Chapter 10
Roman rolled over on his stomach to stretch out on the couch. His hand lazily stroking Colby on the ground next to the chair. He hadn't seen Dean since they had fucked on Saturday afternoon. It was Tuesday night now and he just hoped that every thing was okay. Sometimes he wished that Tyler hadn't told him what he saw, so he that he wouldn't be here involuntarily worrying about Dean and his safety.
As fate would have it, he perked up instantly at the ominous knock at the door. He didn't know how he made it to the door so quickly but he couldn't wipe the smile off his face when he opened it and saw Dean standing her looking as nonchalant as ever.
" Hi," Dean greeted him. He looked pretty cool standing there with his auburn curls just a bit shorter than they were before, his face clean shaven. He must have gotten a fresh cut and shave that day. A grey leather jacket over a white t-shirt, faded blue jeans and black steel tipped boots. Actually, thinking about it, this was probably the most dressed up that Roman had ever seen him. " I want a hot dog."
" Um, what?" That was not what he was expecting Dean to say.
" I want a hot dog," Dean repeated with a grin on his face.
" So you just expect me to hand you one out of thin air?" Roman crossed his arms and cocked an eyebrow.
"No," Dean smiled broadly. " I want a hot dog from Coney Island." Dean shifted on his feet. " So go and change."
" Uh, excuse you? Do you know what time it is? That's a forty minute drive." Roman shook his head. " Wait a minute, do you even have a car?"
" Nope." Dean replied cheekily. " But you do." He started to walk off. " I expect you to be by the car in ten minutes."
Roman stared after the disappearing Dean in a state between flabbergasted and amused. He closed the door and went to change his clothes. At least he had showered earlier. As he slipped his wallet into his pocket he remembered what Dean had said. He'll meet him by the car. Not Roman's car but the car as if he part owned it or something.
As he walked past the couch, Colby narrowed his eyes at him as if in disgust.
" Behave yourself alright? None of that crying to annoy the neighbours."
Colby narrowed his eyes even further and then turned his attention back to the television as if he was insulted.
When Roman walked past the side table to the door he realized that Dean hadn't returned the spare key. He really thought that he owned the place.
When Roman made it downstairs to his car, Dean was casually leaning up against it examining his nails. He half expected him to be inside the car already even though he didn't have the keys. Roman looked around as he pressed the button to unlock the doors of the SUV. It was a nice night. The sky was clear and he could see a few stars peeking through.
Dean slid into the passenger seat with ease as Roman got in the driver's side. As soon as Roman turned the engine on, Dean was twiddling with the radio station controls. Of course he would. Like if he would abide by the unspoken courtesy of the driver getting to pick the station. Fortunately Dean ended up choosing a soft rock and pop station and Roman didn't mind too much.
As they drove down Belt Parkway, the traffic light at this time in the evening, Dean was bobbing his head along with the music as he looked out the window. He also smelled nice. He wondered if it was the cologne that he had gotten when they were at the mall.
" So why a hot dog from Coney Island?" Roman finally asked.
" I just felt like it." Dean continue to peer out at the buildings that passed by them.
" Are you wearing that new cologne from the mall?"
" Yup."
Well he wasn't in a talkative mood but he wasn't in an unpleasant mood either. He was drumming his fingertips on top of his thighs and occassionally singing along to a song. He was excited. It finally clicked to Roman. Dean was excited to be going to Coney Island.
" So what do you plan on doing when we get there? Besides getting a hot dog I mean." Roman glanced at his GPS and saw that they were only ten minutes away now.
" I want to ride the Cyclone." That was his immediate reply.
Of course Dean would want to ride the most popular rollercoaster there was this side of the country.
" I think it would be close at this time," Roman said flicking his eyes at the clock.
" No way. It has to be still open."
" Dean, it's almost nine. I doubt it."
He looked over at Dean who was now pouting, slouching down in his seat and looking out the window.
He must have been really looking forward to it. " Maybe next time we can come earlier." Roman offered.
Dean just looked at him with mild curiosity but Roman had to keep his eyes on the road but wondered what was going through Dean's mind.
As Roman had correctly predicted the Cyclone was closed but not just for the night, but the rest of the year. Dean looked so upset that he almost looked like a little kid again. Roman felt bad for the guy and placed an arm around his shoulder and led him to the only hot dog stand that seemed to be open. Dean perked right back up when he had some curly cheese fries placed on his hot dog along with bits of onion rings. Roman watched in amazement at how wide Dean's mouth opened to get a bite of everything piled on to the hot dog.
" What?" Dean smacked his lips together. Some cheese smearing at the corner of his mouth.
" Dude, your mouth is huge."
" If it can fit your dick, I don't know why you're surprised that it can fit a hot dog."
Roman blushed furiously and looked around anxiously to see if any one had overheard them as they walked down the boardwalk. But not a lot of persons were around at this time plus it was also a week night.
" You know this isn't a bad spot you picked for a date." Roman commented as he finished off his own hot dog.
" This isn't a date." Dean balled up his wrapper and threw it at the can as if he was playing basketball. He did a fist pump when it went in.
" Is too."
" Is not."
" Is too."
" Is not."
" This is so a date. You turn up at my door, dressed all nice and indirectly ask me to take you to Coney Island to get a hot dog. Plus you smell good."
Roman noticed Dean fighting the dimples in his cheeks from appearing by trying to hold back a smile but he wasn't very successful.
" I just wanted a hot dog," he maintained as he sat on a bench that faced the dark ocean.
Roman sat next to him. " Yeah right. You just wanted to hang out with me because I'm awesome."
Dean raised an eyebrow.
" And because you're afraid of Colby." Roman added on.
Dean scowled. " I'm not afraid of your damn cat. He's out to get me."
" So how come you haven't been over since that time, he did what he did?"
" I've been busy."
Roman started to laugh. Dean pretending to be indifferent was endearing. " Come're." He lightly tugged on Dean's jacket and pulled him close, smirking before he kissed him. Dean of course, kissed him back automatically. His lips felt soft and warm and Roman took his time kissing him slowly.
He pecked Dean's lips. " This is totally a date." He teased.
However Dean didn't return his smile. " Rome c'mon, you know what the deal is."
" Yeah I know," he pressed his lips against Dean's. " But I think that you like me too even if you don't want to admit it."
Dean's eyes darted away from Roman. He could sense Dean becoming tense. " Hey, it's cool. We could just like each other. It doesn't have to be anything more than that."
He slipped his hand underneath Dean's shirt. His hand resting on the side of Dean's waist. His skin warm and smooth to touch. He kissed his cheek. " Don't shut me out Dean. Talk to me."
" There's nothing to say," Dean mumbled out. " We just have a thing okay?"
" I know that it's just a thing. You remind me of it every chance you get." Roman sighed and pushed his hand a little further up Dean's shirt. " Okay so we have this thing and it's fine but I feel like you use it as an excuse not to get close to someone."
Dean eyed him suspiciously. " What are you? A goddamn shrink now?"
Roman didn't take the bait. He kissed the corner of Dean's mouth instead, taking away that last bit of cheese. " We don't have to be like boyfriends or anything but I want to know the real you. We can be friends. What's wrong with that?"
Dean shook his head and tried to move away but Roman wouldn't let him out of his embrace. " Rome come on, this is pointless. In a few months I'll be gone anyway. It doesn't matter."
" It matters to me," Roman responded quietly.
A sharp sea salt scented wind swirled around them as the silence laid between them.
" I don't do relationships, Rome." Dean finally said.
" How come?" The wind had messed up Dean's hair and Roman combed through it with his fingers.
" Because," Dean shifted a bit to rest his head on Roman's shoulder. " They're pointless." He slipped his hand underneath Roman's coat. " You're just gonna get on each other's nerves and end up hating each other anyway."
" They're not all like that." Roman countered.
" Well don't you hate your ex for what he did to his cat?"
Roman stopped stroking Dean's hair. " That's different."
" How's it different? The end result is still the same. You hate him."
The way how Dean's voice dropped, Roman sensed that there was more to it.
" Are you scared that I might end up hating you?" He ventured.
Dean didn't answer at first. His hand lightly resting on Roman's waist. " Most people do eventually."
That was it. The break through. Dean has let his guard down just a bit. Roman pressed his lips to Dean's forehead. " I wouldn't end up hating you."
" You will," he sounded certain of that. " Trust me, if you got involved with me you will regret it."
Roman used his index finger to tilt Dean's chin up towards him. He felt something pull inside of him when he saw the complacent sadness in Dean's eyes. Something or someone had hurt him a long time ago. He was certain of it and it had caused Dean to shut down like this. He kissed him softly but deliberately. Dean's lips supple and molding against his perfect. His arms tightening around Dean's body. Dean's fingers he could feel pressing through the material of his shirt to dig into his back. Chest to chest. Lips locked. Tongues intertwined and savouring. Neither could get enough of the taste of the other.
It was Dean who broke the kiss, both of them panting heavily. " Don't do shit like that." He pulled away a bit from Roman's embrace.
" Shit like what?" His lips were still tingling from the intensity of the kiss.
" Don't make me open up to you and then kiss me like that." Dean shook his head, easing around on the bench. " It just complicates things. I don't do complicated things Rome." His eyes locked onto his warning him.
And Roman understood everything that Dean was saying. He understood that Dean was trying not to have feelings for him just like how he was half way trying to not have feelings for Dean. But at that moment, Dean's lips were slightly parted and he could see that dimple that first drew him to Dean. His blue eyes were dark and brooding. His lips kiss swollen... so despite knowing better, Roman kissed him again.
To his surprise, Dean grabbed the lapels of his jacket keeping him close. This kiss was needier, hungrier. Dean's lips were bruising his as he kissed him hard and his tongue licked his own. Roman's hands were tight on Dean's hips, holding him steady. He could feel adrenaline pumping through him, feeding this kiss. The chemistry between them, electrifying. Dean had warned him, but he knew now that he wouldn't be heeding it.
" Fuck!" Dean pulled away and stood up with his back to Roman. " I told you not to do that."
Roman stood up and tried to embrace Dean from behind but he pulled away.
" No Rome. Stop it. Just stop pushing okay?" Dean was agitated and he growled and pushed his hair off his face.
Roman put his hands up. " I'm not doing anything."
Dean turned around. " Yes you are. I told you, I don't want a relationship. I don't do relationships. So just stop trying to make me feel things." Dean's right foot was tapping anxiously against the ground. " I don't want a relationship and I don't want one with you. So please just stop it."
Dean's words just knocked the breath out of him. He didn't want him. Even if Dean did like him he was never going to give into it. He got it now. " I'm sorry." The words just hung between them. Dean's arms were crossed over his chest as he stared out onto the black sea. " I didn't mean to push. I... I just wanted to kiss you. That's all."
He heard Dean sigh but he didn't turn around. " I think you should go."
" What?" He took a step towards him. " Why?"
" Just go Roman. Just leave."
" Dean I'm not leaving you here alone at this time of night."
" Roman I've been taking care of myself quite well before you came along and I will after you're gone." Dean's tone curt and short.
Roman took another step so that he was side by side with Dean. " I'm not leaving you." He repeated softly but with conviction.
" Ro, just go." A quiet command.
" Why? What are you gonna do here?"
" Find a girl probably. Fuck her and then go to a strip club or something."
Roman swallowed hard. Just thinking about Dean with someone else upset him. Maybe Dean was right. Maybe he was getting in over his head.
He reached around behind Dean, his hands running over the back pockets. Dean was about to protest but he pulled out his cellphone.
" What are you doing?" Dean asked as Roman punched something into it.
" Giving you my number." When he was finished he handed it back to Dean. " When ever you're ready to come home, just call me. I'll come for you. No matter the time."
Dean looked at him in disbelief as he slipped the phone back into his pocket. He then resumed staring at the ocean.
Roman watched him for a bit and then kissed his cheek. " I wish you would come home with me."
No response. Roman watched him for a bit before he turned and took the long, heavy walk alone back to his car. He sat in the car for an hour hoping that Dean would come to his senses and call him. They didn't even have to continue their thing. He just wanted Dean to be safe. But when the hour was gone and Dean didn't call, Roman drove alone back to Queens.
A/N: It has come to my attention that I need to remind people of what a review is. A review is suppose to be about the story or chapter that was posted. What you liked, what do you think about the characters etc. It is not the place to write about random things that have nothing to do with the story or to leave hateful comments. For the second time, I had to delete a guest review that said " kill Colby" That was it. Nothing more. For starters, that is not a review and two its highly disturbing and whoever you are, you need to stop. I have no problem with reviews that simply say "good chapter" or " great job" it let's me know that you have least read it. But to disregard a whole chapter just to say something that has nothing to do with the story is really insulting to the author and the hard work that they put into the story.