Chapter 3
A large crowd gathered around Rod, who -if he could feel emotions in his fainted state- would have been so very glad he was not awake to witness this unwanted attention. Beside him, sat two men, their looks identical, apart from one was much more muscular and fanning Rod with his hand whist trying to disperse the crowd, whilst the other sat there laughing.
Rod slowly came around, and sat up. "Ricky? What are you doing here?"
"I'm going to work," he said slowly, with a hint of sarcasm.
"He means here you jerk, y'know," Nicky pointed at the floor next to Rod.
"Rod fainted!" He continued, in the same patronizing tone.
"I did?" Rod mumbled.
"Uhhuh, yeah buddy, pretty bad. You almost knocked "Big Nose Guy" over," Nicky laughed.
"Oh my god!I'm so sorry" Rod flushed scarlet, and noticed the group of people around him. He pulled himself up – with the help of his roommate.
"So, uh, what a reunion this is!" Ricky laughed nervously.
"Yeah. Uh um, hows it going?" Rod asked, feeling incredibly uncomfortable.
"Y'know the usual. New job, new house, new guy."
Rod looked down.
"What'd'ya say that for you prick!" Nicky stepped forward, fists clenched.
"Huh?" Ricky stepped back, surprised, as Nicky gestured towards Rod, who looked on the brink of tears.
"New guy?"
"What?" Ricky acted even more surprised than before, "I figured that he'd moved on."
"He's been distraught! Cried himself to sleep for 2 weeks! Moved on? Moved on – my ass! What ever gave you that impression?"
Rod walked away slowly, shaking. He sat on a bench a little way up the track, and pretended to read the week-old newspaper that had been left there, whist watching the animated scene proceed in front of him. Nicky's face was almost blue with the anger, and the crowd once watching the fainted Rod, now seemed to watch the impending fight with almost as much anticipation as he did.
"Well, I guessed that...."
Nicky tapped his foot impatiently.
"He's a nice guy, he must have found someone else."
Nicky raised an eyebrow.
"I though you and him were....." He trailed off.
"Were what?" he inquired.
Rod looked over his newspaper, the shouting had stopped, and they appeared to be talking normally again. No fight had occurred, Rod breathed a sigh of relief.
"You know."
"No I don't. You're gonna have to tell me!"
"Well together."
"And what gave you that impression?"
Rod returned to the newspaper momentarily and looked up again. Their conversation seemed more heated. I'd better drag Nicky away before he gets hurt. Rod knew that Nicky was no match for Ricky, who's muscles seemed almost unnatural. Shit. Ricky's muscles. Must. Not. Think. Of. That. You're. Over. Him.
"Nicky. You were holding his hand and I just thought that -"
"And even if that is what happened, what makes it your business?"
"He was my boyfriend."
"Yeah. WAS!"
"Fuck off before I actually hurt you!"
Hmmm. They're getting very loud again. Rod got up. "What's going on?"
"Nicky," he spat the word, "thinks he owns you."
"Yeah Rick. Course I do!"
"I think you should leave him alone," Rod scowled.
"Whatever you're yesterday's news." Ricky stalked off.