ISSUES TO DATE

WARNING:  SPOILERS AHEAD!

--Chapter 1: In Search of Intelligent Life Forms. Cody arrives at his dorm and discovers the attractive and evidently bisexual Jake is his roommate, which could've been quite tantalizing were he not so closeted. It doesn't improve much from there; Jake makes friends with the equally clueless Zach, and Cody makes enemies with the imposing gardener known as Thor. His efforts to find other allies in the dorm are fruitless, aside from silent, hungry floormate Boris, and the gregarious dorm handyman Jeff. He also continues to be haunted by regrets about his ex-best friend Todd (the tiger from the airport), whom he came out to (and then had a big fight with) before leaving for the Hawaii vacation. He tries to find sanctuary in the school karate club, but even that doesn't seem to be his speed. In an effort to escape Jake, Cody decides he should get a job.

--Chapter 2: In Search of Gainful Employment. After some interference from Jake and Zach, Cody ends up at The Hangout, a local bar which is in need of a bouncer. The owner, a prizewinning acrobat bartender named Tyrone, recruits Cody immediately, but Cody fails to impress the barmaids Samantha and Becky. Then the last waiter, Sam's brother Doug, catches Cody's eye, and spurs him to stick around for the job. Cody frets, realizing he's crushing pointlessly, until he finds out that Doug just might be attracted back.

--Chapter 3: Iso-lation. Although excited at the prospect that Doug might be interested in a relationship, Cody is still shy and nervous about publicly trying to make any headway there. It doesn't help that Thor and Jake & Zach also show up to the bar that night, the latter who realize they have blackmail in that Cody isn't technically old enough to be a bouncer. The night slips by and Cody is unable to make a move on Doug, and berates himself over it. The next day, Todd tracks Cody down, but Cody is still hesitant to make up. Then Cody realizes his parents may not want him moonlighting as a bouncer, and quickly makes up a story to them that he's actually working as a waiter at night to earn money to court a girl (who suspiciously sounds like Sam). He later tries to fight Jake and Zach over the television, but finds out his physical advantage over them is gone. The cumulative events drag him down as he realizes he's become a bully, a liar, and generally not a very nice person to know.

--Chapter 4: Iso-tonic. But Cody takes Jeff up on an offer to watch the football game at Jeff's apartment, where he accidentally finds out Jeff is also gay. That breaks the ice enough for Cody to spill his guts out to Jeff. Cody recounts how he discovered he was gay during middle school, and has spent the past few years building up his ultra-macho front to avoid any repercussions that might come from being "outed" to others. He doesn't want people to even suspect, let alone know. Jeff proves to be good counsel on the matter, mainly trying to get across the concept of moderation; while caution is advisable, there's no need for Cody to hide his entire life from a public who probably doesn't WANT to scrutinize...and may not even care if they know. Ultimately, if Cody is interested in Doug, the world won't implode if he tries to act on that. Cody agrees to work on that, and realizes he has made a new friend. A slight stumbling block occurs when a mysterious caller warns Jeff of serious consequences if he gets too close to Cody. Jeff, flustered but determined, pledges to stay by Cody anyway, and begins work on a secret device.

--Chapter 5: InStigatiOn. Impressed by one of Jake's impromptu dance routines, Cody actually breaks the ice and learns a bit about his roommate's background, thus showing some progress in his attempts to be sociable. Still, Jake manages to come on too strongly again, and Cody ditches Jake for lunch with Boris. Cody reflects that he's having trouble asking Doug out, simply because he's never--by luck and coincidences--had to ask ANYONE out before. Jeff senses Cody's hesitance, and stages an elaborate plan to give Cody a little push...which ultimately works.

--Chapter 6: ImpoSitiOn. Cody's victory doesn't last long when, on the day before the date, Thor stirs up trouble in the bar. Surprisingly, Todd backs Cody up, forcing Thor to retreat. Cody then reveals to Todd why he has been stalling on making up; it isn't because either of them are upset from the summer, it's because Cody feels like he's been a poor excuse for a friend. Even though he's outed himself to Todd, there has been a build up of fronts over the years, plus he feels like he was using Todd to appear straight by association. But Todd assures Cody the friendship has been more than mutual, especially since Cody was a good influence in getting Todd out of a downward spiral of excesses during high school. So with the air totally cleared between them, they pledge to be friends again, just in time for Cody to realize he needs to get ready for his date with Doug...

--Chapter 7: I Sorta Said, He Kinda Said. Unaware they're observed by Jeff's mysterious stalker, Cody and Todd visit Jeff's apartment for some fun and video games. Meanwhile, Sam bumps into Doug and his roommate/coworker/best friend Tim at the gym, and alludes to her continued disapproval of Cody. Both parties end up separately discussing Cody and Doug's date from the previous afternoon. For the most part, it went well--not perfectly, but certainly not a disaster. Jeff, Todd, Sam, and Tim offer their suggestions and observations at how the date was handled on both ends, and apparently it went well enough that Doug has invited Cody to a club for their next date. Cody, however, doesn't know how to dance, and makes up an excuse to get some dance lessons from Jake. But Jake takes the matter very seriously, and Cody is too overwhelmed to continue. He can't bring himself to cancel the date, however.

--Chapter 8: So I Think I Can Dance. Cody arrives at the club and is introduced to Tim, as well as Doug's friends Robbie, Trevor, and Dusty. The group clearly are quite close-knit, and boggle Cody with their banter before he seeks sanctity at the bar. He is chagrined when his classmate Nate recognizes him, but they have a friendly conversation and he's invited to join Nate's study group.Cody stalls with his drink before Trevor manages to coax him out to the dance floor, where he sorts with his inner reservations against dancing before giving it a shot. And he finds out it's not so bad, especially when the slow dances come. Cody ends up enjoying the overall experience, and is unaware that his excuse for wanting dance lessons has fallen through with Jake. The next day, driven by persistent observations that his tough-guy image is offputting, he relents a little and tries to at least get a less severe haircut. It's a start.

--Chapter 9: My S.O. After a pickup game of basketball, Cody is overcome by hormones, and pounces Doug as Dusty walks in on them. He's displeased by his outburst and resolves to behave, and is unaware Doug actually rather enjoyed the experience. He then has a pleasant time with Nate's study group, and is invited back in the future, but it fails to distract him from his conscience. He reveals to Jeff that while his hormones say yes, his mind says no, and Jeff reassures him that's typical. Still, after the next basketball game (where Doug and Todd's friends all meet for the first time), he's apprehensive about losing control again. Fortunately Jake interrupts the two while they're alone and showering up to go to work, and Cody's subsequent official slip of the word "boyfriend" diffuses any doubts he has...temporarily.

--Chapter 10: 1.50 Months Later. Cody and Doug have settled into the holding pattern of the dating life, although perhaps not completely perfectly. Cody has been neglecting his studies, and has to get Nate's help to finish off a group term paper. And Doug has been stretching his budget, forcing him to ask Robbie for a loan. Robbie thinks he recognizes the common pattern Doug has had with previous boyfriends, but Doug is positive Cody is safe, even though he's uncertain why Cody seems to shy away from intimacy. Unbeknownst to any of them, Jake suspects Cody has a signficant other, yet Cody refuses to tell him who it is, and the secrecy worries Jake; anything that secret can't be good. He's determined to intervene if necessary. Meanwhile, Cody and Doug finally realize they have to cut down on the dates for practicality's sake, but Cody assures Doug he's happy in the relationship--by giving him a public kiss. Cody's problems are far from over, as his parents call to tell him they'll be in town in a couple weeks, and want to meet this "Sam" he's supposedly been dating all this time...

--Chapter 11: Try S.O. Cody continues to skirt intimacy with Doug, but in this case has an excuse; he's distracted wondering how to convince Sam to pretend to be his girlfriend in front of his parents. Surprisingly, she agrees to play along--on the condition he pay her way on a "date" (as a couple, they'll need to act like they've actually been in each other's company). Though dismayed to find out the date is at a swing club, Cody eventually relaxes and actually has a great time dancing with Sam's friends. In the process, Sam quietly realizes Cody may not be the vicious tough-guy she thought he was.

--Chapter 12: I SOS. Meanwhile, Cody is purposely encouraging the lunch with his parents to go poorly, so he can use it as an excuse to say Sam dumped him; then he won't have to worry about using her as a front any more. Cody is unaware Jake has caught just enough misinformation to conclude Cody is two-timing with one of Sam's lady friends--and Becky (but not Sam)! Jake says nothing, though. When Cody's parents arrive, they get along fine with Sam as she plays the part of the perfect girlfriend, all to Cody's chagrin. Fortunately, a culmination of misunderstandings with everyone involved results in the mock break-up happening anyway. Sam also finally gives Cody her blessing in his relationship with Doug after further shedding light on Doug's past boyfriends. But the one casualty of the ruse is Jake, who feels partially responsible for the break-up, and takes off before Cody can explain the situation.

--Chapter 13: Oi! Is So? Jake ends up staying at his uncle's place a few hours south, and commutes to his classes while avoiding Cody. When Zach misbooks his flight home for Thanksgiving, Jake invites him to join his relatives for the weekend. Zach ends up bonding very quickly with Jake's cheerleader cousin Allie, much to Jake's chagrin. The three spend the weekend together, but Jake feels like a third wheel. When he confronts Zach about his jealousy, it's revealed that he had been assuming he was leading up to a real relationship with Zach, while Zach had considered them just friends. Even worse, Zach has been dodging Allie's flirting, but quietly has concluded he's interested back at her. Jake is crushed, yet tries to be a good sport and put up a supportive front before retreating back to campus.

--Chapter 14: Ah So. Jake is unaware Cody has already returned from the holiday due to an early flight. As Jeff drives Cody home from the airport, the two of them accidentally reveal they could be developing feelings for each other, and agree they should stop hanging out for the sake of Cody's relationship with Doug. Cody is still berating himself over his phobia of intimacy when he finally bumps into the disappointed Jake in their dorm. Off-guard, Cody tries to comfort Jake, and in doing so finally realizes it's the time to out himself to his roommate, and come clean about all his recent lies. A flood of hidden emotions is revealed, as Cody admits he's been avoiding Jake not out of dislike, but out of secret deep attraction, and he was afraid it would lead to sex if Jake knew this. Cody then recognizes that satisfying his libido is the point-of-no-return induction into his orientation (rather than the other societal and superficial concepts), and that, ultimately, is why he's afraid of going further with Doug. He and Jake are relieved they can start on a clean slate with each other now, but a celebratory hug gradually leads into the two of them liplocked, on Jake's bunk.

That brings us up to date, with Issue 8 currently in production.