From Campus to Camera

Hey all,

I know that I said that I was still working on Beyond The Blue which I am, but with some serious chapters coming up I want to take some considerable time working on each one individually so that I can bring them to you with regularity where as if I did that now I couldn’t bring you the quality I want with how important that story is to me. It will be back but consider it a hiatus for now until I’m happy with everything.

Please enjoy my new story which I’ve had fun writing and is a lot lighter than Beyond The Blue for the next little while.

If you have any questions about my stories or if my characters are based off anyone (hint: they are based looks wise) then I’m more than happy to answer any questions.

Thanks 😊

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An unexpected College Journey 

It is a Sunday night and I’m just chilling in a pair of sweatpants at home on the couch watching American Dad spending the night with the Smiths and a can of my good friend Jack Daniels just chilling before a busy week of College and Work.

Laying on the couch, my phone buzzes on the Coffee table as I see that it’s a message on the work group chat which I find strange for this late on a Sunday night.

“URGENT STAFF MEETING – All members of staff need to attend a staff meeting at 9:30 am tomorrow, if you can’t attend I’ll set up a Zoom link for those not here – Nan”

I read the message and chuck my phone back on the coffee table because I know exactly what this urgent staff meeting is going to be all about. I’ve been working at Tavern Blue ever since I first moved East for college about 18 months ago. It was an easy job to get because back home I had plenty of waiting experience and even some bartending work even though I was under 18 at the time and they were desperately looking for workers after reopening after COVID.

Things were going so well at first but with the economy slowing down drastically, the parent company of the pub, ALH Entertainment found themselves in financial difficulties and were cutting their losses and downsizing their pubs, bars and club portfolio.

We all knew that we’d be in the firing line despite being told even as late as Friday afternoon that there were no plans by the management to close down Tavern Blue at all. The job at the Tavern is my biggest need at the moment because it’s the only way that I can pay for my rent, all the bills and then just general living and then send what I can to my parents to help them.

Laying on the couch, I try to think of other options and I know that I can’t quit college because my chances of being a doctor are gone and it would disappoint my parents being the only member of my family attending college and it being a bright spark in their lives at the moment plus I know they can’t send me any more money as much as they’d want to plus I’m already pushing my credit card limits.

I head to bed at about 11 pm but just find myself googling short-term loan options that could give me the cash that I need right now but I know with the exorbitant interest rate it will just send me into a further debt spiral that I will never ever get out from.

After checking my bank accounts, I shuffle some money around and put what little money I had in my holiday fund into my main account so that I at least have enough to cover things until I get a new job which I hope is relatively soon.

The next morning, I head to the bat for the meeting wearing just a hoodie and jeans because I’m heading straight to class at 12:30 after the meeting. I wander in and just about everybody is in there and I notice Nancy our shift manager, the person who called us into the meeting standing in front of the room.

“Morning all, I do apologise for this meeting today,” she says as we can see how visibly upset she is that she is having to do this and I can tell that she has been made the scapegoat with all this. “Last night at 7:30, I found out that Tavern Blue was closing effective immediately at midnight last night,” she says struggling to control her emotion which hurts everyone because this is her baby and she has been like a mother to us all.

“I can’t explain to you anything more about what's happening because I honestly don’t know and the owners and management asked me not to say anything but you all have bills to pay and I want you all to get on the front foot”.

There is a clear and obvious anger in the room right now, not just about the bar closing but with the lack of information that was provided and everyone despite the anger is appreciative of Nancy telling us all but right now there aren’t a lot of jobs around in town. Tavern Blue is the fourth bar to close in the city area and that goes with the closure of the Arcadia Tyres factory and the scaling back of the Kempton’s logistics centre which provides all the products to the stores.

These closures mean that in such a short amount of time, some families have lost both main sources of income at the same time.

“Whatever happens, I know that it’s been a pleasure to work with all of you, some for all 24 years and some just six weeks” Nancy says as we can see how tough this is on her having to do this.

The mood in the room is about as down as it could get because we are like a family here and everyone is so close, like Nancy was my biggest rock when I found out that my Dad at just 43 years old had a major stroke and was left paralysed down the complete right side of his body and developed other health issues. Nancy would check in on me every night and bring me around food from the kitchen so that she’d known that I had eaten until I could get back home and then after getting back from college.

Heading to class, normally I’m the most eager one in the class but after hearing the news, I just feel so deflated that I’m not able to concentrate on anything and it’s noticeable when my lecturer who has also been amazing during this situation comes over to me.

“Everything ok Scott? Something happen to Dad?” he asks as he sits down next to me as I realise class has finished for the afternoon. “Oh yeah it’s ok, Dad’s relatively fine, it’s just that I’ve lost my job because the bar I worked at closed effective immediately last night and with that being my only source of income, I’m just not sure what is going to happen”.

My lecturer just nods and tells me to contact the College support office which I’ve already done and I’m not eligible for any more support than what I’m already getting but I tell him that I’ll take it on board as I pack up my stuff and head home.

On my way home, I decide that I need to let my frustrations out so I decide to head to the gym because it’s always a good way to get my anger out and I just really want to punch something hard right now and I’ve always got my gym bag in the back of the car.

I’m only just down the road from the gym when my 1998 Mazda starts making the most horrible noises before I suddenly lose all power as I pull up on the side of the road before I see smoke start to billow out from under the hood. “Fuck no, not today” I say getting out of the car and looking at the thick smoke billowing out as I just sit in the gutter and put my head in my hands and let out a long sigh before ringing my Uncle Simon who is a mechanic for advice.

The advice from my Uncle isn’t good at all which doesn't surprise me because I wasn't expecting any good news but part of me was and he gives me the number of a mechanic in town who also happened to be a guy he served in the army with so I give him a ring and he comes out quickly with his tow truck.

It doesn’t take him long to look at the car after lifting the hood “The engine is completely cooked and it’s blown out the transmission” I rub my hands over my face right now knowing this makes every bit of the situation harder because I don’t have the money to fix this car let alone buy a new one.

“So how much am I looking at?” I ask the mechanic who doesn’t say anything to me but straight away I can tell from his face that it’s not going to be a good number. “If I’m brutally honest, the car isn’t even worth what the towing bill would be”. Those words hit me in the gut like I’ve just gone 10 rounds in the ring with Mike Tyson.

I let out a long sigh, knowing that I can’t leave the car where it is but know that the cost of the repair and towing is way more than what the car is worth. “Look, I can see you’re a good kid and Simon is a good buddy of mine from the arm so I’ll buy the car off you for $350,” he says as I just look across at him.

“It’s the best situation I’m gonna get I guess” I say as I agree to sell him the car for $350 which I know for him is probably a loss but I appreciate it as he offers me a lift home as well but I tell him just to drop me off at the gym instead of going all the way to my apartment.

Heading into the gym, I just want to get into a workout when one of the managers Billy flags me down at the entrance “Hey Scott, you’re all good this afternoon when we are here but your last payment was declined twice” he says as I check my bank account and see that I’m down to just $17.10 after my rent came out overnight and hoping that nothing comes out of my bank account until my last paycheck comes in on Wednesday night.

“Sums up my week, I’m down to $17 in the bank and I’ve lost my job and out there my car just died completely” I say as I talk to Billy for a few minutes which is a good vent before I decide that I might just hit the pool because at this time of day it’s quiet and I want some space to do my own thing.

Swimming the laps is a good relaxer and at this time of day it’s actually pretty quiet in the pool before the kids come in for their swimming lessons this afternoon and then the professionals or the after-school kids come in.

I get up and sit on the bench by the pool just in my black and white Speedos when I see Billy cleaning up and he walks over to me “Hey Scott, can you drop by the office on your way out” he says as I nod and he just goes off cleaning up and heading into the staff only section.

I’m just sitting in my own thoughts as I notice the first of the high school kids start to come in and realise that it’s my cue to head off as I head into the locker room to take a shower before texting a few people to see if they can come and pick me up as I head to the Café at the front of the gym.

Billy wanders across from the entrance “I was thinking about what you said and there’s a guy who comes in to work out, not sure if you’ve met him or not but he’s always looking for guys to come and do some work for him” he says as he gives me a business car.

I put it in my wallet and think nothing more about it as my neighbour Sharon is friendly enough to come and pick me up from the gym. I thank her for the lift but she tells me that she is happy to be my chauffeur anytime as payment for all the stuff that I do for her around the place including looking after her garden downstairs especially when her health isn’t at its best.

That night after dinner, I head downstairs realising that I haven’t checked the mail this morning and have a look to see two notices from the owners of the apartments saying that there is approval for a 25% increase on the rent price and then an additional 15% increase on the utilities fee as well.

“Fucking hell, how the hell can I afford this?” I vent knowing that even with the steady work of the bar and the pay that I was getting was barely making enough to pay for the rent as it was let alone before this increase and not having work for who knows how long.

The next hour is spent video chatting with my mum as I don’t tell her any of my issues which I know I should but with the whole family situation I don’t want her to worry about me as well with Dad being so sick.

I finish chatting with Mum and then remember the card that Billy gave me as I take a look at it and read the name “Bennett Marsh Photography” as I feel weird about reading the card and that it is some old creep praying on guys at the gym and taking photos of them in his basement.

I leave it not wanting to get involved for a few days but when my expected pay doesn’t go in and I get three lots of bills, I decide that I’m in a no-win situation that I give the phone number a call.

My sense of nervousness and dread are still in overdrive telling me this is a bad idea and as the phone keeps ringing I keep thinking about hanging up until it’s too late when I hear a voice answer the phone.

“Hello, this is Bennett Marsh,” the voice says as I stop now not sure what to say back down the line to this stranger.

“Oh Hi, I’m Scott, Billy Jackson gave me your card and said you were looking for people to come to do some work?” I say as the voice back down the phone sounds a lot younger than what I had expected and feels like talking to someone around that isn’t actually that old.

“Ah yep Scott, Billy had told me that he had given you my card,” he says as I don’t know whether or not that’s a good thing or a bad thing that he knew who I was.

I’m silent for a minute as my usual confident demeanour is now overcome with fear even down the telephone “So he said that you are always looking for people” I say as the more I talk to him I feel the confidence growing but still nerves are dominating as I don’t know anything about what I am about to get myself into.

“Yeah I’m always looking for fresh faces, but unfortunately I’m across at our West Coast Studio for the next six weeks” he says as I was hoping for something a lot sooner than that because I’ve got bills that I need to pay before then.

I stand there disappointed now which must be obvious through the phone as Bennett comes up with an idea “You could meet up with my assistant and East Coast Manager Cameron if you’re interested and could go from there”.

Thinking about it for a moment, I agree and think what do I have to lose from this situation because I’m on the brink of financial ruin and would be out of a place to live soon enough because the owners are pretty strict when it comes to late rent payments or not paying.

“When are you free to come for a meeting?” he asks as I go through my schedule and tell him that Friday is the only day I don’t have class but then explain that with my situation I can’t even afford the Uber costs to get out there.

“It’s fine Scott, we cover the transport costs so we’ll pay for the Uber to and from the studio” he says as I agree to it and he will tell me that Cam will get in contact with me in the next few days to hash out the arrangements.

The next few days are fine because I’m able to scrounge enough money out of my holiday account to buy food and Sharon insists on letting me use her car to get to College for a few days because she doesn’t use it all that much and would rather it be used than just parked in her parking spot.

It gets to Friday and I’m nervous as hell as I get a text at about 8:30 from Cameron telling me that the Uber will be there at 11 to come pick me up for the studios.

I’m waiting downstairs as the Uber turns up and we head off, he has the address of where we are going but I don’t so I’m just sitting in the back as it’s pretty silent. As we drive, I’m waiting for it to be some dodgy warehouse or house on the outskirts of town but as the driver turns right off the highway, I notice that we are in the pretty rich part of town heading into the hills before pulling up at a big estate.

I get out of the car and there is a young guy in a tight polo shirt waiting for me “Hey you must be Scott, I’m Cam” he says as I shake his head surprised that he is so much younger than I thought given that there is no way that he would be barely older than 30 or 32 at max.

We walk to the estate which is massive as he shows me down to the botScottor ground floor past the model shots on the wall which I don’t really fully recognise that they are all guys. We head to the office which has an amazing view over the valley and the city below as Cam makes a coffee for me from his office machine and then sits down.

“So what our process is, is that we will take some shots of you clothed and then we’ll get you down to your underwear today, then if it all goes well into nudes and film a solo” he says as I’m taken back by his comments because I didn’t know anything about this.

“Filming? Nobody said anything about that or nudity” I say as Cam starts to run through the details more and tells me that they are predominantly a gay porn studio that takes model shots of guys as well doing the porn.

We have some back and forward discussions about the situation as I’m sitting there thinking about things as I look across at him “Wouldn’t the fact that I’m straight be an issue” I say as all he does is just laugh at my comment.

“I’m straight and did porn here,” he says as my jaw drops because everything I thought about this situation has been completely flipped on its head. “I did about 6 years worth of work in front of the camera and then the last 5 years running the West Coast Studio and producing content”.

He says as I sit there finishing the coffee thinking about what he says before following him around as he shows me around the place, showing me how big the place is with so many rooms for the guys to hang out in and when they are filming the living quarters upstairs.

“There’s never any pressure, we get guys who get to this point and then just walk out on us and don’t contact us, we have guys do the photos clothed then don’t want to get nude or we get guys like Felix who take some time to think and then become one of our biggest stars”.

Cam asks me if I’d be keen on doing the clothed and underwear shoot this afternoon and that he’d give me $250 bucks here and now to do it. I don’t see any harm and for some quick easy cash I agree to it but I don’t think that I’m necessarily that good-looking or that photogenic.

He takes me into the wardrobe section where the magic is done on me and I get a pick of all the clothes that I can choose from and realise that the one white buttoned-up shirt that they want me to wear is probably worth more than every piece of clothing that comes from Walmart or the discount rack at TJ Maxx.

Looking at all the clothes, there is a pair of Black and Pink Andrew Christian briefs sitting there which are nothing like I’ve ever worn because I’m just used to the multipack from Walmart ever since I was a kid and even now I’m just used to the baggy boxer briefs that I wear.

The underwear is so tight and I look down and see the outline of my cut cock and realise how much these show off as I get into some more tight pants and then the buttoned-up shirt and look in the mirror not even recognising myself especially with my hair being done the way it is.

Heading out onto the deck for the photo shoot, my nerves are taking over me as I see a couple of the porn guys watching as well as I take my clothes off slowly and get into the underwear shots and pose looking over the balcony as Cam gives me a thumbs up about it and says that he will send the pictures off to Bennett or Ben as he calls him.

I stand there just in the tight briefs pondering out over the valley thinking about how my life as a farm boy from the Midwest who wanted to become a doctor and is trying to become a doctor to get back to the town I grew up and become the doctor that wasn’t there when my Dad had his stroke is now standing looking over the East Coast in a pair of $70 briefs and thousands of dollars worth of clothes when I’m literally broke.

As I stand there just thinking about things, Cam sends the photographer back over and takes a few more pictures of me without knowing before I stand up and start to put the clothes back on, really thinking that it’s going to be a situation of “thanks but no thanks”.

I walk over to where Cam is looking at the laptop with the photographer and some of the guys who film porn “Anyone ever told you how fucking hot you are?” Cam says to me as I shrug. “Well no because it’s not really true,” I say back as he laughs.

He turns the laptop around and I see the pictures especially those last ones “These ones in particular are so damn hot, you’ve really got a nice butt” he says as I look at the pictures not believing that they are me.

“What about my pictures?” I ask thinking he’s just using stock photos that they have of guys before he goes through them and I see myself standing there and I’m stunned because I have to admit how good they look. “That seriously me?” I say as I look at the pictures and realise how hot I actually am and it gives me a lot of confidence.

Standing there, Tyson who is one of the actual gay models stands there “Damn, you’re straight right?” he says as we scroll through the pictures as I turn around and look at him. “Yeah, why?” I ask not sure what the connection was.

“Well if you were gay, I was gonna buy you a drink and ask you out,” he says as I laugh at his comment. “You can still buy me that drink if you wanted to, I’m pretty much broke so I can’t afford to buy it,” I say as he just laughs and agrees to it anyway as I look at Cam and feel pretty good right now.

As we stand there, Cam’s phone rings and it’s Bennett on the other end and he puts it out on speakerphone.

“Hey Scott, those photos are absolutely fucking amazing and hot as fuck” he says as he asks me if he can use them on his Instagram page as sort of a promo. I agree because if he thinks it’s a good idea then it must be but he’s happy for me to stay anonymous at the moment.

“There is one more thing, I’d love to get some nude shots… nothing frontal just that amazing butt of yours, maybe like all those ones of you pondering your thoughts over the valley, it’s all good if you don’t want to” 

Before he can even finish his sentence “Yeah I will” I say now kind of excited about all this and the compliments have brought something out in me that I have never thought of before. My life has always been super conservative at home so this would absolutely blow their minds and I felt that I had sort of followed them in the way I lived my life.

Cam gives me the instructions and I face over the balcony and take off the briefs leaning over as my butt shows off and I’ve never really thought much of it to be honest but the sight of my bare butt cheeks has got everyone excited and they take the pictures. I put the briefs back on and walk over and looked stunned at the picture and smile big at how good they looked and the compliments that I was getting.

I head back downstairs walking through the house for a while before looking down and getting changed back into my clothes that I bought when I was still in High school at Walmart as I go to give Cam back the clothes and underwear.

“Keep the briefs and keep the other stuff” he says as I look across at him unsure about it but he’s insistent which I appreciate. “So I think you worked out that you’ve got definite star power with us and the boys as well” he says as now I’m blushing where as the first time I walked in I had massive doubts about things.

Cam sends me a link with the pictures so that if I want to use them personally I can, but with my Instagram pretty much filled with most of my family and the reaction for them isn’t going to be good, I’ll just keep it safe.

“So we’ll be in touch over the next few days to give you a few days to think about whether you want to go forward because sometimes guys get to this point and enjoy it and think they want to but when they think about it, the thought of getting naked on camera and then doing porn turns them off,” he says as I nod.

“Can get that and yeah I’ll definitely have a think about it all, today was amazing and eye-opening” I say as I know that for sure I am going to definitely do at least the nude photos and the solo porn.

I can tell Cam is happy about how everything went and the fact that Bennett called from the West Coast when he had a look is a rarity even when things are really good. “Well I’ll talk to you early next week about things and I’m pretty sure that Tyson wants that drink as well,” he says as I see him out there.

Walking out of the room with Tyson standing there still shirtless just in a pair of basketball shorts “You up for that drink tonight?” he says as I shrug. “After the week I had I could really do with a drink and a night out but I mean I probably don’t have too much to wear that would match where we’d go” I say as he laughs.

“You got it in your hands” he says as I just laugh and tell him that he’s on and that I’m looking forward to it and remind him that I’m totally broke which he says is fine because we can just figure out everything later on.

Tyson shows me up to the bedroom where I have a shower and get changed back into the clothes that I wore for the shoot as Tyson smiles and gets to work some magic on my hair as he tells me that in his day job, he is actually a hairstylist which shows once he finishes up my hair.

We both get ready and he raids the wardrobe downstairs for a tight black button-up shirt and a pair of grey checked pants that show off both his jock built chest and then his thighs and legs as we sit there and wait for the Uber to take us out for the night.