Homecoming Surprises
Clyde was more than excited. Luke was coming home from Oxford for his holidays, and he honestly couldn't wait to see him. He missed his boyfriend, after all.
He missed Luke correcting his grammar and speech all the time. He missed being able to sneak off and find a corner with him for a quick snog. He missed how cute he got when Clyde would give him compliments. He missed the little glares he'd give Rani when she made friendly jokes about them. And he missed all of Luke's tight-fitting tops that made Clyde want to shove him against a wall and kiss him senseless.
"Clydie," Rani sang in his ear, distracting him from his daydream. "Are you keen for Luke to get back?"
Clyde looked at her like she was stupid. "Of course I'm keen!" he exclaimed, making Rani laugh. "I haven't just been hanging out for today for the past two weeks for nothing."
Rani giggled. "I'll be giving you two some space, I think," she grinned, shoving his shoulder playfully.
"You'd better."
"Well, just make sure he gets a chance to talk to Sarah-Jane," Rani smiled, shaking her head. "He doesn't see her very often, either."
"But she can Skype him," Clyde grumbled, leaning his head back against the couch they were seated on.
"If you had've done what your mum told you to, you wouldn't've had your laptop taken off you," Rani shrugged, getting to her feet.
"Rani, could you come help me with this, please?" Sarah-Jane asked from the living room door.
"Yep, sure." Rani waved a little to Clyde and headed upstairs with Sarah-Jane.
Clyde gave a sigh, pulling his phone from his pocket and staring at his screensaver. The picture of he and Luke wrapped around each other and grinning made him wish four o'clock would hurry up and get here.
"Clyde?" Sky asked innocently from the door. She headed over to him and sat beside him, looking over his shoulder. "Do you miss Luke?"
"Heaps," Clyde nodded, sighing and pocketing his phone. "I know you comfort Sarah-Jane by being here when he's not, but it's not the same with me."
"So," Sky began with a slight frown, "explain to me again how you are with my brother?"
"We're together. Like, we're boyfriends. But we don't want heaps of people knowing, 'cause they don't get what it's like."
"What it's like to be in love with someone?" Sky asked.
Clyde had to think carefully about how to word what he was trying to get across. "We love each other, yeah, but there are people who don't see it that way," he tried. "They think that two guys can't be together."
Sky screwed up her face in confusion. "Why not?"
Clyde gave an uncomfortable shrug. "Because it's not 'normal'." With another sigh, Clyde looked at the photo on his phone again. "At least your mum doesn't mind."
Sarah-Jane ducked her head around the door. "Clyde, I was wondering if you could go grab us some milk?" She looked apologetic. "I know you're waiting for Luke, but…"
"Na, it's okay," Clyde said, standing up. "It'll take my mind off the fact that he won't be here for another hour." He took the money Sarah-Jane was holding out for him. "Be back soon," he farewelled, wandering out the front door. Looking around, Clyde tried not to think about how much he missed his love, shook his head, and started heading to the shop.