14. Greased Lightening
James and Carlos were curled up on the couch together watching a musical classic—Grease.
The pretty boy chuckled when Carlos couldn't resist doing wiggly dance movements in his seat during the Danny and Sandy's duet as they recounted their summer to their peers. He also couldn't help but notice the way Carlos' eyes remained glued to the flat screen as he watched John Travolta perform Greased Lightening in glorious HD.
"Babe," James chuckled, squeezing the short boy's shoulder to get his attention. Carlos hm'd in response but his eyes didn't leave the screen. "Do you have a crush on John Travolta?"
Carlos finally tore his eyes from the screen to glance at his boyfriend with a blush. "What? N-no, not exactly…" A blush appeared on his cheeks as he redirected his gaze to the TV. James quirked a curious brow, nudging his boyfriend. Carlos blushed further. "I might have a small crush on Danny Zuko." He mumbled.
James' brow raised higher with amusement. "So, you like Greasers, huh?" He teased.
"Shut up." Carlos hid his face in James' chest. James only chuckled allowing Carlos to go back to his movie in peace. After a few moments of silence, Carlos spoke up again. "You would good as a Greaser."
It was an off hand comment that any other boyfriend might have just brushed off as nothing, but James wasn't any other boyfriend.
He would go out of his way to please his man.
He was early to set—earlier than usual—the next day. With the help of a charming smile and just natural talent, he convinced the prop guys to give him the key to the prop and costume area.
Dressed in the stereotypical Greaser garb, James strolled out of his dressing room just as everyone else was arriving. He put a little more swagger in his step just to do the look justice. He played with the tooth pick between his teeth—a little substitute for a cigarette—receiving whoops from Tanya and Erin and playful wold whistles from his two other band/cast mates.
Though he appreciated the positive feedback, he was still on a mission to find Carlos. He finally found his boyfriend outside by the food cart, going over his script while he munched obliviously on an apple.
James smirked, ignoring how it was way to hot to wear a leather jacket, pressing through for his love. He ran a hand over his slicked hair, combat boots making loud crunching noises as he walked on a gravel. He finally reached the still unsuspecting Latino, leaning on the chair he occupied, smirk still in place. "Hey there, stud." He whispered in what Carlos called his 'bedroom voice'.
Carlos looked up and the wide-eyed, iris darkened, pupil dilated stare he received from the short boy made the brunet smirk wider with accomplishment.
And James could help but think the lecture he and Carlos received from the make-up department as they worked tirelessly to cover their necks was worth it.
15. "Idon't think we're getting out of bed today."
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
A pair of groans joined the relentless sound of the alarm clock going off at six in the morning.
"It's too early to work." Carlos grumbled from under the blankets.
"I know." James yawned, snuggling against the small body. "Turn off the alarm." He mumbled into the Latino's neck.
Carlos' hand snaked from under the comforter, feeling around the nightstand for the still beeping alarm. "Where is it?"
James lifted his head slightly, noticing the clock was gone but a red hue shone in the corner behind the side table. "I think we knocked it over last night." He chuckled, once again snuggling into his boyfriend.
"Oh, yeah," Carlos laughed at the memory of the two of them stumbling into the room, blindly trying to make it to the bed and remove each others clothes as well.
The two continued to lay listening to the alarm continue to blare annoyingly.
"We're eventually gonna have to move." James spoke tiredly but only pulled Carlos' body closer to him own.
Carlos groaned. "Why? The bed is so soft." He snuggled deeper into the sheets and was actually starting to drift back off to sleep.
"We have to go to work. They're not gonna believe that we're both sick."
"They might." Carlos said tiredly and stubbornly.
They continued to lay there.
"That alarm is annoying." James laughed.
"Mmhm." The short boy agreed.
"One of us has to shut it off."
Carlos shifted so that the brunet was now free to move but he was still tangled in sheets.
James laughed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Carlos…"
"I'm not leaving this bed."
"Neither am I. Get your ass back over here." He yanked the tan boy back into his arms, Carlos letting out a small yelp in surprise.
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
James sighed. "We're never going to get back to sleep with the alarm still going."
"But I love this bed; it understands me."
James snorted. "They'll eventually call or come looking for us or something." He tried to reason with Carlos and himself. "The bed can't protect you forever."
"I'll move if you move."
"Okay—on three. One…two…three…"
"…"
"…"
"You didn't move." Carlos smirked against the taller's bare chest.
"You didn't either."
"I was waiting for you to move."
"I don't think we're getting out of bed today."
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
16. "It was supposed to be a surprise…"
"Hey, you stay right there." James pushed himself along with his chair from under the table, picking up the dirty dishes as he went and ignoring Carlos' protests. "I am pampering you tonight." He said firmly but affectionately.
Carlos sighed with defeat but smiled, knowing that James wouldn't change his mind on this. "Fine, but just remember to…"
"Rinse the dishes so the left over food won't attract bugs."
"And then…"
"Put them in a neat stack on the left side of the sink." James smirked down at his boyfriend.
Carlos' smiled grew, gazing adoringly at the brunet. "You're perfect." He whispered.
James pecked the short boy's lips. "I know." He said heading into the kitchen. After following the proper procedures until everything was "Carlos-approved", James reached into his pocket to observe the silver band with a single diamond perched on the top.
The brunet smiled to himself, taking a deep breath to calm his tense nerves. "This is it." He breathed.
"What's it?" Carlos appeared suddenly behind James, causing the tall man to jump and lose his grip on the ring.
James' eyes widened in horror when he heard a clank from the drain as the ring fell. "Uh…" He turned to Carlos, trying to look nonchalant. "This is it for the dishes." He rattled off the top of his head. "We should go watch a movie or something."Maybe I could distract him long enough to get the ring out of the drain.
"Oh, sure." Carlos grinned. "I just wanted to check on you first."
"You don't have to do that. I already told you I could handle it."
"I know, I just want to see how perfect you really are." The Latino pushed past James and inspected the sink. Meanwhile James prayed that Carlos wouldn't spot the ring the was caught in the drain trap. "Everything looks great." He finally said. "It's almost like I did it myself."
"I learned from the best." The brunet chuckled, grabbing the short boy into his arms, once again trying to steer his lover away from the kitchen.
"You really are perfect."
"I know." James repeated.
"Oh, wait, let me just turn on the disposal." Carlos twisted from his boyfriend's grip and flipped on the garbage disposal.
James eyes widened at the repeated clanks that came from the drain. "That's weird." Carlos' brows furrowed at the noise, shutting off the disposal and looking down the drain. "It sounds like something's caught in the drain."
"Forget about it. I'll get it for you later." James tried to tug the boy away.
"No, no. It's looks like it's just caught in the drain trap. I can get it." The short boy reached into the drain and pulled the ring out with ease. James sighed when Carlos' eyes widened, jaw unhinged in shock. "James…" He trailed off, gaze darting from the ring to his boyfriend.
"It was supposed to be a surprise…" James laughed, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.
"James…" Carlos wasn't sure if he could say much else as the brunet dropped to one knee.
"Carlos, we've been together for a long time and I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you—if you'll let me." He took the tan boy's free hand in his. "Carlos Roberto Pena…will you marry me?"
The Latino's eyes were misty with tears as he nodded, not able to speak through the hard lump of emotion in his throat. James grinned, standing to his feet, and slipping the ring onto his boyfriend—fiance's—finger.
"I love you, James." Carlos finally choked out.
"I love you, too."