For Changhenge :) xx
Hope you can bear with me, Chryed will be appearing soon... ;)
Michael could hear snoring. He didn't think it could be his own snoring, because the stabbing pain in his head and the vinegary taste in his mouth would seem to mean he was awake. He cautiously opened one eye and peered to his left. A mound lay beside him, huddled under most of the bed clothes. Propping himself up on one elbow, he tentatively pulled back the corner of the duvet and saw an ear, with a large black spacer inserted into the lobe. Resisting the urge to put his finger through it, he looked in confusion at the loose dark curls that flopped across the bristling stubble of someone's jaw.
Shivering, he slipped across the bed and stood up, swaying precariously. He winced at the pain in his body and stepped over a discarded condom packet, musing to himself;
'I seem to have had a good night..'
He grimaced as he entered the vast open plan living area of his flat. Wintry afternoon sunlight reflected off the rusting Gas Works beyond his window, sending jagged shadows across the dark wood floor. Yawning loudly, he made for one of the kitchen cupboards. The ease with which the red lacquered door opened at the gentlest of touches, still delighted him as much as it had on the day the builders finally finished his refurbishments, leaving him all alone in his perfect bachelor flat.
He pushed at the shiny chrome tap and watched the water gush into his glass. Gazing out beyond the twin towers of the gas holders, across the jumble of roofs and windows to the shiny ribbon of the Thames, he gulped the water down, shuddering with relief as he felt himself slowly re-hydrate.
A faint thud behind him made him swing around in alarm, spilling liquid down his chest.
"What the..?"
Something was moving on the long white leather sofa, under the fluffy grey blanket. It rippled alarmingly, sending more cushions plopping on to the rug.
Michael frowned.
'Did I have a really, REALLY good night?' He wondered.
A blonde, female, head appeared, and a blotchy face turned to peer at him, mascara smeared under the eyes.
"Hello! You look like a Zombie."
He refilled his glass and turned to lean against the mahogany work top, smiling fondly at her.
"And you look like a fucking Greek God, you bastard."
She flopped back, knocking her head on the armrest.
"Cheers. What did we get up to last night?" Michael asked.
The woman groaned and stared at the ceiling.
"I'm not sure. There was dancing, drinking, lots of drinking, bucket loads, dancing." She gagged slightly. "Vomiting. Some of that. I recall a toilet bowl. And when I came back you had what's his name stuck on you like a limpet."
"Ah yes. Any idea what what's his name is called?"
She twisted onto her front and looked at him quizzically with bloodshot eyes.
"I dunno. Not even sure what my name is.."
"Simone." He told her helpfully.
She surveyed him, lounging nonchalantly, gloriously naked, and sighed.
"I wish it were Simon. Did he say he was Italian? Guido, or Luigi? Roberto? Ricardo? You know who he looks a bit like though. Bloody hell, It's all coming back to me now, we were at school before the club, there was cheap fizzy wine. Tell me it was a nightmare, tell me that you and Syed aren't really both gay." She whimpered sadly.
"Except I know for sure that you are, if all those noises from your bedroom last night were anything to go by. But Syed? Beautiful, funny, sweet, sensitive, Syed Masood? Please tell me it's a wind up."
Michael put his glass carefully into the sink, recalling the tall man emerging from the shadows, staking his claim on Syed with a sensuous touch.
"Have you forgotten his rather magnificent boyfriend?"
Simone pulled the blanket over her head.
"The man in black, the living, breathing embodiment of sex. My life is shit."
"Awwww. Budge up..."
He came to sit with her, shifting her to the back of the sofa with a push of his buttocks. He pulled the cover away from her face and ruffled her hair fondly.
"…A bright, smart party girl like you. City high flyer. You can have your pick of men."
She took in the sight of him, eyelids only slightly puffy from the excesses of the night before, startling blue eyes ringed with black, the perfect straight nose. She wanted to stroke the dark shadow of stubble on his cheek, lick the Celtic tattoo that twined around his bicep, run her hand over the short black crop, kiss his full soft lips.
" Sweaty old business men in suits. That's who comes on to me. Or spotty teenagers. You've got a girls mouth you know."
Michael retrieved a cushion from the floor and made as if to smother her with it.
"Cheeky cow. Stick with me, I'll find you someone nice."
"Nice? Whoopee. No, I'm having a sex change. Finding out two of my girlhood loves are both gay has scarred me forever. Find me a sausage, I'm fashioning myself a cock."
Michael laughed.
"Better make it a big one. You'll need some sort of winch and pulley contraption as well. You really had no idea?"
Simone shook her head gloomily.
"Nope."
Something occurred to her, causing a small spasm to contract her heart.
"So that time, at Jimmy's party, when Syed drank his body weight in Coke and you snorted yours. When he ran off home early and I went to you crying.."
Michael stayed silent and she continued;
"..And we did it in the garden, I hit my head on the compost bin and the lid fell on us. It was a full moon. Did that mean nothing to you?"
He gently stroked her cheek with his finger.
"Of course it meant something Simone. It was important, special.."
She studied his eyes and frowned.
"You can't remember it, can you?" She snarled accusingly.
He gave a little wicked grin and looked down, guilt making him look like the naughty school boy he had been.
"Errm. Are you sure it was me? OW!"
Dodging her flailing fists, he laughed and jumped up. Strolling over to the Gaggia coffee machine, shining expensively beside the Smeg fridge, he called;
"I've no doubt it was wonderful though. Coffee?"
"It was crap and disappointing, over in minutes." She lied huffily.
Michael paused as he put in the fresh coffee, and raised his eyebrows.
"Surely not! Wasn't me then. Do you want sugar?"