Love Under Fault Lines

By Marcus King

How long can you endure the faults of love?
Dexter and Oscar have been best friends since college. Inseparable, nothing comes between them - until Oscar meets Ava.

Ava's a show-stopping beauty, but the social media queen has a difficult family with conflict in its past. Her deadbeat father and demanding mother, now divorced, conflict for her attention.

At first, it seems like Dexter and Ava will be the best of friends, and that Oscar and Ava are destined for a legendary love. But when the trio make an impulsive move to Austin, Texas, Dexter and Ava find themselves in a tug-of-war over Oscar's heart - and his body.

The heart-wrenching struggle to find love and happiness consumes them, as they face there fault lines within themselves and each other. Nobody and nothing will escape untouched.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marcus King
• Release date: May 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370788187

Marcus King

Marcus J King, a new face in a world of deception and drama. Born in Portsmouth, Virginia (Hampton Roads area); Currently living in Austin, Texas as he continues his journey with many books to come.Mr. King started writing in six grade, formally Hunt-Mapp Middle School in 1997. After giving up Power Ranger toys and grounded for excessively playing video games, the craft came alive. In that moment, he found his love for imagination and freely allowing his thoughts to erupt on paper.Further, he had no entertainment for fun and freedom with limited friends in 1997. He struggled with bullying for being different. He turned to writing as his way of escaping to a bigger world while dealing with society. After Hunt-Mapp Middle School, he moved to Churchland, Virginia. He continued his education at Churchland Middle School where he meet with many friends for inspiration.After graduating from Churchland High School, he took a break from going to college to focus on what he wanted to do with his life. Struggling with hardships and difficulties with friends and family, he decided to take hold of his destiny. He aimed for his career in writing with Southern New Hampshire University for his Screenwriting and Fiction Writing Degree. While studying for his degree, he created a small episodic series on YouTube called KRETV (Keeping it Real Entertainment), where he played 4 different characters, portraying characters of a later book to come. He also started a blog to showcase his poems and his art for writing (infamouskalel.wordpress.com).Having held 8 management roles with 8 different companies, he has secured his life with the love of the pen and many experiences to follow as a self-published author. He writes fiction books (fantasy drama; drama; romance; gay drama); screenwriting, poems, and memoirs.

Book preview

Love Under Fault Lines

By: Marcus J King

Copyright © 2018 by Marcus J. King

Marcus J Creations LLC

Cover Art: Kristin Bryant

Editor: Michelle Brown

All rights reserved under the Marcus J King brand and Marcus J Creations LLC. Originally published in paperback in the USA in 2018.

This book is a work of fiction. Inspired by true events. Names, Characters, business, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

www.marcusjking.com

CHAPTER 1

Ava walks out the house, unstable and jittery, her legs open like scissors. Bloody juices run down her thighs. She looked down at her streaming liquids. She screams, Help!

She walks across the road. Drops of blood leave a trail from her house to the neighbor’s front door. With the keys in her hands, Ava knocks on her neighbor’s screen door. Please! Help me. I think I’m having a miscarriage, she pleads.

Oh my word! I’ll call the police. An elderly woman in a lime green robe opens her screen door. Come inside, darling."

My husband has been attacked, too. Can you tell them that?

Where is he?

He’s still in the house. Please help us.

Alright. Let’s get you cleaned up. The elderly woman picks up her phone. Hello, 911? There has been an attack of some sort.

Two years prior, Oscar was working on a car in his mechanic shop, Easy Ride. He pulled the wrench tightly on the nut, sealing up the engine.

Hey Oscar! You almost finished with this car?

Yeah. Did you need something?

I just need a little bit of help fixing this car over here. I think it has a bad muffler.

All right... The phone rang. Let me get that and I’ll help.

He went into the office area of the mechanic shop. A customer was waiting for him at the counter.

The phone rang again. He picked up. Hello, Easy Riders. How can I assist you? He lifted one finger to the customer. The customer nodded.

Hey, best friend. I’m cooking tonight. Come by and get you a plate, Dexter said.

All right. I might be over late. I have customers.

It’s cool. I’ll be playing 2K anyway.

Cool. See you then. He hung up the phone and addressed the hefty, bald man. How can I help you, sir?

Yes. I’m having a squeaky noise when I brake.

You may need new brakes, brake pads, or worst case, rotors. I’ll have to check it out and let you know how we can assist.

Oscar loved his job. He went back to attend to the engine he was working on. His short but husky coworker waved him over to show him something else he saw within the engine chambers.

Oh yeah, bro. I noticed that too. He smiled and nodded. I’m just going to have to order that part. Customer may be mad, but they will have to wait another day.

Oscar focused diligently on the Mustang engine; twisting and turning nuts and bolts. Using his bendable flashlight to see under tight spaces. He lifted himself up from the engine as sweat dripped down the side of his face. He took a breath and wiped his forehead.

Hey Rico! He turned to his co-worker. Check that dudes breaks before we close. I’m not trying to be here. No overtime.

For sure boss. He briskly went to grab the key from the clear envelope.

He loved the hands-on aspect, being able to manage and work on cars simultaneously. He continued to help his evening customers and his employees until it was time to close the shop. He called a few last-minute customers to inform them of prices and timeframes for when their orders would be ready.

He closed the till and locked the shop door. He got in his Honda Ridgeline truck and sat down, then browsed Facebook to see what his friends are up to. He browsed his timeline, laughing at a few posts his friends left throughout the day. He proceeded to go to a couple of his male friends’ pages and browse through their friend list. Essentially looking for his next potential date.

She’s cute. I could get with that.

He steadily added girls from multiple friends.

Finally, he started his truck and headed over to Dexter’s. Leaving Norfolk area through the Midtown tunnel was a pain for Oscar. Traffic was a never-ending battle, as he maneuvered to get over to Harbour View Suffolk area. He passed the Churchland area into a suburban area. Just pass the well-kept suburban homes was an apartment community with a metal gate. He buzzed himself in. As they opened, he drove to the center of the Mediterranean condo style complex. The building colors evoked dark greens, blues, and creams. A quaint complex with friendly neighbors.

He pulled into his garage driveway and knocked on the door.

Hold on, Dexter yelled as he played NBA 2K. He paused and opened the door, then bro-hugged him. Wassup, man? How was work?

Dude, stressful, but there was this chick with a phat booty that came in. Woo! I mean juicy and bouncy.

Spare me the details, bro, Dexter said, grabbing his Xbox controller.

But check it. She slipped me her phone number, and her dude was right there.

Well, you’re a handsome catch.

I know this, man! Oscar looked around.

Dexters’ apartment was clean and well decorated with different trinkets of places he has traveled around the United States. He also had pictures on the wall of places he wants to go overseas: Europe, Africa, Ireland, Japan, and Australia.

What do you have to drink around here?

There might be something in the fridge.

Without hesitation, Oscar grabbed two Corona beers, a bag of Lays wavy light salted chips, and made a mesquite turkey and cheese sandwich. He placed his items on the coffee table and sat next to Dexter.

Damn! Just eat up everything. You know I cooked? Dexter stared at him, stunned.

CRUNCH! I know. I love your cooking. I’ll take a plate home, because you like to cook that healthy shit.

It’s good for the body!

Not today. He stuffed his mouth with chips. Let’s get into this game.

Naw, man. Remember last time?

What? he smirked.

You’re a sore loser.

Stop playing, Dex. Let me beat you. He smiled and grabbed the second controller on the tv stand.

Let you? Man! Let me get you in on this ass-whooping again!

Bet! You ain’t shit.

Dexter and Oscar play NBA 2K for hours, smoke some marijuana, and play some more.

Five hours go by, and they were higher than the Empire State Building. Eyes swimming, bodies that can barely move as their thoughts floated within the air.

Yo. You ever feel like the world is spinning faster than usual? Oscar said, looking at the ceiling.

Bro. He smacked his arm lightly. I said the same shit the other night.

True shit, man. We should just get away and go somewhere, bro.

Like where?

Some place where it’s only you and me, Oscar said, reaching for the ceiling.

Naw, bro. It can’t just be us. We have to get some friends in on it.

Why not? Oscar roused himself and looked at Dexter.

Cause man, you crazy. We would have a lot of fun with more people.

Man! I have fun with you. I don’t know if I’d have fun with people. You have my trust good.

Yeah? Dexter nodded.

They puffed and puffed that sweet girl, Mary Jane, for a while. Oscar was super mellowed out and in a daze. He started watching his past slowly flash by with every blink.

Remember back in the day? Oscar asked.

Remember what?

Back in college, man.

We had mad fun.

Yea. I was in all the girls’ pussy back then.

You were a whore.

I was not! Those girls tackled me.

That’s because you were the running back.

Yeah, right into the closet, the bleachers, the car, the basements, the bathroom, you name it.

Damn, man, you didn’t tell me that.

You were always studying.

Yeah. He looked around. Without it, I wouldn’t have what I have today.

We chilled a few times. Remember? I was your studying partner.

When you weren’t getting laid, you were in my room.

Do you remember?

I do.

They glanced at each other as they remembered the time they’d studied hard for senior mid-terms.

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

Old Dominion University, a well renowned school of its age and rigorous academics. Home of Big Blue, a friendly lion who is king of the monarchs. It was a windy night; raindrops trickled off the windows like coins. Accompanied by light rumbles of thunder and lightning. The monarchs were in the dorms crunching to study for the next day’s exam. Some students were working on their finals for early graduations. You could hear people screaming and playing studying games from the hallway. A slightly aroma of weed drifted in through the window—some people were either relaxing before exams or taking an entirely different approach on studying.

Dressed in his baller shorts and a shirt, Dexter entered his dorm room from Comic Kings. He started preparing himself for his math homework. He let Oscar know he was back in his room to come by and study with him. Dexter’s dormmate was in his girlfriend’s room studying for the evening.

Oscar came by, wearing his baggy pants and a fitted white shirt with his black old man slippers, with the one hole on the side.

Carry the one.... cancel the X....times these together, Dexter said to himself, figuring out his math problem.

Can you not speak so loudly? Oscar said, sitting on the bed.

Dexter looked at him from his desk. What? Dexter asked.

Nothing. He shook his head.

Dexter noticed him tapping on the book in frustration.

If you had studied ahead of time, instead of trying to take Cindy out every night, you wouldn’t be struggling.

Shut up! You know I’m not great at psychology.

Psychology isn’t bad. You just have to stick with it.

Well, you can look at it, smarty pants.

Fine, Mr. Frustrated.

He passed Dexter the book and the sample test the teacher had given him.

Hmm, Dexter pondered.

See, it is hard.

Well, for this one, the answer is D. He passed him the book back.

How did you get that?

Dexter flipped back to a few chapters and pointed to a paragraph with the answer.

Wow. Me and the professor got into an argument during this chapter.

That’s a damn shame.

He pissed me off because I was flirting with the girl next to me.

So, you were cheating on Cindy?

At the time, me and Cindy wasn’t on good terms. I was moving on.

Dexter shook his head from side to side.

Oh, come on. You never tried to get with a girl while in class? The teacher was cock-blocking me.

Back in high school, but I like dudes, so you know. Girls are off the table.

I thought you was bi?

Nope, only into guys.

Oscar pondered for a long time and remained quiet while reading.

Man. Who is the female and the male with gay people? Oscar asked, inquisitive.

It’s not like that in most cases.

Okay; explain it, then.

With two men, it varies. Some men take it up the booty and some give it. Some gay men just do oral.

Sucking dick and shit, huh?

You could say that. Oral can be many things without penetration of the butthole.

How do you keep from getting shit on your dick, though? Or you a virgin?

Not a virgin. He looked away. To answer your question, you douche your booty with either an enema bottle or a shower douche.

That’s wild as fuck, man.

There was a pause between them as rain continued to splash against the window. The wind was whistling through a small crack in the windowpane.

Oscar was fidgeting in his pants as the thoughts about a guy sucking him somewhat aroused his interest. He began to rise in his boxers as he looked at Dexter with a new sense of desire. He squinted and pondered Dexter’s skin and mouth as he studied him.

Just as Oscar was about to speak to Dexter, the window flew open. Wind entered the room and scattered papers everywhere. Dexter hopped up to close the window. Oscar got up and grabbed the papers around the room.

Wind is strong tonight. I thought I locked this earlier.

Got to be more careful, Dex.

He locked the window and bent over to grab some papers off the floor. He turned around, and Oscar met him eye to eye. Dexter couldn’t help but stare into his light brown eyes, taking in his caramel skin tone.

I always wanted to know.

Know what? He tried to move out his way.

Do you find me attractive?

They were close enough that they were breathing each other’s air. Dexter paused and was so mesmerized by his eyes that he couldn’t get out the words.

What? Come on, man. Get out the way. Dexter tried to look away and step to the side. Oscar stood in his way.

Dexter, look at me.

Dexter froze and glazed into his hypnotic eyes.

Oscar admired his face, eyes, and lips. I don’t know what I’m feeling right now, but I’m really horny. I don’t know why.

What are you saying?

I want to feel how a dude sucks a dick.

Dexter stared at him as Oscar pulled him closer and rubbed his shoulders. Dexter could feel his manhood caress his thigh. Oscar and Dexter dropped the wet papers. They both took a deep breath together. Dexter caressed his bulge up and down, gently and smoothly. Oscar gasped and looked down.

Look at me, Dexter requested.

As they stared at each other, matching