As he was walking out from his second lecture of American Ethnology, Luke was excited after getting the chance to do his first field assignment this semester. Last semester his Intro to Anthropology teacher had complimented on his field investigations and his command on the theories that most of his other students never even read. Professor Hawthorne had told him which classes he would be giving during spring semester and invited him to take his class if he would like. Now as the lecture ended the professor waved at him as he walked up the stairs. "Mr. Halliwell, could I have a word with you for a minute?" the professor called out to him.

"Of course, I'll be right there," Luke said as he walked back and to the center of the lecture hall. When he got there the professor shook his hand and opened a folder.

"I wanted to ask you a favor young man, I'm sure you are going to do an excellent work with you first field investigation, but I was wondering if you would consider taking a different project than the ones I set for the rest of the class?" Prof. Hawthorne asked him.

"Well sure, I mean if you think I can do it..." Luke started to say nervously as he had never had been asked any sort of special favor from a teacher.

The professor smiled and interrupted him. "Don't doubt that you will Mr. Halliwell, I have graded your work and I've always thought you do a better job than some of my sophomore and junior students sometimes," the professor said.

"Well I don't know about that..." Luke said blushing and scratching his head.

"Well what I wanted to ask you is sort of different, many of my other students that have showed as good skills on the field as you have rejected the project. And I'd say it's because it involves getting a little into the gay side of the city," the professor said and waited to see Luke's reaction.

"Wait, so you want me to do an investigation at a bar or what?" Luke asked him.

"Yes, there's a gay bar downtown, it's actually a gay sports bar, not quite the usual gay bar huh?" the professor asked him arching his eyebrows up.

"Well I think I've read something about those bars, but I frankly didn't know that there's one in town," Luke answered.

"Well yes, I've gotten in contact with the owner of the place and have been trying for the last few months to get a good idea on the scenario myself. However with all the work I have here at the university I haven't had the chance to do it. Still I think it would be a good assignment for you, and I sort of have the feeling that you wouldn't be all that uncomfortable in that place," Prof. Hawthorne said.

Luke blushed and looked down as he nodded. "I'm getting a little obvious huh?" he asked.

"Not really, I might have overheard a few things, but believe me it is no problem and I couldn't care less, so do you think you're up for the task?" the professor asked him as he placed the sheet with the directions for the project in front of him on the desk.

Luke reached out and ran his eyes over the sheet, he had some background info on the bar, the owner's name, what he should investigate, and the theories and bibliographical references that he could use to help himself. After a few seconds, he nodded and smiled at the professor. "I'll do it," he said and received a broad smile from the older man.

"So, how long are you guys going to stay around here?" Nate asked as he walked next to Tommy around campus, Dylan and Julian were walking together a little bit ahead from them. As they got close to the English building, the twins stopped and looked back at Nate. "It's behind the building, go round the right side of it and you'll see the coffee shop," Nate said smiling.

"Thanks!" the twins said in unison before they started walking to the right side of the English building with one arm around the other. People would look at them and smile as they walked together.

"Sorry about that, they didn't jerk off before leaving the house I guess," Tommy said apologizing for the twins' hyperactive condition.

"I know they get like that, we'll lock them in my dorm bathroom until they jerk off and calm down, it won't be a problem," Nate said and they both laughed at his suggestion.

"We brought my car and theirs, so I guess I could leave on my own, you know..." Tommy said answering his question.

"You mean you want to sleep over?" Nate asked looking him in the face.

"Well... I mean... if you want... maybe I should just go home..." Tommy started stammering.

"No, no, it's ok, if you wanted to sleep over you should've just asked," Nate said blushing.

"I guess I was afraid," Tommy said.

"Afraid of what?" Nate asked him.

"That you'd say you didn't want me to," Tommy answered.

Nate smiled and took Tommy's hand into his and squeezed it. "How long would you stay?" Nate asked.

"I'd have to go back tomorrow," Tommy answered.

"Sounds fine to me," Nate said smiling.

They got to the coffee shop, his and Martin's favorite place to have a snack or eat other than the school dining hall. They saw that the twins were sitting at a table at the far end of the shop, opposite to the front door. The shop had three entrances, one on the front, one on its right side, looking out onto a path that led to the library where Nate used to work and one that looked to the English building. The back of the shop was where the small kitchenette that the employees used was enclosed by a counter, they were sitting at one of the corners at a very secluded and 'private' spot to the right of the kitchenette.

Dylan was sitting with Julian next to him and Julian was smiling as Dylan talked away with a blonde girl that was sitting on the table next to theirs. The girl was obviously dazzled by Dylan and she kept looking from him to Julian and then back. As they sat down on the two remaining seats on the table, the girl got up and shook hands with Dylan. Then she looked at Nate and Tommy and blushed before saying a quick 'bye' to Dylan before leaving. Dylan opened his hand and showed them that she had slipped a napkin into his hand when she shook it and as he opened it they saw it had Lauren's number written. "I like college girls" he said smiling.

"Slut," Julian said shaking his head and looking at a small menu that was set on the table.

"You always have to get a number wherever you go," Tommy said looking down and with a smile on his face. Tough Nate thought the smile seemed a little forced.

Julian looked at Nate and Nate instinctively looked back and met his gaze. He too had noticed Tommy's forced expression. "So, how's school been up until now Nate?" Julian asked breaking the small silence that had settled after Tommy's comment.

"Good, I'm taking a Greek lit class, English composition two, an Art History class and a Spanish class," Nate said grateful for Julian's quick reaction.

"Spanish? So you speak some of it like they do too?" Tommy asked him.

"Si, nuestra abuela nos enseñó un poco," Nate said and Tommy nodded.

"Ok, it's oficial, I hate all three of you," Tommy said rolling his eyes.

"Heh, that's only 'cause you don't understand it," Dylan said smiling.

"Si estudiaras más en la escuela lo entenderías mejor," Julian said smiling.

"Pero nunca pones atención," Dylan said smiling.

"You guys suck!" Tommy said before flipping them the bird.

"I take it you don't like languages then," Nate said smiling at Tommy.

"Not really my thing," Tommy said looking down.

"It's ok, when you start college you'll be able to take something and then you'll actually have to study," Dylan said with a toothy grin.

"Like I'm risking my GPA that way," Tommy said shaking his head.

"So, anything interesting happened so far?" Julian asked Nate.

"Not really, it's only been two weeks since school started again so there hasn't been much happening, and besides you've been here last weekend too," Nate said smiling.

"So? We like hanging out with you," Tommy said blushing a little, he looked down and then he looked up at Dylan and quickly looked away before he took the menu and started reading it. Dylan was reading the menu and didn't catch Tommy looking at him, but Nate did catch Tommy's gesture. Nate looked at Julian and Julian looked at Tommy and then met Nate's eyes and shrugged his shoulders. Nate smiled to himself thinking how funny it was that he could communicate so easily with Julian. He knew Julian and Dylan didn't manage to communicate like that most of the time, and that they could read each other much easier at some other times, but it felt nice to think that he could read his cousins that way and that they could read him. Well Jules could, Dylan, well Dyl was just a little bit more distracted most of the time.

"So you've gone to a gay bar twice without taking me along?" Martin asked as he and Luke walked to the coffee shop after meeting at the English building.

"Well it's a field investigation; I can't just take someone along. I have to do my stuff and lay low you know, it's a non participant observation I can't let my targets know that they're being studied. Or else that might modify their behavior and hence modify the results of my investigation," Luke said before he saw Martin's lost look at his explanation.

"Ok, I get it, you don't like being seen with your old cousin you bitch, whatever," Martin said shaking his head and chuckling.

"Ok, but don't tell my old cousin, 'cause he's getting tired of me hanging out with you instead of him," Luke said smiling.

"Stop sweet talking me," Martin said before smiling at him. "Ok, what do you want?" he asked as they got in by the side entrance facing the English building. They walked to one of the tables on the left side of the shop's kitchenette and put their stuff on top. Then they walked to the counter and ordered their coffees and a couple of sandwiches.

"The bar is like a straight bar I swear, the only difference is that some times you can see a few guys kiss, but very few," Luke said as they waited for the guy to bring them their order.

"So it's just like a sports bar and the guys look like your average straight sports fan, but they're really gay," Martin said.

"Yup, sort of brings down the whole preconception of fairies and queens that most people have of..." Luke was saying before he stopped as he spotted Nate drinking coffee and a tall guy sitting next to him that had an arm over Nate's back. As he stared, he saw that the twins were also with them.

"Luke, what?" Martin asked before he looked at where Luke was staring and spotted them.

The clerk got them their coffees and sandwiches and they took them. "Nothing, I just didn't expect to see him here," Luke said as he took his food and started walking back to their table.

"We can leave if you want, I mean..." Martin started saying.

"No, I'm ok, let's just forget about it, they might leave before we do anyways," Luke said as he sat down.

"You sure?" Martin asked him.

"Yeah, so getting back on that bar thing..." Luke started saying.

"I'll be right back, I'm gonna get more coffee," Jules said as he got up. And started walking towards the counter. He got there and ordered some more coffee and as he waited for it he started looking around the shop. After a few seconds of randomly staring around he spotted two people that caught his attention. He had only seen pictures of him, but he was sure that he was looking at Martin. He was sitting at the other side of the kitchenette and was talking with a guy sitting opposite from him at a table. He recognized the other guy even though he had his back to him, it was Luke. As he stared at Luke's back he noticed Martin moved in his seat a little and as he looked at Martin their eyes met.

Martin stared at him and smiled shyly, then he raised his hand in a 'hello' gesture and Julian returned the gesture with a smile. "Dude, here's your coffee," the clerk said and made him look back to the counter.

"I'm sorry," he said as he paid him and took the coffee from him. When he looked back at Martin he saw that Martin was looking down and Luke was looking back, looking at him. Luke froze, and so did he, they were staring at each other and it took him a few seconds before he could manage to talk. "Hey," he said at Luke.

Luke nodded at him and gave a weak smile. Then he got up and left the shop by the side entrance. Martin got up and was about to leave but then he walked to the counter, Julian instinctively walked around the counter and met him. "Which one are you?" Martin asked as he put his hand out to shake.

"Julian, nice to meet you man," he said as he reached out and shook Martin's hand.

"Same here man, listen I would love to meet you guys properly and all but I think I should go..." Martin started to say as he looked at the door.

"Go, I understand," Julian said smiling at him.

"Thanks, I guess if you guys stick around for a while I could see you guys later," Martin said before shaking Julian's hand again.

"Sounds good to me," Julian answered and then Martin ran out. As he walked back to the table he saw that Dylan was looking at them and then he met Julian's eyes and arched an eyebrow. Julian shook his head at him and Dylan nodded, they didn't mention any of it to either Nate or Tommy.

As he sat at the bar Luke clasped his mp3 player in his hand, he had become adept at using it to record important things so he wouldn't forget them and he could get them on his reports. He would push the 'record' button, put his hand close to his mouth, and say what he needed to record before pushing 'stop' and placing his hand back on the bar. It was a lot easier to collect information and not get caught, if he'd take a notebook most of the regulars and customers would wonder what a good-looking kid was doing taking notes in a bar.

He was sure he already had enough information to complete his report. His final verdict was that gay sports bars were a solid proof of how there is a huge amount of man who do not fit the effeminate gay stereotype. Most of the customers would look like any straight guy outside. And the bar decoration and music were entirely different from your neon décor and techno music gay bar cliché. He was drinking a ginger ale and as he sipped from the bottle he noticed an older slim guy looking at him. "Great, another older guy about to hit on me," he thought. The guy got up and walked around the bar and then sat next to him.

"I don't see a notebook or a tape recorder, but I would dare say that you're studying either anthropology or sociology," the guy said as he looked at him.

Luke froze, he had blown his cover and now he wondered if this guy had known all along, and even worse if he had said anything to the other customers. "I don't know..." he started to say.

"Bullshit, I have a friend that studies anthropology and he's told me about your observations and all that, I could tell that you were doing one of those, or still are I guess," the guy said.

"Have you told anyone?" Luke asked.

"No, I know you're not supposed to let people know what you're doing," the guy said smiling before taking a swig of his beer bottle.

"Thanks I guess," Luke said blushing and looking down.

"So, did you get the information you needed?" the guy asked him.

"Well, yeah, I just need to write my report now," Luke answered.

"I guess I'm going to sound a little forward with this but I can't wait to ask you. Why are you here? A great looking kid like you should be either at a date or here with someone. I mean it is a Saturday night," he said with an inquiring look on his face.

"Nosey old guy aren't you?" Luke said faking a smile.

"Young man, I've seen you about three nights this week here. Considering that you already said you are observing us and writing a report about the customers I'd say you're in no position to complain about nosiness," the guy said giving him a toothy grin at the end.

"Ok, but still, what tells me you're not some perv?" Luke asked getting angrier.

"If you study either anthropology or sociology, then you're not supposed to judge people without knowing them I believe," the guy said as he rubbed his chin.

"And so what? I've got a right to doubt your noble intentions and interests about my feelings," Luke said with a sting of sarcasm in his voice.

"Now I know there's something wrong, if not you would've just answered flatly," the guy said.

"Do you get off on annoying people?" Luke asked.

"Nope I get off on porn for your information," the guy said chuckling.

Luke was pissed at the guy, but he found the last statement funny and laughed despite his anger. "Idiot," he said as he shook his head.

"Why for? Being honest?" the guy asked as he took a swig of his beer.

"I screwed up," Luke said looking down at the table. The guy nodded and put his beer down and waited for Luke to speak again. "I had a boyfriend, but I screwed up and pushed him away," he said before drinking the last of his ginger ale.

"And you still love him?" the guy asked him.

"Yeah, it sucks..." Luke said as he pushed the bottle to the front of the bar for the bartender to take.

"So you want to get back together with him?" the guy asked again.

"Yeah, but I don't think I can fix things and he's sort of seeing someone now," Luke answered.

"Are they going serious?" the guy asked him.

"I don't know yet," Luke answered.

"Does he still love you?" the guy asked.

"I don't know, and I've told you too much already, I don't usually go around talking to strangers," Luke said getting pissed again.

"No you don't, you go around observing people, gathering information about them without their knowledge, sitting on a bar alone when you say you want to get your boyfriend back..." the guy started saying.

"You know what? I don't fucking need this," Luke said as he started getting up.

"If you really loved him you'd keep trying, you wouldn't just quit," the guy said and Luke stopped on his tracks. "If you screwed up you should have the balls to admit it and take it like a man instead of letting him go like that," the guy added.

"But what if he doesn't love me anymore?" Luke asked looking back at him.

"Then at least you could say you tried and move on, that sounds a lot better than sulking about it now doesn't it?" the guy said and winked at him.

Luke chuckled and nodded. "Thank you," he said as he walked out of the bar.

He was ready to go to bed, even though Tommy and him hadn't really had any sex the night before they had made out and jerked each other, Nate was reluctant to go any farther. Specially since he had noticed Tommy's weird behavior around Dylan. As he got into bed he wished sleep would come quickly, the day had been long and he sure needed a good rest. As he closed his eyes he heard a knock on his door, he sat up and looked at the clock on his night stand. It was past eleven. Who would come at this hour? He got up and walked to the door, he didn't know whether to open it or what, if it was Martin or Becca they'd probably called him to his cell now that they knew he had one. As he walked to the door he heard another knock on the door and felt a chill go up his back as he heard the voice that called out to him from outside.

"Nate, it's me..." Luke said from outside.

He froze, what was Luke doing there? He hadn't even seen him since he got back to school, even though they lived in the same building.

"Nate, please, I still love you..." Luke said as he felt tears stream down his face. "I know I hurt you, badly but I still love you and I'm so sorry," he said before letting out a sob. "I know you're there I heard you walk to the door, you drag your feet when you're sleepy..." he said wishing Nate would answer him.

Nate felt a knot form in his throat as he fought the urge to open the door, hold Luke tight against him, and lay kisses all over him. "Go away," Nate said above a whisper.

Luke heard him and let out another sob as he rested his head against the door. "I guess I disserve that, but I won't give up, not until I know if there's still a chance for us. Not until I know if you still love me, I won't give up, I love you too much for that," Luke said as he gave a few steps back. "I saw you yesterday and you look great, I love you Natey," he said as he walked away.

Nate felt the tears spring free from his eyes as he heard Luke's steps as he walked down the hall. He went to his bed and sat down, he ran his fingers over his face wiping the tears away. After a few seconds he reached out and got his cell phone from his night stand. He wrote a text message and then sent it to a number he had tried to forget but never managed to.

Luke closed the door behind him and walked to his bed, he took off his shirt and shoes, then his pants and socks, as he got into his bed he took his cell phone out from his pants pocket and as he was going to place it on his night stand it vibrated. He looked at the screen and said he had a new text message; he opened it and didn't recognize the number but felt his heart melt when he read it.