I own nothing!
The encounter at the bar had been very nice, because besides from the fact that he got to see James outside of school, hanging with his friends, and James laughing was the best thing he'd ever seen, he felt like he had given the first step of letting James know he was interested in him not just as a person who enjoys good books. His hook with the scotch and soda had been a good book, yes, but you have to be really naïve to not know someone likes you if they send you a drink, right? And he knew James was smart; also, he had seemed to appreciate it. He knew he had made a commitment on asking him out if he got the reference on the drink, so he had to do that on Monday. And it was Sunday night. Damn it.
Next morning he took a shower and got dressed quickly 'cause he had decided what to wear last night, something that said "please date me"; he was wearing a tight pair of dark jeans, because he didn't really own any other type of jeans, and a dark grey button shirt with a black blazer on top and a light grey scarf, since it was starting to get chilly in the mornings. He looked at himself in the mirror self-consciously, wondering how on earth was he going to ask James out. He couldn't do it by text message, obviously, 'cause that was lame; it was going to have to be at the end of the class, assuming James would stay a little longer as it was becoming a custom.
He shrugged it off thinking he'd have to trust himself and left the room, took his bag and left to school. He was as nervous as he had been the first time he had asked a boy out, back in high school; he remembered that with a smile now and thought how it hadn't been a big deal after all, how it had never really been a big deal, and the way he always ended up enjoying the thrill of it, and of the first dates; thinking of this it helped him feel more confident and excited instead of nervous.
When he got to his classroom, a few minutes before the class started, a couple of his students were already there, the ones that always got there early. He said good morning to them and so did they, with a smile, as he got to his desk and saw something different: there was a thermos in it with a little note and a tiny paper bag. He looked up at his students and they weren't paying attention to him or the thermos, they really probably hadn't noticed, so he opened the thermos with a small frown and smelled coffee. He was starting to suspect something, but no… - it couldn't be! - He opened the bag quickly and yes, he had suspected correctly, there were 4 aspirin. He smiled and closed his eyes. It had been James, and he didn't even need to read the note to know what it would say, but he did, anyway. There was a neatly hand-written message:
"I'm sick for real. Rosario is making me stay in bed. Before she left for work she went out to borrow a thermos from a neighbor and she left me half a litre of coffee. Also four aspirin. I have a fever. I've started and finished two poems." – Roberto Bolaño
P.S: Now you get the extra points, 'cause I know you figured the reference out before you opened this note. And I owe you the two poems!
This was it, it was decided. James was the most amazing person, ever. He couldn't wait to see him and thank him, and ask him out and kiss him and make love to him and write him poems of eternal love if James wanted him to. The bell rang and he put the note inside his binder, waiting for the rest of the class to come in. He looked expectantly at the door, and when James came in, he smiled at him fondly and raised the thermos a bit; James smiled too and made a little head bow, and Michael wanted to grab him and kiss him right there. This man was going to be the end of him. He drank some of the coffee and tried his hardest to give his class normally, as if he wasn't falling head over heels over one of the students sitting right there in the second row.
When the bell rang, he dismissed the class and James stayed, as expected. When everyone was gone, Michael said, "I can't express to you how cool this is, it made my day completely… thank you, James". James got closer to the desk, putting his backpack on and smiling, and said, "well, I told you I owed you a drink. I hope you don't need the aspirin, though, they were just so the quote made sense". Michael looked at him with what he expected weren't hearts in his eyes and answered, "I'm glad you didn't bring me scotch and soda, then. Nice reference, by the way. I'll be expecting those poems…" James laughed, ducking his head down and then up, raising an eyebrow at him, "when have I failed you, Mr. Michael?", and the way he said "Mr. Michael" sent a shiver down Michael's spine. James was being deliberately sexy, the little tease. Michael smirked.
"What are you doing on Friday, James?" he asked a bit lowly, and briefly looking at James' lips. He could play this game too. James eyebrows rose a little and he shifted his position, "I, uhm, nothing… I mean I don't have plans yet… why?" he said. Michael looked at him for a moment before saying, "have dinner with me", just like that. James stared at Michael for a couple of seconds, paralyzed, and opened and closed his mouth a bit, blinked and said "Y-yes, of course. I'd love to" widening his eyes a little more and then smiling sweetly.
"James, do you know what you're going to wear already?" asked Zoe, very concerned for some reason, as she sat in the couch of his flat, next to Evan. "No, I don't. It's 7:00 and he's going to pick me up at 8:00, I still have time", he said as he wandered from his room to the kitchen and then to the living room in his bathrobe. "That's not too much time! And don't act like you're not thinking about it, you're biting your nails. Stop biting your nails, James" said Jen, who was sitting with Nick on the small couch. "Of course I'm thinking about it! I just don't know what to wear. What do I wear?" said James, almost whining, placing his forearms at the top of the couch and sending his upper body to the front, between Zoe's and Evan's heads.
"You know that blue and grey plaid shirt? That might be good", said Evan, thoughtfully. "That shirt is yours, not mine" replied James, staring unfocused at the wall in front of him. "Oh. Well, it's the same, it might look good", the others chuckled, and James went to look for it in Evan's room. Once he had it, he returned to his spot on the couch and put in on top of Zoe's legs, "what do you think?" he asked. "It's cute but we have to see it on to make a decision. If it's a little loose on you because it's Evan's shirt, you can wear very tight jeans and it will look nice. Do you have very tight jeans? You can borrow them from Nick", said Jen, and Nick nodded, "they're not tight on me but they probably will be on you", he said. "Thanks, but I think I'll wear my own jeans, yours will be a thousand feet longer than my legs. Also, stop making me wear other people's clothes!" said James, entering his room and listening to their laughter.
He tried his tightest jeans on –why am I even listening to these people? - he thought, and Evan's shirt, which was in fact a little loose on him. He looked in the mirror and actually liked how he looked, so he went out to the living room. "So?" he said, standing outside his room with his arms open and waiting for them to look at him. "You look great!" said Evan, happily, "yeah but great is not enough!" said Zoe, and Jen agreed, saying, "we need you to look sexier, you know? Mesmerizing!" and they laughed, James returning to his room with a roll of his eyes. "Fine!" he yelled half-heartedly from his room as he took the shirt off.
After what felt like thirty-four changes of shirts and jeans and shoes, he finally ended up wearing the first pair of jeans he had tried on but with a plain white v-neck shirt and a brown leather jacket that he loved, it was his magic piece of clothing; he always felt great when he wore it, he wondered why he didn't think about wearing it since the beginning of this whole thing. He looked at the clock and it was 10 minutes before 8:00, his heart made a little jump.
When he was tying his converse shoes, he heard a soft knock on his door. "Come in" he said. Evan came into his room and looked at him, putting his hands in his pockets. James looked back at him and smiled, "what is it?" he asked; "nothing, I just wanted to say something", said Evan, looking a bit serious. James frowned and said, "Ok, tell me". Evan got closer and sat on James' bed, next to him, "I just… I want to let you know that you're the best person I know, and I really want you to be happy" he said, looking at his hands, "you deserve the best, you know?" he looked up at James' eyes. "Evan…" started James, but was interrupted, "no, don't get it wrong. I'm fine, I'm great, actually. It's just a funny feeling, knowing you'll go with someone on a date, and looking the way you do, 'cause you look so nice, it makes me realize how lucky I am that you ever let me kiss or touch you… thank you, James" he said with a sided smile and looking at him. James felt like crying and he didn't know why. "That's… you don't have to thank me, I wanted it too, at the moment, and you know it was never a big deal. I know you want the best for me, I want the best for you too… we just want different things, is all. I love you, you weirdo", said James punching his arm lightly. Evan chuckled, "I know, I do too. Seriously though, if this guy fucks up I'm going to haunt him down and kick him right on the butt" he said. James laughed, forgetting that he had felt like crying just a minute ago, "and you will have my permission. Relax though, it's just our first date, it might be me the one who fucks up". "Well you better don't, James, cause he's hot", said Evan, getting up from the bed and offering a hand at James to help him get up too. James wondered how did they do this so easily, talking about something serious and then just changing their mood like nothing had happened. It was genuine, though, he knew this, so it didn't bother or worry him, it just amused him.
He felt his cellphone vibrate, but this time it was Michael calling him, and he realized it was the first time they'd be talking on the phone, as he answered his call, but having a big calming breath first.
"Hi, Michael", he said, leaving his bedroom and walking towards the small living room.
"Hello, James, how are you?" said Michael.
"I'm very good, thanks, and you?"
"I'm great, thank you. So, are you ready?"
"Ready for what?" said James, very serious.
He heard Michael hesitate a second, as if he was trying to decide if it was a joke or James had actually forgotten their date.
"I'm, uh, outside your building"
"Why are you outside my building? I was getting ready to sleep, actually, just putting my pajamas on", he said as he walked out on the balcony holding his phone and smiling goofily, and he immediately saw Michael standing on the sidewalk. They lived in the second floor so it was fairly near, and Michael lifted up his head and saw James with a frown, clearly relaxing when he saw him smiling at him and very ready to go out.
Michael hung up the phone and smiled at James, rolling his eyes a bit. "You freaked me out", he said, loudly so James would hear him. James rested his arms on the balcony fence and smiled back, "I know. You're more gullible than I thought. I'll be right there, give me a second!" he said. Michael laughed and nodded, "of course", he said.
"Smooth!" said Jen from her spot on the couch. "James, I was a little worried but I think you've got this under control", said Zoe with a mischievous smile. "Be sexy!" she added, bossily. "Yeah, I'll try", said James. "We'll see you later, then, and don't worry about us, stay as long as you want", said Nick, "okay, mom" answered James with a smile, letting him know he was kidding. "Well, James-y, if he doesn't put out you know where my room is", said Evan with a wink and obviously joking, and received a flying cushion to his face from Jen. James laughed and rolled his eyes, "bye, guys, wish me luck!" he said. They all did and waved at him. "Send us messages to know how it's going!" he heard Jen say as he was closing the door.
James got to the door of his building and saw Michael leaning on a car, which James assumed was his, looking down the street, with his hands in his pockets. He looked so handsome. When he saw James, he straightened and walked to him to say hello. "Hey!" he said, hugging James casually, with a big smile. "Hi, Michael" said James, smiling and hugging back. "Ready to leave?" asked Michael, holding James' forearm, "yes" he said, with a nod of his head and his smile bigger. Michael opened the door of his modest car for James to get in and then he went to the driver's seat. James smiled at the gentlemanly gesture.
"So, where are we going?" asked James with a curious look and not believing he was actually going on a date with this amazing, gorgeous man. "Wherever you want to go", said Michael with a bright smile on his lips.