Part 4 (01-08-08) Roxy gets married to Sean, Christian isn't at the wedding, because of the rush of it not because he wasn't invited or anything, but he does go to the celebration afterwards.
Christian was dreaming, he knew he was dreaming because he was there with him. It wasn't the first night he had dreamt of him but the dreams had taken a confusing new course. There was still always a sexual element to the dreams, curling dark hair in his hands as a warm wet mouth pressed down on him taking him far in, thin muscular limbs wrapped up around him close enough to cause a line of sweat between them, but now there was something else, big brown eyes looking at him with such tenderness, a warm smile playing on those sweet lips and the words whispered softly into his skin 'I love you, I love you so much' always whispered just before he woke up. He knew what it meant, he knew now he had to get away. Dan had been right he had to distance himself from Syed before he got hurt. With new resolve he got out of bed and got in the shower and walked out heading towards the café. Determined to keep away from the young man, he knew it would be hard at first, that it would kill him to see the rejection in those doe eyes of his, but it was best for both of them, and he had to do this now while this thing between them was new.
"Christian!" Syed's voice rang out and Christian turned immediately, he was hardly ten steps out of his door. He was stood by Masood's car, a people carrier, Tamwar and Libby were sat in the back with Shabnam and one of her friends, Masood and Zainab were fussing over directions ad hauling bags into the boot. Syed waited until Christian was near him to beam a big smile at him. "Hey, we're going swimming, you wanna come?" He asked hopefully. Christian knew he should say no right now, get away from him, but what had seemed so easy when he was in the shower alone was now impossible.
"Sure." He breathed out unable to resist and Syed's grin doubled in size. Suddenly two sharp eyes were locked onto him.
"Syed, are you coming?" Masood's voice was a little cold as he addressed his son.
"Yeah I was just inviting Christian to come with us." He explained gently.
"Well we're leaving now so…" He started but Syed turned and cut him off.
"Tambo and Shabs got to bring someone." He pointed out childishly and threw a slightly pleading look to his mother who melted immediately and gave him a look like a proud lioness over her cub and came and immediately cupped his face.
"Of course Christian can come." She said sharply to Masood still holding Syed's face. "If he hurries and gets his things that is." She said pointedly to Christian who gave a mini salute and raced back off to his flat before squishing into the back of the car with Syed next to him so close he could smell him. The atmosphere was slightly icy in the car and everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they arrived at the swimming pool, Christian looked around him it felt like a kids day out even though Tamwar was the youngest person there, it felt nice, innocent, maybe he could control himself.
!
Syed looked down at Christian ruefully his left eyebrow twitching slightly.
"I don't know why I'm surprised." He muttered to him gesturing to Christian's rather revelling red speedos.
"What? If you've got it flaunt it I say." Christian flexed earning a roll of Syed's eyes. He was wearing a much more modest pair of dark green trunks but his chest was on display and Christian was struggling not to touch him, to follow that little patch of dark hair down his taut abdomen and lower still, or to trace his collar bone with his fingers until it disappeared into his shoulder and repeat with his lips... He tried his best to focus his brain into gear.
"Are you boys coming or what?" Zainab screeched at them making them both jump slightly before tutting, muttering something about 'boys' and walking off to the pool leaving them standing into the ankle high pool at the entrance.
"Come on Christian family fun is starting and we can't be a minute late for it." Syed teased and gestured with his head for him to follow. He soon caught up to his mother and gave her a small kiss on the forehead making her smile proudly at him.
"Now papoo are you sure you don't want to wear a swimming cap? Or goggles like your brother?" She gestured towards Tamwar who looked a picture in an ill-fitting blue swim cap over his head and large prescription goggles. She turned back to Syed and critically pushed at his hair with one hand. "Maybe you should think about cutting your hair, eh Syed? It looks so untidy an your such a good looking boy, what your colleagues must think of me sending you out in the world looking so scruffy."
"Mum, its fine, stop fussing." He told obviously enjoying it though, he gave her a little squeeze of his hand on her arm and walked off to slide into the water before looking enquiringly at Christian to follow him. They walked near Tamwar and he flinched visibly, Christian sent Syed an enquiring little look and he looked slightly ashamed away. "Time was if Tamwar got within two metres of me at a pool I'd push him in." he confessed.
"How cruel!" Christian noted poking Syed in the ribs and nearly sending him in himself.
"That was nothing, I'd stick his arm into the filter gap and told him that was where they kept the sharks that swam in the pool at night." He shook his head. "Didn't Jane ever do these things to you?"
"Nah, we got on well actually until we became grownups." Syed didn't push it so he didn't explain. The rest of the day they spent mucking about in the pool until it was time to go home, Christian invited Syed to the vic for a quick drink but were stopped half way by Roxy pulling up in an obscene wedding dress champagne bottle in hand stood up in a jeep with 'just married' spray paint on the sides. Christian looked on half amused half horrified before casting a slight look of nerves at Syed, he had managed to keep Roxy and Syed apart from each other, his other friends he could cope with but he knew that Roxy would mock him incessantly for his rather obvious affections for the young man and Syed would be disturbed by Roxy's brash nature. This was not going to be good. She yelled for Christian and he fought the conflicting impulses in him to go to her and stay with Syed.
"You know that girl?" Syed asked and the rather obvious judgment stung a little.
"Yeah, she's my best friend." He replied a little cattily.
"Oh, I'm...I'm sorry." He muttered and instantly all was forgiven. "Do you want me to go so you can hang out with her?"
"No." The idea of Syed leaving made his heart squeeze in his chest, besides he would have to do this at some point. "Come and meet her." He suggested and they walked up to the car. "Roxy Mitchell you bad girl." He mockingly chastised, he could feel Syed hovering in the background.
"You better believe it, baby, and it is Roxy Slater now." She wiggled out of the car. "How mad is that?"
"Come here darling." He scooped her up in a big cuddle and swung her around.
"Yeah alright you can stop molesting my pregnant wife now." Sean called from behind, throwing a curious look at Syed who had his head ducked down nervously.
"You are so white trash, the pair of ya." Christian told Roxy looking down at her outfit which was barely more than lingerie let alone a wedding dress. "Please tell me your related, that would be perfect." He took a big gulp of Roxy's champagne. Roxy took the opportunity to look around him at Syed obviously near enough to be with Christian.
"Who's your little friend?" She asked winking at Syed who blushed furiously.
"Roxy Mitch…I mean Slater this is Syed Masood." He introduced and waited for the world to explode.
"Congratulations. It's nice to meet you, Christian talks very fondly of you." Syed told her in that gentle voice of his, he held out one hand for a handshake but she pulled him in for a close cuddle much to his obvious surprise.
"Well, since I have heard nothing about you…" She told him and Syed threw a little miffed look at Christian who pretended not to notice. "you'll have to join us." She ushered a startled Syed into the Vic. Christian sighed deeply and looked after than a mildly horrified expression on his face. Next to him Sean laughed.
"Looks like you're going to have one fun day." He muttered and walked in to join his wife.
!
Surprisingly things didn't go too badly, it only took Syed telling Roxy nine times that he didn't drink to stop her trying to force champagne on him and he happily watched Christian and Roxy dance from the bar. He pulled her in close and they chatted for a while, making sure she apologised for not inviting him.
"Loving the dress though." He told her just so she knew he wasn't too mad at her. "I tell ya if I was straight he'd have a rival, believe me. Instead it's you that had better watch out." He dipped her so he could face her now husband. "That is one handsome hunk of shank you just married there." He told her grinning.
"Yeah he is a bit lush isn't he." She smiled. "But what about you, Syed is gorgeous. A little dull…"
"Hey!"
"But when the packaging that nice…Why didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend, I thought I was your best mate?"
"Oh yeah, cos I think best mates usually get an invite to each other's weddings." He jibbed. "And he's straight by the way." He told her trying to keep the sadness from his voice as he said it. "We're just mates."
"Oh yeah, that how come his eyes haven't left you once today?" She asked grinning at him. "Now if you don't mind I'm going to go kiss my new husband. Maybe you should think about kissing yours." She teased and walked off to kiss Sean. Christian moved back to Syed eyeing him carefully.
"Sorry this is pretty much your worst nightmare isn't it?" He asked making Syed laugh.
"I admit this is all a bit out of my comfort zone, but it's fine Christian, really. So you that ashamed of me you had to keep me a secret?" He asked some genuine hurt under the mockery.
"Of course not!" He stared at Syed trying to make him believe it. "You know I'm not, I just thought you'd…well…"
"Hate her?" Syed offered looking at her with a slight sigh.
"Well, yeah. Do you?" He held his breath. Syed pretended to think for a minute.
"We're never going to be bosom pals but you're my friend and if she's important to you I'll make an effort." He promised. Fuelled by champagne and relief he hugged Syed tight into his chest singing his praises loudly. "Ok, ok I like you too Christian but I can't breathe!" Christian reluctantly let him go and got him another orange juice and when he handed it to him he raised a discreet little toast to Roxy who grinned at him. Christian looked at them thankful to Syed for making an effort. He sighed gently his goal today had been to distance himself from Syed and he had done nothing but bring him closer into his life. He was falling for the young man and there was nothing he could do about it.