Xander and Skeevo sat on the stairs of the Rho Upsilon Beta Rho fraternity house looking about as thrilled as if they were being made to watch a five-hour treatise on the growth of mould spores on hothouse-grown avocados. Hosted by Bill Moyers.

"We've had more stimulating rush weeks", Xander observed.

Skeevo left his chin nestled within the palm of his hand as he answered, "Uh-huh." He had always been a man of few words.

Xander Nicholas was a tall, slender, toned young man in his early twenties, with dark brown hair and slightly oversized ears and puppydog eyes that made him look years younger. His best friend, Scott "Skeevo" Skevowicsz was of shorter but more muscular build, with penetrating eyes and a cropped mane of spiky hair. They had been members of this fraternity since they began their college careers, and had been gay rubber enthusiasts--as well as frequent playmates/lovers--for much longer. Their physical pursuits had provided them with many hours, if not days (or months), of great enjoyment and diversion. Unlike now, when they were bored out of their minds.

Xander turned to look at his pal. "The only way this could be worse is if it were a late- night PBS special on tax form preparation."

"With the pledge drive interruptions", Skeevo agreed.

"Speaking of pledge drives...", Xander nodded toward the bustle of activity in the frat house's main room. It was the start of a new school year, the time in which fraternities scour the student body for new members to romance, pledge, humiliate, intoxicate, and then eventually welcome with open arms. The house of Rho Upsilon Beta Rho was no different. As the TV blared with a riveting game broadcast and the stereo vibrated with bass-heavy music, throngs of potential initiates crowded the room, schmoozing with upper classmen and trying to pass themselves off as worthy candidates.

Muscular athletic scholars effortlessly swigged beer, slick boys who came from money casually glanced at watches that looked to cost more than most student's cars. A few geeky wannabes struggled to look relaxed as they hung near the cooler kids, hoping some of their presence would rub off.

Xander sighed in frustration. "There is a major problem with this assortment", he commented. "We have here selections with money, brains, family connections--"

Skeevo watched as a former high school wrestling champ strode by. "Looks", he added.

"And looks. True. But all with one major, major drawback, methinks."

"They're all straight", Skeevo deduced.

"That they are."

"Not one tiny blip on the gaydar all night."

"We could make a fortune renting these guys out to the archery team.", Xander suggested. "They're arrows, they're so straight."

"Okay, that's it, I'm done." Skeevo stood up and turned to go up to his room.

"So, whatta we do about all these guys?", Xander gestured at the room packed with eager freshmen.

"When the beer's gone, the party's over." Skeevo walked a few more paces upstairs, then turned to say something else. He was distracted by someone over by the front door. "Who's that?"

Xander turned around to see.

An adorable young man with the same youthful looks thing going on as Xander, lingered near the door. It looked as if some of the other partygoers were urging him to stay, but his shaking head and waving hands indicated his aversion to the idea. He was extremely cute, sandy brown hair, beautiful eyes, very round ears. He looked slightly out of place with the assortment mingling at the frat house that night.

As the cute boy made his way out, he caught sight of Skeevo on the stairs. He stopped. Skeevo stared down at him, appreciating his good looks. The freshman boy looked to be studying Skeevo as much as Skeevo was studying him. There was a brief pause while the two just looked at each other from across the room, one on the floor, one on the stairs. Skeevo smiled and gave the boy a gentle wave hello. The boy returned both.

Then, the beautiful boy in the doorway took one step forward, as if reconsidering his decision to leave.

Xander sidled up close to Skeev, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Never saw him before. You know him?"

Skeevo shook his head slightly. "Nope."

The boy stopped after taking that one step. Returning to his original notion, he spun around and promptly departed the house.

"So what was that all about?", Xander asked.

"I dunno", Skeevo said, his voice a bit distant. "But I think we may have just shared a moment."