So Happy Together (A Short Story)

(Random: I wrote this short story a few days ago. I just wanted to feel like I completed something. I have this obnoxious habit of starting on a story and not completing it (lol). Anyway, I don't think this is publishable but it was something that came into my mind. Tell me what you think! Also, any similarities between people living or dead is purely coincidentally.) 

So Happy Together

By Prince Toddy English.  

November woke up earlier than usual that morning, around five o'clock a.m. to be precise. He hadn't been an early riser since he graduated college and quit his day job five years prior. However, his sleep had been restless and disturbed for the past three nights, and for good reason.

As he lay gazing into the ominous darkness of his king sized bed November could concentrate on nothing save for the gaggle of wayward thoughts run amok in his mind, in addition to the resonating snores of his slumbering: lover, partner, companion, and husband, Polo. 
Seven years ago there was nothing November loved to do more than watch the rise and fall of Polo's brawny chest as he slumbered. Occasionally, November delighted in pressing his ear against his husband's pectoral just to hear the rhythm of his heartbeat, strong and healthy like the thumping of an African war drum.  


Now, seven years later, as November lie beside Polo, near the budding of a new dawn, he could only think about how he was going to leave him—and the relationship—by noon today. He had already purchased an airline ticket back to Dallas, Texas—his hometown—scheduled to depart at 1:00 PM. His mother, prior to him relocating to San Jose, California seven years before, told him that if things did not work out he could always come back home. At the time November believed that he would never take her up on the offer; however, things had inevitably changed. They had changed so much that he decided it was best to recalibrate. At least he knew that his old bedroom was still completely intact. November's mom still treated him like he was twelve.
Right now that was a good thing because he needed a hug and a big bowl of her raisin oatmeal. Some familiarity was the order of the day at the moment.
 ________

He recalled vividly the day Polo Reynolds stole his heart and ran. It was a Thursday morning and November had been on the clock, in the young Mens department, of Percy's, a popular retail chain in his area. Although November loved fashion he detested the retail sales industry like a virulent case of viral pneumonia. Between the rotating hours; the numerous sales throughout the week; the obnoxious customers; black Friday; the long and tedious stretches of nothing; and the neurotic store management team and associates; it was everything for him to go on his lunch hour and never look back. However, seeing as he had bills and tuition to pay he needed this job, no matter how shitty it was. November was in his Junior year of college at Paul Quinn University studying to become a librarian.
Even though he had been a straight A student in High School he had absolutely no career path in mind; at least until his guidance counselor—Mr. Jamison—steered him in the right direction.
"I don't know what I want to do." he said matter of factly.
“What do you love to do most?” he asked.
“Read.” said November.
“Why not become a library technician? They get paid good money my brotha. And you can read as many books as you want anytime you want.”
November pondered on the idea. It really made sense when he thought about it. Bookworm that he was it was the obvious choice for a career path. That made the decision that much easier.  In addition November thought Mr. Jamison was finer than a bald man's thinning hair. Everyone did but November found any erroneous excuse to go to his office, from fictional family problems to purposefully allowing some of his grades to slip. Needless to say Mr. Jamison was one of the catalysts for his stellar academic career and ultimate career path. 
___________

After high school ended work and class and class and work became the order of the: day, night, evening, afternoon, breakfast, brunch, lunch, and after dinner. Of course all of that changed when he saw the impossibly tall, handsome, darker than bittersweet chocolate, young man with a smile so dazzling that he could have been the cover boy for a box of Colgate toothpaste. Every single thing about the guy was impossibly magnificent. And from the way he was posing in the mirror—grinning and winking at himself all the while—November could tell that he knew it too.  
He stood enthrall as the ebony hued man pulled off his shirt to try on another one of items he had just folded on the display table. Normally, he got quietly angry when customers wrecked his display table; however, this particular customer's body gave him a pass.
The man appeared to have been carved out of an onyx stone. That and November marveled at the thickness of his neck; width of his shoulders; broadness of his back; his strong hands; his sleek, perfectly shaped, bald head; and his backside that resembled two taut melons stuffed into a bag too small to encompass them both. And it was everything for him to move his eyes away from his crotch region. It appeared to be hiding an Amazonian snake struggling to get out of the jungle.  

“You little slut! I see you staring at that man!”
the voice was a whisper but loud enough for it to startle November from his trance.  
It was his co-worker and best friend, Tommy. The petite young black woman sidled up alongside November and pinched him on the arm.
“I was not staring at him.” he said, barely able to conceal a case of the embarrassment giggles.
 “Boo, yes you were. You looked frozen. If that man walked over here and ripped off all of your clothes you'd probably just lay there like some bitch in gone with the wind and let him ravish your body!” said Tommy.  
November laughed outright at that, as did Tommy.
 “Well, what are you waiting for? He might be on the all boy's team.” she said.
“With my luck he's probably happily married—to a woman—and has 2.5 kids. Story of my life.”
“Well let me go over there and steal him from his hypothetical wife and kids then!”
“Now, you are the nasty stank Church heaux!” said November. With that he proceeded in the direction of the pulchritudinous customer. 
"Hand a sista the collection plate then, hallelujah thank ya Jesus!" she replied. 
“I'll be right back.” He said as he eagerly bounded away with a bit too much pep in his step.
“Boy, don't comeback here walking like you been riding a horse.”  
Tommy could not resist a zinger.  
November smiled and flipped her the bird. 
_____________

“Hi welcome to Percy's! Can I assist you with finding anything today sir?” Normally, November offered a smile and hello to the steady stream of customers that came into Percy's on a daily basis. This time he prattled off the pre-programmed greeting with a bit too much enthusiasm. The shopper turned around and showed November his dazzling smile which was a mixture of all too pleasant surprise and delight.
 “Oh most definitely uhm...” The guy, who stood at least 6'6, leaned down to get a clearer glimpse of November's name tag. He pulled back and issued a puzzled glance, “How you get a name like November?” he asked whilst adjusting the mauve button down shirt he was trying on.
 “My Mama.” said November, as he tried his best not to smile too broadly. This man could have told jokes about maiming little children with a hacksaw and November would have thought it was cute, “She told me that I was actually due in the month of November; but my birthday is in December and there you have it.”
He had no clue why he was divulging information to a complete and perfect stranger.  
The guy laughed, “I'll bet your middle name is something religious like Joseph or Jesus or something.” 
November even thought the guy's voice was cute. He expected a resonant baritone but instead got a boyishly low tenor. It was adorable.  
November blushed, “You better not laugh at me when I tell you...” he said.
“See, I bet it's Jesus or something.” The guy continued buttoning up his shirt as he laughed, “You all little and light-skinned. Your mama probably hispanic or something! Yeah, it's probably Jesus. ”
November paused, “It's Noel actually. Yes, go ahead and laugh.”
“I knew it!” he chuckled, “That's cool though, Mr. November Noel.”
With that the man turned to see how he looked in the mauve shirt, “Tell me something man and don't lie...” he paused, “You don't think this shirt looks too gay on me do you?”
November rolled his eyes.
“Yep, he's straight...and a dumb ass. So much for that one.”
he thought.
Apparently the customer took wind of November's contempt for his comment, “Oh, no offense my dude.”
“None taken.” he lied, a little. Normally, he would hold a grudge but the guy was too gorgeous to stay mad at. “But yeah it totally looks good on you. Your skin color goes great with those kinds of hues.”
“I seriously didn't mean that whole gay thing to be offensive though...”
“I know. It's all good. I hear that stupid “That's so gay” mess all of the time in here.”
“Good, because I cannot under any circumstances have the cute little light skinned sales boy mad at me over some silliness.”
November's entire face lit up, “Oh so you family!” he proclaimed as though he had found a unicorn and the holy grail all under the same rainbow.
The guy smiled, “Shhh, don't tell nobody. I don't want to look too gay at the pride parade next week. I know how boys like you like a dude to be all tradish.”
“First of all I don't like trade. Second of all if you want to look like some trade I doubt your predilection for mauve and magenta shirts will help up your masculinity quotient.”
November started laughing and the guy feigned an expression of disingenuous annoyance.
“Oh, so you just gonna clock me all up in Percy's? Just put me all up on front street. You killin me November! You killin me!” He joked. “Alright, since I'm about to buy these shirts from you—thus helping you reach your sales quota—I think it's only fair that you have lunch with me tomorrow. Again, I'm about to spend over $400.00 dollars on some shirts. I figure you owe me at least a five dollar subway sandwich playa!”
November played coy, “Hold up, wait a minute, I don't even know you, first of all. Second of all you are the one asking to hang out with me. So, by default you gotta pay for the subs. Lastly, for all I know you could be some deranged serial murderer. I could leave for lunch with you and wind up a statistic on the first 48.”
“Well, get to know me then cutie. That way you can give all your little friends the tea on a brotha. I saw you and ole girl over there kee keeing and admiring the goods. That and all these shirts are gonna be at least $400.00 dollars. You owe me a casual lunch date!” He offered November his hand, which was roughly the size of a baseball mitt. November shook it, “I'm Polo Reynolds by the way.”
“And you think my name is crazy?”
And that was how it began...
Polo purchased $500.00 worth of shirts from November and a one hour lunch date turned into a first official date. That date lasted all day, all night, and extended into the next morning. Sleepovers, lust, and spontaneous sex sessions eventually gave way to public proclamations of love and the solidification of long term plans. Upon graduation November postponed his mission to complete a Master's degree in library science in favor of starting a new life with Polo in San Jose, California. Polo had recently been promoted to a very high level executive position with Apple computers and when he told November the news there was never even a question what his next move would be. He simply decided to restart his collegiate career at Berkeley. 
Life sans his Polo was not a life at all.
From there Polo used his charm to shinny up the corporate ladder and November fit smoothly into his new life as the loving, doting, and supporting husband/homemaker. In their spacious expensive suburban San Jose house November's plans to complete his degree took second place to the maintenance of his and Polo's home and Polo's career.
That was seven years ago.
_____________
November turned on the nightstand lamp light and sat up straight in the bed. With one hand he gently roused Polo from his sleep. The larger man snorted and drifted off again. November nudged him again.
“What's wrong baby? Why you up so early?” Polo had the entire week off work and delighted in sleeping well into the morning on most days.
“Polo, we need to talk.” said November. His tone was flat. It was intentionally so because he refused to let his present animosity cloud his judgment or make him say something he might regret.
“Oh, I know that voice...” Polo yawned, “Baby, can't this wait until a little bit later? Ya man is trying to get as much sleep in as possible--”
“Polo, I'm going to leave you...Today.” He couldn't believe he just blurted it out. But he was glad he did. 
There was no sense in dilly dallying around the hedges anymore.
Polo rolled over and looked at November like he had a tree growing out the side of his neck, “What? November what are you talking about?”
November shook his head and put his face in his palms. "I told him. The hardest part is over." he thought.
“I said that I'm leaving you Polo, today. I am so tired of everything. I am tired of you and I am tired of us. I'm sick and tired of everything.” He sighed.  
Polo was awake now. 
His handsome visage was a mask of confusion and abject horror. November had his undivided attention.
“You're serious?” he asked. At first Polo thought November was throwing yet another melodramatic hissy fit (as he was prone to do when he wasn't getting his way) but he could tell from the timbre of his voice this time there was something  different. It scared him, “Why are you acting like this? I swear to God November we are always going through some shit at least once a month lately. I thought we worked all our past problems out--”
“Three days ago Dr. Zhang put me on antibiotics for Syphillis...” said November. His voice was low and even as he looked Polo directly in the eye. Polo could actually feel the weight of his stare, so much so that he had to look away.
“Any clue where it could have possibly come from? Y'know what Polo?” he interrupted his own inquery, “I won't even ask who it was this time because I don't give a damn anymore. You giving me Syphilis was the straw that broke the camel's back so I could fucking careless about the previous 18,000 you piled on before it. You just proved, beyond all shadow of a doubt, that you don't give a fuck about me or this relationship; and I don't know why I ever thought it would ever be different.”
“How you gonna sit up there and say that November? Everything I have and work for I give it to you! So, how you gonna lie and say that I don't give a fuck about you? I love you--”
“What part of “You gave me Syphilis” do you not understand Polo?! So don't you dare patronize me with that "I love you" bullshit. Those words are just hollow coming from your tired ass.”
Silence enveloped the room before November broke it up once again.  
“And you know what? I've come to the realization that this entire relationship was nothing but a huge convenience for you. But I am the fool for allowing you to have your fucking cake and eat it too--”
“Oh, so you are still on that whole jealously over the fact that I wanted us to be polyamorous bullshit? November, you are just as complicit in that as me! I let you know the deal up front, at the beginning, that I wasn't going to be 100% monogamous. You knew the deal coming into the situation!”
“The fuck I did!” November spat, “Before you ever told me you wanted an “open relationship” your were playing me like a fucking Xbox, Polo! Shit, I always knew you were doing me wrong. I always did..." 
November sucked on his teeth to hold back his animosity. It was to no avail... 
"Those bitches you fuck with are always laughing at me behind my back and throwing shade in my face. I can't even pretend to have an iota of dignity anymore! I was just stupid  enough to love you so goddamn much. Yeah, I completely admit to co-signing on the arrangement just so I could be with you. I never wanted that shit! It was you who wanted it so naturally I was with it. All I ever demanded was for you to be straight with me and you could not even do that right! I have been fucking miserable for the last year or so and it amazes me how fucking oblivious you always are to my pain. Stuck in this goddamn house while you were out doing who, whoever, and whatever.” He grumbled. 
November crossed his arms and turned his back on in a show of defiance. 
“Oh, so you think I'm professor X or somebody? Was I supposed to read your mind? All this time you've been holding all of this hostility in and you never thought to say anything to me about it? You been pissed off and I'm supposed to know that how?! I thought we went over all of this and got it straight in marriage counseling? November, anytime I ask you how you're feeling you just smile and say that you're fine or that everything is okay! You want me to be straight with you but apparently you won't offer me the same fucking respect!”
Polo kicked off the linens and placed his face between his knees. He let out a long slow sigh, “Yes, I told you that I wanted to open up the relationship. I've never been good at maintaining a monogamous relationship, you knew that. I told you that shit! I needed to have other lovers and I should have been upfront with you about that but—the fact of the matter is I don't love any of them the way that I love you baby. Yeah, they give me certain qualities that you can't or won't but you are the one I want to grow old with. You are the one I want to share my whole world with--”
“And your STD's apparently...” November mused.
“Stop saying that shit!” said Polo, “Let's not forget that, two years ago, you fucked Rick, my best fucking friend!”
“And you fucked every single body in entire San Francisco Bay Area, Polo!” November's breathes came fast and furious. He was so angry that he wanted to take the crystal vase on his nightstand and chuck it at Polo's head. 
Instead he practiced breathing techniques, “Yeah, I had sex with Rick. But The only reason I did it was because you were never there Polo! You were either too busy climbing the corporate ladder or playing hide the salami with any one of your pieces in and around the Castro—” he paused and fought back tears, “And I knew you never forgave me for what happened with Rick. You always hold that over my head for everything, which is why I never said anything about what you do and who you do it with. I beat myself up enough for the both of us! Now, I think you giving me Syphilis is just some unconscious passive aggressive way for you to get revenge on me for that...”
Polo stood up and started pacing the room, “Why do you always do that November? See, you are always psychoanalyzing and cross examining me, like you are an expert on the subject of me. You always try and make me feel like a fucking moron, always!”
Finally, Polo stood in the far right corner of the room and faced November, “For what it's worth I forgave you for Rick a longtime ago. It was hard as hell but the time we spent away from each other helped. I knew Rick had a thing for you from day one but what mattered most is that we got it back together baby. Don't you understand that? I thought you were happy. I wanted you to be happy with me and with us. You take all of this pride in our home; the neighbors love you; and you been riding with me through everything. What about those summers in Zurich and Spain? We were together and it seemed like nothing else mattered. Now, just like that, out the fucking blue, you wake me up and tell me that you are gonna tear my heart out? This is some bullshit!”
November shook his head, “I can't believe you. How can you be so conceited and self absorbed? Even now it is all about you! If you had paid attention to me, any attention at all, you would have known I haven't been happy for a very long time! Hell, how could you know? You are never home! You are either with that Bitch in Oakland or one of your sluts down in the Castro. And if you aren't with them you're at work. And if you aren't at work then you are at a bathhouse and no telling what those dirty fucks have. You better be LUCKY you gave me something curable...Then, on top of that, you come home only to eat dinner and go to sleep. 
I remember a long time ago when the best part of my day was you calling home just to tell me that you loved me and us having marathon conversations from your office. Now, I'm fortunate if I even get a fucking text from you!  
Do you remember the time you took me to that scandalous party in the city with those two twins, Marcos and Jamal? Do you remember how sad I was the entire night? You spent more time with them than me and you completely fucking bailed. I was out of my element and you acted like you didn't give a shit! However, I stayed quiet and saved my tears for the bathroom stall because I knew that event was so important to you. As a matter of fact Polo my whole life with you has been nothing but a fucking sacrifice. I was perfectly fine back in Dallas seven years ago but instead I gave up my plans and followed you here. I didn't go back for my Masters because you said I didn't have to work at all. I cleaned this house from top to bottom, decorated, made breakfast, lunch, and dinner for you and ingratiated myself to all of your friends and family...And what the fuck did you give me? 
You gave me a venereal fucking disease! 
You know what? 
At some point I thought I would eventually be enough for you. I thought you would eventually get out of this insatiable need to fuck everything that moves and just be with me. I had plenty of opportunities to step out on you but I never did. You know why? Because I did not want to share myself with anyone else but you. Why did you even get into a relationship if you wanted to keep fucking around Polo? I don't get it...”
“Because I love you--”
“You don't know shit about real love, little boy.” November replied angrily, "Not a goddamn thing at all."
“Fuck you November!”
“Fuck me? No fuck you! I took and have taken so much shit off of you Polo and it was because I loved you! That's love!”  
The tears fell from November's eyes unbidden.
“Do you still love me?” Polo's bottom lip began to tremble. He almost wanted to buckle. He knew he had fucked up and his greatest fear was finally actualizing itself. 
Polo was losing November. Now, he was grasping at any straw he could find.
November looked at him for a moment and nodded his head. Then he looked down and whispered, “No.”
“I don't believe you. Look me in the eye and tell me that November!” Polo walked over to November's side of the bed, sat down, and looked into his bright brown eyes, “Tell me you don't love me anymore. Do it, look me straight in the eye and repeat that shit!”
That moment of silence seemed to last an eon.
“I don't love you anymore Polo.” He said it without wavering. Where once he gazed into Polo's eyes with love and reverence now there was nothing. “There is nothing left inside me for you. The moment the doctor diagnosed me everything I felt for you in terms of love left.”
Polo tried to stop himself from breaking. He felt like he was caving from the outside in. November's voice seemed so far away. Polo could not hear it over the sound of his heart shattering into a pile of emotional debris. 
He'd been through break ups before but none of them hurt this bad. 
“What about Janelle?” Polo mused, “She's seven months in. You already decorated the baby's room. We already know his name. What does this mean?”
“We have two months to think about it...Otherwise, I don't know.” said November. His voice trailed off as he peered through the picture window of their master suite. 
The early morning sun was peeking over the horizon.
It was time to go.
He had to go.
“My plane is leaving at noon today. I will catch a taxi to the airport.”
Polo broke into tears, something uncharacteristic of him.
“Are you coming back?” he sobbed.
“It's one way...I still haven't decided yet.”
Polo managed a smile, “I guess it won't help if I got down on my knees and started begging you like Keith Sweat?” Polo always tried to infuse a situation with levity whenever he and November were on the outs. But the comedian was met by a silent audience this time.
“I'm going to go make your breakfast before I get ready to leave.”
“What do I tell everybody about this?”
“If they ask just tell them the truth...” November mused, “or at least a sanitized version of it.”
_____________ 

November cooked Polo his usual breakfast whilst simultaneously preparing his luggage for the flight to Dallas. As always the kitchen flat screen was on ESPN (Polo's favorite station); and Polo's laptop was on the kitchen counter raring to go. A little bit later Polo got dressed in the shirt and casual pants that November had lain out for him, freshly ironed and starched (the way he liked them). The kitchen and the rest of the house were flawlessly immaculate.
Everything was as usual.
Except this was not a usual day.
November got dressed and packed two large rolling bags. He honestly had no real clue about what he was going to do, or how long he was going to stay, in Dallas. All he knew was that he needed to be away from Polo, for awhile.
The yellow cab pulled into their spacious driveway.
The driver was half an hour early...
“Perfect.” November thought.
He turned and looked around at Polo who was bringing up the rear, “Okay...” he paused, “Be good Polo. I'll call you when I get there.”
“Hold on...” said Polo as he clutched the door handle for November. He was still in a state of shock. His hands were trembling ever so slightly as he unlatched the beautiful glass french doors. This was the third time he and his beloved had separated and for some reason it felt like the last. The hardest part was that he did not want it to be. As they walked out the door together Polo gazed at the flower garden that they had so meticulously planned, arranged, and cultivated together.
November loved flowers and the boy had a green thumb. Polo remembered the times they had been daring enough to actually make love in the flower garden. In that moment he realized just how much he loved having sweet November in his life. As November walked to the taxi Polo followed him...
“Hey...” he said.
“What?” November turned around.
“Tell your mom I said hi...” he paused, “and that I'm sorry for what I did.” November stood still.
He looked at the ground and looked up at his husband.
He thought he was going to say something profound.
But all he could muster was...
“Bye Polo.”
With that said November put his luggage into the cab and got in the backseat.
______________
  
Meanwhile, Mrs. Slack, their neighbor from across the street, waved delightedly at the two young men coming out of the beautiful house in the center of the culdesac. She—and most of the neighbors—absolutely adored Mr. and Mr. Reynolds. November Reynolds was always a staple at the civic club meetings and had been praised in the local newspapers for having the prettiest lawn and house on the street. As she watered her grass she could not help but admire the couple. They were both so handsome, polite, and sweet. Plus they threw the most wonderful dinner parties. Having grown up in the mid south she had been fed so many erroneous stereotypes about Gay men and lesbians it was ridiculous. However, The Reynolds' dispelled all of them. Truth be told they got on better than all of the heterosexual couples in the small community. They were both so kind, doting, and loving to one another. She envied it in a way being that she was twice divorced and finally settled on re-appropriating her maiden name.
“I honestly don't see why people have such a problem with gay marriage” she thought.
“Those two are possibly the most well adjusted couple I've ever met in my life. I wish I could have the same. They always look so absolutely happy together.”
Mrs. Slack waved at November as his taxi left for the airport.
Polo waved just before he shut the door behind him.
Mrs. Slack smiled and blissfully watered her lawn.
The End.