Will's POV
"Did you see me?"
With red cheeks from enthusiasm my little brother Johnny runs towards me. I smile proudly and I nod while taking his bag which seems too big for him anyway. His little hand slides into mine and he looks up at me, never interrupting his endless questions:
"Did you see my goal? It was good, right? Did you see how everyone ran to me to celebrate?"
We walk towards my car and I laugh when he finally takes a break to breathe.
"You were excellent, little brother…"
He is almost jumping up and down next to me, and when we reach the car he decides to see if he can get anything out of this:
"Can I have something nice?"
"And what should that be…"
"Mum and I went to this place and I got a cream and strawberry drink… can I have that?"
I shake my head and smile while I push the car door closed behind him. When I sit down in the driver's seat his little voice reminds me I need to give an answer.
"So, can I?"
"Well, you were good today and we should celebrate that, shouldn't we…"
The sparkling in his little boy eyes make my day and twenty minutes later we walk into a new coffee house 'Common Grounds' where we wait our turn to be served. When the guy is ready for us Johnny is ordering before I can say anything:
"We would like a strawberry cream drink… like I had last time…"
"Coming right up, buddy…"
The dark haired guy turns around to make our order, Johnny just babbles away:
"I scored a goal today… so we are celebrating."
"Well done… so did you win the game?"
"Of course!"
The guy hands Johnny the drinks and then looks up at me. The moment his brown eyes meet mine I feel the air getting stuck in my throat. His smile lights up this whole place and his dark hair looks silky and soft. He chuckles and I am not sure why, but the sight is great. But then I feel Johnny tucking on the wallet in my hand:
"I'll do it Will…"
He hands the barista the money and I realise I must have been staring at him while he was waiting for me to pay for the drinks. Before I know it we are standing outside and I am listening to Johnny talking about his football match. I smile once in a while and mumble some random responses, but my mind keeps wandering off to the dark eyes, dark hair, and the beautiful smile all belonging to the sexy barista at 'Common Grounds'. I make a silent note to myself that this new coffee shop might become my favourite place in Salem. Then I feel his little hand pulling mine:
"Are you listening, Will?"
"Sorry, what did you say?"
He is waving his cup towards me:
"This is my favourite drink ever, and I am going to have a lot more of these…"
I smile and nod:
"Sounds like a good plan to me."
(…)
The next Saturday Johnny scores another goal and this time he is taking his friend Danny to celebrate with us. I promise Danny's parents I will get him home in about an hour and drive the twenty minutes to the coffee house with two loud little boys in the back seat. I realise I have been too busy to go to the coffee house this week, and hope the same barista will be working today. After I park the car the boys run ahead of me and when I walk inside they are already ordering. It is quiet this time, no other costumers, probably because the coffee house is closing in 15 minutes. When I look behind the counter my eyes meet his immediately and I smile automatically when I see the sparkling in his eyes:
"You came back…"
I nod and don't know what to say, but luckily Johnny can speak for all of us:
"Yep… I scored again, so…"
I listen to the barista talking to the two boys about football and then he hands them the drinks. He dives under the counter and holds a football in the air:
"You know… you can borrow this and play for a while on the grass next to the coffee house…"
He looks at me:
"If that is OK with you, of course…"
The moment I nod they are already out the door, and suddenly it is just me and him. He smiles again and asks:
"Can I get you anything?"
I nod and sit down on one of the bar stools. I realise he is looking at me and I look up to meet his eyes. He raises his eyebrows and asks:
"What would you like…?"
I realise I did not give him my drink of choice yet and feel a blush covering my cheeks.
"An Americano, please."
Moments later two cups filled with black coffee are standing between us and our eyes meet again. He clears his throat and asks, almost shy:
"So… you always go to his matches?"
"Yeah…"
Suddenly I feel like telling him a bit more:
"He is my little brother, you know… and I know what it is like to never have anyone cheering you on…"
The moment the words have left my lips I feel embarrassed. I stare at my coffee and try to think of something to say that would give me a good excuse to just walk out of here. But my brain is a bit fuzzy and then he speaks:
"I am sorry to hear that…"
"Yeah, well…"
"So what do you do?"
"What?"
"During the day… you know… what do you do…?"
"Oh sorry…"
I know that my cheeks are now dark red and I feel stupid. For some reason my brain is giving out the moment we are in the same room.
"I am a student… English literature."
He smiles and nods:
"That suits you."
I laugh nervously:
"Is that good or bad."
Once again I wished I hadn't said anything but his answer is as perfect as the previous one:
"That is good… very good."
His hand reaches out to touch mine, but at the same time the door opens and Johnny and Danny run inside. I pull my hand away, and without looking at the barista I wait for them to give the ball back, and then I rush them out of the coffee house. I feel his brown eyes burning in my back and everything inside me wants to turn around and sit back down so we can talk some more. But instead I try to block him out of my mind by focusing on the boy's stories. I hear Danny talking about his brother never being home in the weekends because he is spending time with his girlfriend. It is Johnny who suddenly asks:
"How come you never have a girlfriend, Will?"
My brain seems to freeze and yet goes a million miles an hour. And while I still try to come up with an answer the boys are already distracted by something happening nearby. I sigh inwardly and try to control my breathing. I know the answer to his question, but thus far no-one else does. Suddenly I see a bright smile and dark piercing but sweet eyes, and I realise I might have to be open and honest about my truth sooner than I want to.
(…)
The white sofa at the town square looks invitingly empty and with a sigh I sit myself down. I put my bag on the floor and try to get a grip on the thoughts running through my mind. There was a discussion at University today about being who you are and whether that is possible in today's society. I didn't say much, but was thinking all the more. While I still try to calm down I feel someone walking toward the sofa. When I look up I see it is him, and I immediately remember how I almost ran out of the coffee house without saying anything. His steps are slightly hesitant and when he stands next to me he asks:
"Can I sit down?"
I nod and wiggle to the side to make a bit more room for him. He sits down and an awkward silence falls between us. He is the one breaking it:
"I'm sorry if I did anything that offended you… I never meant to do that…"
I am biting my bottom lip and shake my head:
"You don't have to be sorry about anything."
The awkward silence returns and I already reach down to grab my bag when I hear his voice again:
"I'm Sonny, by the way…"
I look up, pleasantly surprised:
"That suits you…"
This time he is the one nervously laughing:
"Is that good or bad…?"
I smile a lopsided smile and reassure him:
"Good… that is good… I'm Will."
My bag is still on the floor and I lean back into the cushions. He is pushing the palms of his hands over his jeans until he suddenly asks insecurely:
"Would… uhm… would you go out with me one day?"
My heart is shouting yes, but noting comes out. I just sit there and only wake up when he stands up while mumbling:
"Never mind… I'm sorry…"
I jump up and grab his wrists without thinking:
"No… don't go… I'm sorry."
My fingers slot around his skin and I am very aware he is only inches away from me. I don't even care that we are in the middle of the town square, I just don't want him to leave. I sit down again and pull him next to me. Reluctantly I let go of him and when I look up I see the questions in his eyes. I clear my throat and whisper:
"I'm sorry…"
He shakes his head and just waits for me to find the courage to open up to him. It takes me a while but eventually I do. My eyes have found their focus on his hands and my fingers are fiddling with the zipper of my coat:
"I'm not out yet… I mean… No-one knows that I…"
My voice trails away and I know he can fill in the blanks. He reaches out again and this time I don't pull back and let his hand cover my fiddling fingers:
"I didn't know that…"
I shrug, realising that his simple touch feels very good.
"I understand."
I look up and when I see his eyes I hear myself say:
"I do want to go out with you…"
The smile that lights up his face is all I want to see for the rest of my life. I realise that my fingers, usually playing with zippers, strings or pens, are resting calmly in his hand. He squeezes it and bites his bottom lip before he says:
"Tomorrow…?"
I almost agree and then I realise I can't:
"Sorry, my brother has to play again…"
He shrugs:
"I can join you…"
I look at him and he must see the lightpanic in my eyes:
"Don't worry… I'll just join you as a friend... I'll come to the football field tomorrow and meet you there…"
My resistance is gone, I don't want to say no to this because quite frankly, I really want him to join us. I nod and mumble:
"Ok…"
His bright smile is flashed to me once more before he stands up and says over his shoulder:
"My break is over… back to work…"
I watch him walk away, realising I am falling in love with him even quicker than I thought.
(…)
I was almost worried that he would not show up. But suddenly I feel him standing next to me and he says softly:
"Sorry… one of the deliverers was giving me a hard time."
I nod, instantly forgetting all the thoughts I had in the past minutes, suddenly completely happy. It is crowded with cheering family members and we stand close. Because a few people are pushing themselves between the line of people I suddenly feel his body pressed against mine. Breath rushes out of me and I completely forget that I am here to support my little brother. His hand pushes in the small of my back and eventually he says, with his voice closely to my ear:
"It is quite full here…"
I nod and mumble:
"I am not complaining."
He laughs and my world is absolutely perfect. The match is over way too soon and we break apart to hug Johnny. He looks at Sonny:
"You're here… did you see us win?"
"I sure did… you are very good."
He nods happily and I see how his eyes move from Sonny to me and back again. But before he can say anything I pull him towards my car:
"Up to the coffee house…"
Johnny pulls back and turns to Sonny:
"Are you coming too?"
I see the hesitation in the dark brown chocolate eyes when he looks at me and eventually he says:
"Perhaps I shouldn't…"
I am disappointed with his choice, but do understand it. But Johnny wiggles his hand out of mine and walks over to grab Sonny's:
"Common…"
We laugh, both touched by his sweet gesture. Our eyes meet and I say softly:
"I would like for you to join us…"
"OK… in that case."
Johnny runs ahead of us to my car and I feel how Sonny hand just softly brushes mine:
"Great first date… don't you think?"
(…)
We are dating, officially dating. We have been on a few dates now, and we are so in love we can no longer hide it. Slowly I try to tell the people dearest to me and thus far they have taken it better than I thought they would.
I walk into the coffee house, and lean over the bar to kiss him firmly on his lips. He smiles happily and whispers:
"Hi…"
"Hi…"
Before I can turn around I hear my brother's high voice:
"Will…!"
I freeze, realising he could have seen me kissing Sonny. I haven't told him yet, mainly because I don't know how to. For every adult I have a story prepared, I brace myself in case I have to defend myself, and I try to find an explanation that would make them accept me. But how do you tell a nine year old boy that his brother is in love with a guy? That he has never had a girlfriend because he'd rather have a boyfriend? I turn around and watch him climb on one of the bar stools next to me.
"Are you coming to my sports day at school tomorrow?"
I look at his open face and smile:
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, buddy."
It is quiet for a while and I ask myself whether I should tell him now. But before I can open my mouth he turns to Sonny:
"Are you coming too?"
Brown eyes flash my way and then he asks carefully:
"Would you like that?"
Johnny nods and then looks at me:
"Will would like it too."
I suddenly feel shy and embarrassed, but Johnny is already back at his seat with some of his friends and their mothers. I slowly breathe out. Sonny smiles and puts an Americano in front of me:
"What are you doing tonight?"
I shrug and blow into my damping hot coffee.
"Want to close up together and then go to my place? We can order some dinner…"
I nod and sigh deeply:
"Sounds perfect…"
"Bye Will, bye Sonny… see you tomorrow…"
"Sure thing."
We both wave my brother out the door and then I feel soft lips on my cheek:
"Don't worry too much, I think he understands more than you expect… and I think he seems OK with it."
He walks over to the door to turn the notice board to 'closed', and when he walks past me again I grab his arm. I lean back against the bar and pull him between my spread legs. His arms fold around me and his breath warms my ear:
"I'm going to take you home tonight, Horton…"
I pull his closer at his waist and push my face deeper into the crook of his neck. The warmth from his body seems to seep into mine, and I whisper contently:
"Yes please…"
(…)
The sports day is half way over and Johnny and I are sipping some squash. Sonny is standing a few metres away, catching up with an old teacher. I sigh while staring at him, remembering the perfect night we had together.
"Will…"
I look aside and find two familiar blue eyes:
"What's up?"
"I don't care, you know…"
I raise my eyebrows although I think I know what he means. He nods at Sonny and then he says:
"I know why you never have girlfriends…"
I just look at him, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. A whistle blows and he stands up to get back to his activities. But just before he walks away he turns around to face me again:
"Just tell him that from now on I should have free strawberry cream drinks as much as I want… That is the least he can do for his boyfriend's brother…"
And then he is gone and I feel Sonny sitting down next to me. His hand strokes my back briefly and then he asks concerned:
"You OK…"
"Yeah…"
My hands go through my hair and then I pass on the message:
"Johnny thinks that from now on he should have free drinks at the coffee house…"
Our eyes meet and I continue:
"You were right… he knows… and he is fine with it…"
His arm curves around my back and he leans in to kiss my temple. I lean my head against his shoulder, no longer worried about what anyone might think or say. People have a way of making life too complicated when it just doesn't have to be. We cheer Johnny on with even more enthusiasm than ever and I cannot help but smile when Sonny leans over to him in between activities and says:
"Free drinks huh…? You've got it!"
They high five on it and when Sonny turns back towards me I just cup his beautiful face and kiss him tenderly on his lips:
"You are great…"
He leans forward and gives me a familiar second peck:
"And don't you forget it…"
Yet another one shot. Hope you all like it. All your kind reviews make me so happy!