Neon Yellow: Obsessive Adhesives

Torquere Press
www.torquerepress.com

Copyright ©2011 by Andy Slayde COPYRIGHTNOTICE Ali Wilde

First published in www.torquerepress.com, 2011

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Neon Yellow: Obsessive Adhesives

By Andy Slayde & Ali Wilde

Dedicated to Suzi Jaymz for telling it like it is and Eric for answering hundreds of questions about hospital procedures.

"No worries, Charlotte. I'll order the power pack right now and have it here by mid morning on Monday.” Jason Doyle tapped his pen on a box on his desk that contained just the part he needed. Charlotte, the manager's secretary, wasn't to know that, though. With one hour to go on a Friday afternoon, Jason just couldn't be bothered to take the time to install the thing. “What's that? Nah, only take a few minutes to fix.” He laughed. “No, sorry, love. Going out with the boys tonight for a few drinks. Friend of mine just got back from Australia and I'm hoping to catch up with him. Maybe another time. Sure."

Jason hung up the phone and leaned back, gazing unseeingly at the ceiling tiles. He'd knocked Charlotte back so many times, that she should have taken the hint by now. Or at least started rumors that he was gay because he wasn't susceptible to her copious charms. At least those sorts of rumors would make the place a bit more interesting; the offices of Morgan and Richmond—biggest and best department store in Summerset—weren't very exciting.

He looked at the people he worked with. Rosa and Jenny—the receptionists—were chatting and arranging their night out, and Eli and Mark from debt collection were playing Bejewelled over MSN together. Jason rolled his eyes; he should never have shown them how to get through the proxy server. Even the accounts supervisor, Steven, was reading the newspaper and checking his watch every few minutes. The only person who was head down and bum up, still working, was Spencer Whitfield, nerd of the accounts department.

Every workplace had one. Someone who always showed up for work immaculately groomed, no less. Quiet, studious—Jason had heard that Spencer had finished his business degree in three years rather than the standard four—conscientious... Spencer puzzled Jason. In a world where everyone was out to look as good as they could, Spencer seemed content to blend into the scenery. Brown hair, brown eyes, fair skin, wire rimmed glasses—they were stylish, but still didn't quite manage to lift Spencer a notch. Even his suits, while expensive and well tailored, were blah. White shirts, gray jacket and trousers, and usually a gray or black tie. Silk, yes; interesting, no.

After observing Spencer's desk, Jason studied his own. Not one monitor but three, two keyboards, a net-book and various bits of technology. The floor under his desk was littered with boxes for motherboards and hard drives. The cabinet behind him contained chips, wires, fans, RAM and other assorted and useful computer parts. Okay, so his was the most cluttered desk in the office, but who else here actually did any more than
use
their computer? Who was expected to fix it or get them out of a jam when it ‘broke'? Who was expected to be able to fix it immediately? If not sooner. He knew Mr. Edwards, the manager, wanted him to foresee problems
before
they happened. Hence the reason Charlotte was waiting ‘til Monday for her power pack. Petty, yes, but it was his own subtle form of protest. He was in IT, not ESP.

He looked back at Spencer. This wasn't good; he appeared to be developing an interest for a man he'd barely spared a glance for. Why though? Was it Spencer's complete lack of anything interesting? He had to have
something
, and Jason found himself wanting to discover what it was.

With just two minutes to go, Jason turned off his computer, picked up his net-book and car keys and strode to the elevator, bidding the accounts department a cheery farewell. He was meeting his good friends, Thad and Skyler, and Skyler's partner Nathan, for dinner and drinks, and had his weekend to look forward to. Pondering Spencer could wait until he was bored on Monday.

As if that was the signal they'd all been waiting for, the other seven people in the office also picked up and joined him at the elevator. Nope, correction, six people. Spencer stayed right where he was, busy adding and jotting figures.

"Yo, Spencer!” Eli called. “Coming? It's Friday."

Spencer just lifted his hand and gave a wave, which could be interpreted as almost anything.

Jason smiled. As if anyone would forget it was Friday. Being first in the queue for the elevator, he held the door open while the others filed in, and watched Spencer, waiting for him to join them. When it became obvious that he wasn't going to, Jason let the doors slide shut. “Is he insane?"

Rosa and Jenny giggled. “Rumor is that he's gay,” Rosa spoke knowledgeably.

And that makes him insane
? Jason thought.
And great, he gets rumors made up about him.
“I'm not sure that's a cause of insanity."

"Well, it's not normal, is it?” Rosa asked.

Jason wondered at the level of silence in the elevator. Were they waiting for his opinion? It wasn't like he was the oldest or most knowledgeable one there. He was twenty four and confident, but that didn't mean he had all the answers to life's little mysteries. In answer to Rosa, he just shrugged. “Define normal."

Jason stretched, the cotton sheets cool against his skin. A warm hand swept down his back and he sighed contentedly.

As it happened, Jason needn't have hurried at all to make it to the pub for dinner. Skyler had sent a text saying that he and Nathan were going to have to reschedule. They were both still tired and jet-lagged, but Thad was still going to be there. Jason very nearly phoned Thad to cancel the evening, before deciding that he needed a night out. Who better to share that night with than Thad? The man was great fun, an excellent dancer, knew everybody, and cooked a mean breakfast.

As if spending the night in Thad's bed wasn't great anyway, the man was taking a massage course. These days, he made sure his partner left his bed in a different kind of relaxed state.

"What's the time?"

"Early.” Both Thad's hands rubbed Jason's shoulders, gently.

Jason wriggled so he was lying flat on his stomach. Thad, still naked, straddled Jason's hips and leaned forward to rub his shoulders.

"Even after fantastic sex and a sleep, you're still so tense,” Thad observed. “Only one thing for it, more sex."

"This is nice...” Jason mumbled into the pillow.

Thad sighed. “No-one has ever said I don't know how to use my hands, sweetheart."

"Can't argue with that.” There had been a rumor going around their circle of friends that Thad was an ex-hooker, his blow jobs and fucking had been
that
good. No-one had ever asked him and he'd never refuted it.

"Why so tense?"

Jason flexed his shoulders as Thad's fingers worked on the knotted muscles. “'m not tense."

"Uh-huh. Not this guy you were telling me about over dinner?” Thad worked the heels of his hands gently along Jason's spine.

"What guy?” Jason asked. He tried to recall which one of his current crushes he and Thad had talked about but could only recall telling him about Spencer. Thad couldn't mean... No. There was no way Jason was developing an unhealthy crush on someone who would never be right for him in a million years. “You mean Spencer?"

"The cute nerd in your office, hmmm."

"He's not cute. He's... well, he's...” For the life of him, Jason couldn't picture Spencer. “He's just there. Everyday. I never see him come in or go home. Maybe he's an android."

Thad laughed. “They wouldn't make a bland android. Look at Data."

Jason laughed and conceded. For all his apparent coolness, Thad was such an irrepressible Star Trek nerd. “But no, it's not Spencer. He's barely spoken to me in the few months he's been there. Not my type at all."

"Uh-huh.” Thad sounded skeptical. “That's what Sky would've said before Nate came along. He's got his nerd, maybe it's your turn."

"I guarantee Nathan's not as bad as Spencer.” Jason knew that Nathan had been working at the bank in the mall when Sky had met him—swept him off his feet, according to Thad—but Jason had yet to meet him. Maybe a trip to the mall, to Sky's shop, would be on the agenda for later today... okay, tomorrow. He had a feeling he was going to be lazy with Thad today. Sky needed telling that he was remiss for keeping Nathan to himself and not introducing them. Jason decided he'd invite them both for drinks; a quiet evening in, for a change, where they couldn't make excuses and say they were too tired. He drifted off to sleep again under the gentle ministrations of Thad's hands and dreamed of an office full of android nerds.

"But Thad cooked you an awesome breakfast, didn't he?” Skyler Hawkins, owner of Sky Hawk, Summerset Mall's New Age store, asked Jason when he finally made it into the shop on Sunday afternoon.

Jason nodded. He was half heartedly berating Sky for opting out of Friday evening's get-together, while Sky was pointing out the merits of Jason having Thad all to himself for the night. He couldn't deny that all of Sky's reasons, from
not
having to share Thad with others through to Thad's cooking skills, had been valid. Once again, Jason couldn't figure out why Thad was still single. Maybe he just hadn't met the android of his dreams...

"And you got to experience something that even I haven't.” Sky raised an eyebrow. “A massage."

Jason had to laugh. “It was so relaxing, I went to sleep."

"Uh-huh. And when you woke up, you were so refreshed that morning sex was as energetic as evening sex and you did it twice? In the shower
and
against the breakfast bar."

Jason rolled his eyes. That was exactly what had happened. “How did...? Nah, I don't want to know what you two talk about between customers."

Sky winked at Jason, and grinned. “And speaking of which...” He looked over as a young man entered the shop. “Excuse me a sec, Jay."

Jason glanced at the customer who was standing just inside the shop, wiping his glasses on what looked like a soft handkerchief. His brown hair was damp and slightly spiky where he'd run his fingers through it; trim body looking pleasant enough wearing a casual collared shirt tucked into slightly faded blue jeans. There was something familiar about him.

"Spencer, hi,” Sky greeted the man like an old friend.

"Hi, Sky,” Spencer spoke quietly, still intent on ensuring his glasses were clean. “Don't worry about me, I'll just have a look while you see to your other customer."

Sky waved his hand in Jason's direction. “That's just a friend of mine. He'll wait."

Spencer looked up at that, then over at Jason. His eyes, which Jason had never seen without a pair of glasses perched in front of them, widened slightly, obviously in surprise at seeing a work colleague.

"Afternoon, Spencer.” Jason wondered how he could ever have looked at Spencer and not noticed how beautiful his eyes were. A warm brown framed with long, dark lashes that almost cast shadows on his cheeks when he looked down.

"Hi, Jason,” came Spencer's quiet response.

When he looked up again, he had his glasses on and his eyes, once again, looked small and non-descript behind the lenses. Jason found himself oddly disappointed, then berated himself. Just because the guy had pretty eyes, didn't mean that he was suddenly interesting. He was still bland Spencer from accounts. Never spoke to anyone, never did anything other than his job, stayed late, probably got in early Spencer. With gorgeous eyes... and he may be gay...

"You two know each other?” Sky's voice broke into Jason's musings.

"Only by sight,” Jason clarified. “We work in the same office."

"Cool.” Sky could always be relied on to chat through any awkward silences. He looked at Spencer again. “So, you're in IT as well?"

"No, I work in the accounting department."

"Ah, that's right.” Sky laughed and winked at Jason. “Jason's the one man IT department."

"Don't need two men when you've got me.” Jason raised his eyebrows at Sky. “Just ask Thad."

"I won't hold you up any longer.” Spencer's face flushed a deep red as he retreated toward the glass shelving unit housing various crystals and gems.

"Don't scare my customers.” Sky rolled his eyes at Jason and headed over to Spencer. “You don't have much to do with Jason, do you? You'll have to tell me how you do it; he won't let me ignore him."