My name is Jason, I am nineteen years old and from the South West of Scotland and I have just completed my first year studying Tourism at an Ayrshire College. I don't have a career plan as yet, as I have still to work out what I want to do; this is my story.
Although my parents are funding me through college, I also have a part time job in a local Morrison's supermarket stacking shelves at night, which gives me pocket and holiday money. I and four of my college friends have planned a ten day holiday camping and hostelling in Spain. We will start and finish in Barcelona, I have been there before with my parents but this will be our first holiday without parents.
Our first night will be together in a hostel in Barcelona afterwards we will split up, two will go camping in the mountains and two will go to visit a friend's family further south. I will be in Barcelona on my own for four days before we all meet up again; our parents don't know about this.
In our first day we all went into Barcelona and visited the various tourist places that we were told about on our tourism courses. Later that night after a few beers and something to eat at a Burger King, we all returned together to our hostel.
The hostel was the usual basic with four sharing a room with bunk beds; I was on my own with three strangers. Bit disconcerting but we seemed to get on ok, they were German but did not speak English, my German was equally lacking. Next day my four friends went their own way, I don't like camping; we would meet up in a few days' time.
I am five foot seven, with short brown hair, slim but not muscular, I have been told that I am good looking although I don't believe that, I don't have any girlfriend as such, still a bit too shy and reserved on that front. As it was a very hot day and my German roommates had all left early I went down to explore the local beach area on my own, dressed in only my new shiny red nylon swim shorts and matching trainers.
Not far from the hostel I came across a very nice beach area which was part of a multi-story hotel and holiday complex. You had to pay to use their private beach and facilities but with my student discount card I managed to get in for the afternoon for eight euros, which included the exclusive use of a sun lounger and free soft drinks.
I had been lying on the lounger for about an hour or so enjoying the sun, with my very dark wraparound glasses on, which allowed me to watch people walk by without them knowing I was watching them. I noted someone walk by me for a second time, both times he looked directly down at me without stopping.
He was only wearing blue nylon swim shorts which fitted him well, I think he was in his forties, give or take, taller than me, with a bit bigger build, he also had a good sun tan and fairish hair. Other than him noticing me I did not really pay him any particular attention.
With the sun beating down on me I was thirsty and decided to go and get a free coke from the bar. I had just been given my coke and found an empty table to sit down at. When the guy who had walked passed and looked at me, asked if he could sit down at my table, I said ok. He said that he had noticed me on my lounger and asked, was I alone, I said yes for the next few days until my camping college friends' return.
He introduced himself as Edward then asked me if I was staying in the complex, I said no I was in the student hostel just up the road. He enquired where I came from, I told him and asked him was he staying in the hotel, he replied yes on the fourteenth floor and was from Brighton in the south of England. He was over here for a week on business and was staying on until Thursday. For the next few days he would be on his own before returning to Brighton.
I had finished my coke and as he ordered a beer for himself, offered to buy me another coke or something stronger if I preferred, I said a beer would be good. Our drinks arrived, as the waiter put my beer glass down some foam and liquid spilt out off the glass and landed on my bare legs. Edward lifted a few of the paper napkins from the table and wiped my leg dry; it was rather nice the way he did it. The waiter was very apologetic someone had inadvertently bumped into him as they went past. I said no problem these things happen.
Edward suggested as the tables were starting to get busy that we return to the sun loungers, his was a couple up from mine. The waiter who had spilt the beer brought over our beers and moved Edward's lounger next to mine. As we sat there chatting, Edward told me his business was a dance instructor for championship dancers. I told him about my studies and that I worked part time in a supermarket for holiday money.
He asked me if I wanted lunch, before I could answer, he said he would put it on his company expenses, I said okay that would be very nice. We went over to the hotel restaurant but it had a sign saying no swim wear, which was all we were both wearing. The waiter also said that the terrace restaurant was full, we could either wait for a table or have it served on the balcony in Edward's room.
He looked at me, I said ok, never had a meal on the fourteenth floor balcony before. We took the lift up to his floor, his room door was just adjacent to the lift. He opened it with one of those credit card type keys.
His room was very nice and the view from the balcony over the beach and sea was stunning, the nice breeze was cooling too. We were both looking at the view when the door opened and the waiter brought in our lunch and served it on the balcony. The meal was very nice as was the cold beer's.
After we had finished our meal Edward asked me quite bluntly, but politely, was I gay; He said he was. I didn't know what to say and said no I don't think so; why did you ask me that?
He said that this hotel complex was frequented by people who are gay. He continued; have you ever thought you might be gay too.
