Part 7 (30-09-08) Roxy has just gotten married and is off on her honeymoon leaving Christian alone, he ends up befriending Ronnie and going with her to her school reunion. At the beginning he is in the café moaning to Jane about Roxy leaving him all alone.
"I'll lend you Tanya, she's a laugh." Jane suggested watching Christian pipe filler into the oeuvres.
"It doesn't have to be a woman." He said throwing her back a look.
"Yes it does." She replied smirking. "You can't do platonic with men!"
"That is ridiculous! What about Sy?" To everyone's surprise Syed and Christian were now the best of friends. Despite there many differences they worked well together, Christian stopped Syed taking life so seriously and Syed kept Christian calm. Jane called them the odd couple much to Christian's annoyance. His only problem was that wherever they went Syed would start to flirt in that easy going manner that he did with any girls in the area. He didn't seem to have a problem with Christian's sexuality and actually asked about the men he saw him with. Roxy had noticed the two of them together and teased Christian mercilessly for falling for the man, something which he denied to her on every occasion.
"You and Syed!" She scoffed. "You two are about as platonic as Romeo and Juliet. I've seen the looks you give him Christian, one too many cosmos and you'll jump him."
"He wishes! You don't give me enough credit sis."
"Ok I bet you a glass of wine that you can't not flirt with the next guy who comes through the door."
"You're on." He agrees then inwardly crumbles as Syed comes through the door. He sighs at his sister. "The wines yours." He turns back to Syed and smiled predatorily. "What can I do you for handsome?"
"Cappuccino please." He lay down a duffle bag he had over his shoulder and started to scrabble for his money in his pocket.
"I thought it was Ramadan?"
"It's eid. Last day, just come back from morning prayers." Syed explained with an open look.
"There you go, hot, foamy and extra sweet, just how you like it." Christian smiled at his friend then gestured towards the bag at Syed's feet. "What's with the bag?" Their hands touched briefly as Syed handed over his money and Christian wondered if he could feel the electricity in their touch too.
"Oh I'm actually only waiting for a taxi. I'm off to Amsterdam for a week with work."
"Amsterdam! A week!" Christian cried aghast but Syed only laughed at him gently.
"That's pretty much the reaction mum had too. I only got offered it this morning, one of the guys got food poisoning. And it could land a very important client, besides I quite like the idea of being some jet setter." His face fell at the sullen look on Christian's face and he reached over with one soft hand and touched Christian's wrist. "Besides I'll be back before you know it."
"No. You'll be a whole week." Christian pouted and Syed looked at him patiently. "And Rox is on her honeymoon. I am completely abandoned by my nearest and dearest."
"Ah, sorry I can't play with you this week but…" Syed lingered on the word until Christian looked up at him. "I'll bring you back something good I promise."
"Gifts?" Christian raised one eyebrow intrigued and placated.
"Yeah gifts, am I back in the good books?" He threw Christian the eyes.
"You never left them." He grinned and Syed took a chair near the counter. Jane glared at her brother.
"Platonic eh?" She asked accusatorily.
"Completely." He replied flatly. After serving Patrick he took the opportunity to linger near Syed's table and the young man looked up at him expectantly. Christian threw on his best put upon look and slumped down in the chair opposite his friend.
"Wish I was going on a holiday." He moaned. Then he lifted his sleeve up enough to show his arm. "My tans fading away."
"It's not a holiday, Christian! It'll be business lunches and power point presentations not lounging on a sun kissed beach." Syed laughed. Christian couldn't help but form the mental picture of Syed laid out on some sandy beach his long thin toned limbs naked to the air, his face lit by the sun.
"Yeah well you don't need it with your sultry olive skin do ya?" He poked Syed in the arm.
"Tell ya what, I'll trade you my skin for your arms." Syed joked and Christian flexed his muscles in response.
"Nah wouldn't suit ya. You're perfect just the way you are." He was a little too honest and Syed met his eyes cautiously and said nothing. Christian sighed, he hated these moments when he flirted just too far. Syed was a straight guy after all and he had to respect that. But he meant it, Syed was perfect. "You should hear what some of the girls say about you." He added to distract. And Syed cocked his head in response like a little bird then grinned. Before things could get awkward again Syed's taxi rang him. He looked at Christian for a second then opened his arms for a cuddle which Christian was only too happy to provide.
Extra: A postcard from Amsterdam
Syed stared vacantly at the pictures on the wall more to fill his time than out of curiosity. He was waiting in the main room for Trevor and Jamie to be done. Mr Henderson, his boss, had elected Syed to be the drunk-sitter but so far he had little success in keeping the inebriated young men from doing just about anything they wanted in the city of sin. He wanted to get as far away from the red light district as he could and get back to the safely of his hotel room, the canals and architecture were all fine and good but this was too much for him.
"See anything you like?" A rough ambiguously European accented voice called from behind him and he spun around like a guilty child. The man was in his late twenties, topless, his chest a compact expanse of muscle and hard flesh, Syed's eyes slide across it before he could even stop them. His face was handsome with a slightly over prominent nose giving him the look of a fox. He had dark hair tied back in a short pony tail and glittering blue eyes, a slight brush of stubble over his jaw. His tight black leather trousers served only to bring into higher contrast the pale white of his naked torso, Syed struggled to find somewhere to look.
"No, no it's not really my thing." He stammered out to the floor. "I'm just waiting for my friends. They're in the back…"
"Really?" He walked towards Syed and he could smell the thick earthy smoke around him that seemed to have permeated the entire city, it made him feel light headed. "See I think this…" He stroked the back of one hand down Syed's neck leaving a tingle of sensations as it went mimicking the gesture on one of the pictures pinned to the wall. "…is exactly your thing. I can tell." He said knowingly. He stood so close that the top of his leather trouser nearly matched up with the end of Syed's leather jacket almost as if they were two halves split from each other.
"How?" Syed breathed the word out and the man chuckled.
"I just know. Why don't you come with me into the back?" He paused a moment to take in Syed. "Your skin is beautiful you know, like golden silk. Usually I charge quite a bit for what I'm offering, but I have never seen anything as perfect or exquisite as you, so I'm going to offer to do you free. It's a good offer, you should take it up." He whispered and Syed could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end and his chest felt tight.
"I shouldn't…my family wouldn't approve…." His excuses were stopped by the man taking his right hand in his and tugging him softly in the direction of the back room.
"No one needs to know." He promised.
"Does…does it hurt?" He asked ashamed of his own cowardice.
"Yes." He admitted and a small thrill went through Syed at the idea. "But it's worth it I promise." He stared into Syed's eyes for a long moment. "Come here." It was a simple command and this time Syed followed.