Sonny runs his hand through his slightly wet hair. He can hardly believe what just happened. The new person in his life, PFC William Horton, was perfect in so many ways. First and foremost was his shyness. There was obviously more to him than what meets the eye, and Sonny plans on figuring it all out. It didn't hurt that William has a hot, toned body. A fact that was evidenced by his sweaty shirt sticking to his chest and abs after having been running. A look that frankly had Sonny's heart all a flutter. He didn't know how it was that he had managed even two words to the guy, because his mouth had been all dry and choked up. He's sure that if William hadn't been so nervous himself he would have noticed Sonny's nerves.
Walking back to his car, a beat up Jeep, Sonny can't stop thinking about how William's smile had been radiant despite it being shy. That smile was like no other smile Sonny had ever seen before, and Sonny had seen a lot. This type of smile was one that won wars without a single word. It sure had won the war over Sonny's heart. A heart that Sonny kept pretty guarded after all the times he'd been disappointed. Years of putting his heart on the line for just about anyone had turned Sonny against opening up to people.
Sonny closes his eyes and rubs his face. Thinking about his past always caused his chest to tighten and his mind to go haywire. He hated the feeling; therefore Sonny usually lived in the moment and didn't think on what used to be. By not focusing on his past Sonny feels that he has no fear when looking to his future.
Sonny stood in his Uncle Vic's mansion's parlor waiting for his parents to respond. He had just told them his plans to quit school and move to Italy permanently. It was obvious that his mom was indifferent to anything, but that had been the case since he came out to them when he was 18, two years ago. His father on the other hand was the one Sonny was looking to most for a reaction.
With a sigh and an exasperated throw of his hands, Justin responds, "Sonny you can't just drop out of school!"
"Why not dad? It's not like EVERYONE has to go to college." Sonny argues back.
"Because no Kiriakis has EVER dropped out of school."
"Oh just like no Kiriakis has ever been gay before?"
"What does you being gay have to do with anything?"
"Because that's what it always boils down to. Me being gay and how that affects my character." Sonny says with look towards his mother.
"Now Sonny, I have never judged you on your sexuality. I have always been okay with you being gay." Justin half smiles at his son.
"But, mom hasn't! And her behavior towards me has influenced how you view my desire to drop school. You don't want there to be anymore friction than there already is in this family." Sonny forcefully points his arm at his mother standing off to the side not saying a word.
"I would love for there not to be any friction, but I'm really concerned about your decision because in the future you may regret not finishing school. I don't want you to make a decision that could hurt your chances at a successful life." Justin responds with a fatherly concerned look on his face.
"I can still be successful and not have a college degree." Sonny argues.
"Doing what?"
"I could become an instructor for things like rock climbing, surfing, or whatever. I could also start a career as a stripper."
"Are you serious?"
"NO! Dad! I'm not going to sell my body for a living. I will though find an instructor type job or a bartending type job. I'm good with people. You of all people should know that. I have never heard you do anything less than encourage me to find my passion. Well Italy is my passion. Why can't you accept that?"
"Because I don't want you throwing your life away."
"I'M NOT! I'm STARTING my life! I really wish you could see that, but if you can't then we have nothing left to say to each other."
Justin doesn't reply, instead he stands there silently looking to his wife to say something that would convince their son to change his decision. What he gets instead is a shocking answer.
"I think he should go. Explore this new life that he wants to lead. If that means living in Italy then so be it." Adrienne says not even looking at her son.
"Really, mom?" Sonny asks, floored by his mother's agreement.
"Yes, the less I have to see your abomination of a lifestyle the better. Italy is a perfect place. You get your freedom and I don't have to see you throw your life away for something that is extremely against God." Adrienne affirms without emotion.
"Great! I am so glad that you guys think so highly of me. You guys are supposed to be the ones that will always stand with me no matter what happens." Sonny says, fighting back tears.
Before Justin or Adrienne can respond Sonny runs out of the mansion and too his car.
Coming out of his memories, Sonny realizes that he has driven almost all the way to his flat. Looking at the clock on the dash he realizes that it is almost 8am already. Most likely his flat mate Dominic Moreno, or Dom, would be wondering where he was at. Usually on the mornings he went surfing, Sonny got back to the flat by 7:30 at the latest. Preparing to be bombarded when he walks in the door, Sonny tries to hide his distractedness and unlocks the front door.
*"Ehi amico." Dom calls from the kitchen over the sound of food cooking.
"Ehi" Sonny responds, throwing his keys into the key bowl by the door and dropping his surfing bag onto the floor.
"Dude, what are you cooking?" Sonny asks as he enters the kitchen and sees what's on the stove.
" Tranquillo, non è per te, è un esperimento per il ristorante!" Dom says with a mischievous grin.
"Woah, man! It's too early in the morning for me to try and keep up with your Italian. Where's my breakfast?" Sonny says with a pout.
"Fine! Fine! Where ever you find it. I'm not your man servant, though I'm sure you'd love that." Dom says wickedly laughing. "I did make you a latte though. It's on the counter."
"Well, first off your not my type. I prefer not to date dogs. Secondly, this latte is cold." Sonny says spitting latte into the sink.
"Well, I'm glad you think so highly of me. The latte was hot when I made it, it's not my fault you decided to take your sweet time coming back from the surf."
"It's only because I know you so well and the surf was great today."
"It's a good thing then that Anna Maria finds me perfect."
"Uh huh. She obviously doesn't know you, or she is obliviously air headed." Sonny cracks a smile as he pops some fresh fruit into his mouth.
"Don't you have something more productive to do besides torturing me?" Dom turns from the stove with one hand on his hip and a cooking utensil in his other hand.
"Well I do have an inspection at the bar later, but that's a few hours away still." Sonny says with a grin.
"If you insist on staying in my kitchen then you have to answer any question I shoot at you." Dom gives Sonny a raised eyebrow look.
"Depends on the question." Sonny says with a look that says 'two can play this game'.
"Who is it?"
"Who's who?"
"The person that has you so distracted this morning. You try to hide it but, it subtly comes out.
"N-n-nobody." Sonny stammers as he quickly makes his escape from the kitchen, hoping that Dom didn't catch his blush.
As Sonny retreats into his room at the back of the flat, Dom turns back to his cooking and chuckles to himself. He knows that if Sonny is distracted by this guy then he must be someone really special. Sonny never let guys get to him, at least not this much. Whoever Sonny is getting flustered over must have found some way to get in under the wires that guard his heart.
While Sonny is laying on his bed daydreaming about PFC Horton, the man in question is doing the same back at the barracks. However, both men have conceded to the thought that the other doesn't think that way of them.
*Translations*
Ehi amico - Hey friend
Ehi - Hey
Tranquillo, non è per te, è un esperimento per il ristorante! - Don't worry, it's not for you, it's an experiment for the restaurant
Thanks so much for all the positive feedback from the first chapter. It as really inspired me to keep this story going.