#RainbowSnippets Mike & Wes Rainbow Snippets

#RainbowSnippets 21-Oct-2017 Mike & Wes

October 21, 2017

I’ve joined the Rainbow Snippets group on Facebook. From their description: “Rainbow Snippets is a group for LGBTQ+ authors, readers, and bloggers to gather once a week to share six sentences from a work of fiction–a WIP or a finished work or even a 6-sentence book recommendation (no spoilers please!).” Pretty cool, eh? Don’t forget to “Like” my Facebook page and/or my Facebook profile while you’re over there checking out this fantastic group!

This is from my WIP, an as yet unnamed story featuring Mike & Wes. The story is a from-the-ground-up rewrite of A Dream Come True, which was published back in February of 2009 at Torquere Press. The main themes of the story remain the same, and a number of familiar scenes are included, but there are quite a few changes, including a switch from alternating 3rd-person POV to a single 1st-person POV.

Scene background: For various reasons, Mike, who’s been out in his life (that’s now half a country away from where his family lives), has decided to come out of the closet to his family. Not something he wants to do over the phone, he’s flying home to do it and is more than a little stressed out. This scene thread opens with Mike getting on the plane.

Told from Mike’s 1st-person POV.

Click to expand refresher scenes from this thread:

Part 1 – Posted 30-Sept-2017

I walked down the narrow aisle with a book jammed under my arm, and holding my carry-on bag in front of me as I focused on the labels for the rows. Due to the effect my nerves were having on my stomach, I was beginning to regret the meal I’d eaten during the two-hour layover in Houston.

I found my aisle seat, but it was occupied. Nobody sat in the window seat. This leg of my trip used a smaller plane—Wichita was hardly a bustling hub—and there were only two seats on either side of the aisle.

My shoulders stiffened, waiting for the request.

Part 2 – Posted 07-Oct-2017

My guess was he had a traveling companion, but they’d booked their flight too late to get two seats together. I’d be willing to trade, but I hoped it would at least be to another aisle seat. I wasn’t claustrophobic at all, but I preferred the freedom of an aisle seat.

I stopped in front of my row and looked at the man with my eyebrows raised questioningly. He stood and stepped out into the aisle. I opened my mouth, but wasn’t entirely sure what to say.

Part 3 – Posted 14-Oct-2017

He hadn’t moved on. He stood there as if waiting to sit back down after letting me in. “I’m sorry.” I held up my boarding pass and pointed at the aisle seat. “Apparently, there’s some confusion. This is my seat, here.”

“You don’t mind, do you?”

This week’s new snippet:

(Mike on the Plane) Part 4 – 21-Oct-2017

My whole body tensed at his tone. As if he simply assumed I’d switch seats for no obvious reason beyond he preferred mine. Which frankly—dammit—was likely to happen because I was non-confrontational and this wasn’t worth the fight. But it pissed me off that (a) he wasn’t asking, he was acting like it was a done deal, and (b) he didn’t even try to offer some justification. His words were accompanied by the kind of smile you see on people trying to sell you a load of crap, be it a used car or a dubious political position.

“Is there a problem?” The inquiry came from behind me—a male voice with a polite but firm tone.

#RainbowSnippet

18 replies on “#RainbowSnippets 21-Oct-2017 Mike & Wes”

Ooh, I think I like whoever just showed up to take care of the situation.

Addison Albright says:

October 22, 2017 at 5:54 PM

Me, too! <3

I’m already liking the newcomer. 🙂

Addison Albright says:

October 22, 2017 at 5:54 PM

✈️ 😀

Oh yay! A knight in shining armor! 🙂

Addison Albright says:

October 22, 2017 at 5:56 PM

I wonder how much good he’ll do, though. 😁

I hope Mike stands his ground.

Addison Albright says:

October 22, 2017 at 5:59 PM

We’ll see… 😏

Someone to the rescue! Because I was about to punch this dude…

Addison Albright says:

October 22, 2017 at 6:00 PM

He could still use a punch. 👊

I don’t think I like his seatmate. And I think Mike might need to learn to stick up for himself. Hopefully he’ll tell the newcomer that yes, there is a problem.

Addison Albright says:

October 22, 2017 at 6:01 PM

He does need to learn that. Hmm, working on his self-confidence might even be part of his emotional growth journey. 😉

Grr. I hate entitled people like that.

Addison Albright says:

October 22, 2017 at 6:02 PM

Me, too. I generally cave, though. sigh

This sounded like rescue just at the right time. If he’d given in, he would have been annoyed at himself for the whole flight and a long time after. Being the non-confrontational type isn’t all that easy…