he ready to live with Jake? Was he prepared to make that kind of commitment? Heath looked into his lover’s eyes. At that moment, he couldn’t imagine living his life without Jake. And Jake’s place was closer to work. While his head was saying to take it slowly, to wait awhile, his heart was telling him to jump in and take the chance.
Heath decided to follow his heart.
TBC