"Ooh!"
Christian's magazine slipped to the floor and he woke with a start. The rhythmic tapping of Syed's fingers on the keyboard, the slow ticking of the clock by his head, the distant hum of the traffic in the high street, had all combined into a soothing lullaby, causing him to doze off. He had been lying on the bed, pretending he was reading, but secretly taking the opportunity to watch Syed as he sat at the dining table. His face had looked angelic, concentrating intently on the computer screen, tongue between his teeth, occasionally humming a tune under his breath.
Christian grunted "Eh?" and retrieved the crumpled magazine from the floor, trying to make out he had been awake all along.
Syed smiled across at him.
"Did you fall asleep?" He asked fondly.
Christian gave a little grimace.
"Just a little bit.."
He yawned loudly and sat up, leaning back against the headboard.
"What are you 'oohing' at? You're not on that dirty website again are you?"
Syed laughed.
"The one that only exists in your filthy mind? No, I've just got an email about a reunion at my old school."
Christian pushed himself off the bed and crossed to stand behind him.
"Are you going?" He rested his chin on the top of Syed's head.
Syed didn't respond immediately, pausing while he contemplated the idea.
"Hmm, dunno. Not the happiest of times for me."
"Really? I wasn't mad keen either."
Syed randomly scrolled up and down the screen.
"I know. You should have been the most popular boy in class."
"I hope I am now. What was wrong? You weren't bullied were you? Tell me who by and I'll give them a piece of my mind.."
Syed closed the laptop slowly.
"No, no. I was well liked. At least, they liked the person I was pretending to be. I shan't go.."
Christian slipped his arms around Syed's waist and gave him a squeeze.
"Why not? My one was a laugh. You can feel smug at how fat and bald your peers have become, it's Karma. I'll come with you if you like."
Syed shook his head slightly and tipped it back, so that he could meet Christian's eyes.
"You'd be bored. And you know how mischievous you get when you're bored. By the time you finish you'll have us living on our own island in the Pacific as porn barons, or in Houston as astronauts."
Christian stuck his lower lip out petulantly and went into the kitchen, calling behind him;
"Spoilsport. I went with Ronnie to hers, as moral support. We wowed them with a rather splendid dance routine. We could do Dirty Dancing, I'll lift you up in the air and your school friends can throw buckets of water at us."
Syed shuddered.
"As long as that's all they throw. I'm not doing any dancing, it's shameful. I haven't danced since my Mehn.."
He realised that Christian's clattering with the tea things had paused momentarily.
"..di.." He finished quietly.
Christian stood in the doorway, the sadness of bad memories palpable in the air.
"Yeah, I missed that.."
Syed jumped up and pulled Christian into a fierce embrace.
"You missed nothing, and I'm here now. Mind you, my back flip was a triumph."
"You'll have to show me. We'll move the furniture out of the way.."
"Oh believe me Mr. Clarke, I've got lots of moves I can show you.."
Christian's face brightened and he chuckled.
"Are you going to it then? When is it?"
"Next Saturday, and I suppose so, more out of extreme curiosity than anything else. Will you meet me afterwards?"
Christian twisted his fingers into Syed's hair.
"Of course I will. You can take me round your childhood haunts, sneak me round the back of the bike sheds."
"Not somewhere I frequented much. Though I would have, if you'd been at my school."
Syed slipped his hands under Christian's T shirt and sighed happily, luxuriating in the feel of his warm skin, the shift of taut muscles.
"How about I show you some of those moves now?"