Authors Note: Sorry, the cliffhanger was mean.
(Not sorry, I secretly love to torment you muahahah)
Anyway, shit is really about to go down uwawhsdjkf
Hope you enjoy!
(Reviews are liquorice)
Chapter Eleven
'The days are gone and the game was fun And it made us feel alike' (Alike, Efterklang)
The path was wrong, but it gave us hope
The more we found, the more we grew
Upon the truth, upon the truth
Lukas wasn't sure exactly what he'd been expecting, but it certainly wasn't this. The cinema was small and cosy, and the entrance fairly insignificant, but there was one thing. An enormous cardboard stand propped up right in his path. He couldn't miss it.
'Troll Hunter' it read.
Words failed to formulate as Lukas gaped at Mathias.
'I- huh- uh- how?' He finally managed to stutter. He was going to have to watch out, he was losing his cool.
Mathias, oddly enough, said nothing as he took Lukas' hand and led him to the doors in to the screen where their tickets were taken. Lukas could hardly believe it. Mathias had taken him to see his favourite movie. A movie that was so small, so unknown. A movie that came out several years ago. They were in the cinema watching Troll Hunter for god's sake. Mathias was grinning that stupid, insatiable, heart-melting grin and looking expectantly at Lukas as they sank into the comfortable theatre seats.
'So...?' He started, trailing off, waiting for a reaction from Lukas.
'You... Did you do this? I mean, for me?'
'Do you see anyone else in the cinema?' said Mathias with a smirk.
Lukas glanced around. He hadn't noticed before, but sure enough, there was no one there but them. Wordlessly he turned back to Mathias and just stared. He couldn't come up with anything even remotely calm and collected to say. Luckily he didn't seem to have to.
'It appears you can rent cinemas now. At least, you can rent this one. And what better way to start the evening than with your favourite movie ever?'
'..Start the evening?'
Lukas mused over the words. There was more? What else was going to happen? Mathias was still smiling at him, and he was almost smiling himself. He hoped Matthias couldn't tell. He also hoped that he couldn't see the blush on his face as the lights dimmed and the movie started.
If Lukas enjoyed the film normally, it was nothing compared to this. Everything was perfect. The sound roared as if the trolls were actually in the room with them, and the screen was so big they could have been living it themselves. And there was Mathias, pressed up against him on his right. He wondered why the boy was sitting so close, considering the seats were far more spacious than any ordinary cinema. Not that he was complaining. Or was he? Yes he was. Or maybe he wasn't. How exactly did he feel about Mathias? He still hadn't figured out that cluster of feelings that kept pouncing on his mind at the most inconvenient times. He tried to push those thoughts from his mind and just enjoy the movie, but his attempts proved completely futile when a strong arm settled down gently around Lukas' shoulders. Lukas sat in shock, turning to glare at the obvious culprit. Mathias was staring at the screen, acting as if he hadn't just put his arm around the boy next to him. Well, two could play at that game, thought Lukas, turning his attention back to the movie in front of him. Of course, he found it rather difficult to concentrate on the rest of the movie. His thoughts kept flickering back to the teenager who was currently casually putting his arm around him. Come to think of it, his face was right there next to him now. All he'd have to do was turn his head to meet his lips-
What.
No.
Damn this boy. Why did he feel like this about him? Irritating, stupid, loud, obnoxious Mathias? He practically stood for everything that annoyed him in this world. How had this managed to happen? He tried to push the thoughts aside, but a nagging feeling just wouldn't leave his mind. Had he fallen for Mathias?
Fuck.
When the movie finally drew to a close, Mathias couldn't have been happier. The night was going perfectly. He hadn't even suffered any serious injury after bravely putting his arm around the Norwegian teenager. He hadn't been expecting that. He had actually endangered the whole thing there. It hadn't been part of the plan to do that. Lukas might have stormed out and never spoken to him again. Mathias had half been expecting that really. He certainly hadn't thought he'd just sit there and take it like nothing was happening.
When they exited the cinema, the bus was waiting for them again. Mathias wheeled a rather happy looking Lukas into the vehicle as the driver nodded to them and started it up. Lukas wasn't smiling, but he was just about as close as he ever got to doing so. Mathias had only seen him smile once or twice, so he wasn't exactly surprised to see Lukas attempting to keep his face at the usual stone expression. He probably thought it was working too. Well Mathias could see straight through it. It made him chuckle, and Lukas gave him an annoyed glare. Well that only made Mathias laugh harder. Much to his surprise, the icy boy was soon giggling along with him. The ride back into town wasn't long, and the two teens were in good spirits when Mathias finally rolled Lukas off the bus with a wave to the friendly driver. Lukas sat quietly and let Mathias wheel him along the uneven road. The town centre was dark and empty. Flickering streetlights led the way through the network of streets, until they stopped suddenly outside a ski shop. It looked very closed, and Lukas looked up at Mathias sceptically.
'I think they're closed.' He said dryly, and Mathias laughed.
'Ahaa, well I think you'll find the place we're looking for is very much open!' As he said it, he flung open a very well hidden door in the wall beside the ski shop. Lukas hadn't spotted it before, and even now it looked fairly insignificant. He waited patiently though, and let Mathias lead him inside. A staircase led downwards, and Lukas could hear a faint chatter and clinking of plates. He gave Mathias an angry glare.
'I think you'll find I'm in a wheelchair. Stairs. Wheelchair. Not a great combination.' His voice was thick with disappointment. He was mostly angry at himself. Angry that he was in this damn wheelchair. Angry that he couldn't manage the simplest of tasks. Mathias seemed undeterred by the fuming Norwegian. He simply picked the chair up and carried it easily down the stairs. Lukas was surprised at his strength, but even more surprised at the room he now found himself in. He had lived in this town for almost his whole life, but he had never known that right below that ski shop was a cosy, thriving restaurant. The room was bathed in the soft glow of a roaring fireplace in the corner, and dim lighting on the walls made the room feel warm and inviting. Dark hardwood and rich, dark red leathers dominated the room, and the classic elk antlers hung from the wall above the counter. As they stepped further in, a woman in a crisp white shirt and a flowing, brown skirt greeted them. She seemed to fit in perfectly with the surroundings, and there was no doubt that she was a waitress.
'We have a reservation for Køhler.' Said Mathias, and the woman smiled before checking the leather bound book that was perched on her arm and leading them to a comfortable booth in the corner, right next to the fireplace. She introduced herself as Elizabeta before handing them menus and disappearing. Lukas was surprised at how busy the place was. How had these people even found the place? The menu indicated that it was the perfect après-ski place. That was probably why all these people were here. Now that he thought about it, he could definitely smell the fondue at the booth next to them. Mathias was eagerly studying his menu, and Lukas watched him as he did so. He didn't mean to, it was just hard not to stare when he was wearing such a fitted shirt and looked so... attractive. Damn. He had to stop thinking like that. Eventually Mathias glanced up and noticed Lukas staring. Lukas immediately looked away, blushing, but Mathias had already spotted him and was beaming.
'So, what do you want? He enquired.
Mathias leant across the table so they were both viewing the same menu and Lukas started pointing out what he was thinking about ordering. As he talked, he gradually came to notice that Mathias was not listening at all. The other teenager's face was only inches from his own, and he was smiling contently as he looked at Lukas, not the menu. Their eyes met now, and Lukas' brain froze. They were so close. If Mathias just leaned forward a little bit more-
Lukas pulled back suddenly, huddling back into his chair and holding his menu tight. Mathias only raised an eyebrow and then sank back into his own chair. He called Elizabeta over, and she took their orders happily. It took a while for the food to finally arrive, but Mathias managed to get a conversation going that actually lasted until Elizabeta came out with two plates of steaming, delicious plates of food. Mathias stared at Lukas' dish.
'...Elk.. stew?' He said, pulling a face.
'A Norwegian speciality. Far more interesting than what you're having at least.'
'Aw come on, nothing can beat a good fiske fillet with remoulade.'
'I beg to differ.'
The dinner conversation continued in a lively and fun way, and when they exited the hidden restaurant that evening, Mathias was smiling and Lukas was too, in that subtle way that only Mathias could see. The air was cool and refreshing, and as Mathias walked and Lukas was pushed in his wheelchair back towards the apartment block, Mathias was chattering away, Lukas not really listening but simply enjoying the sound of the other's voice. Their breath clouded in the air like cigarette smoke, and when they finally arrived inside the building they both had rosy cheeks.
Lukas' apartment door drew nearer and nearer, and both dreaded it. It meant the end of this wonderful evening. Eventually they stopped outside the numbered door in the hallway, and Lukas sighed. He fumbled in his pocket for the key, and when he found it looked up to Mathias to thank him for the evening. His words were abruptly cut off when suddenly Mathias leant down and pressed their lips together. The kiss was unexpected and gentle, and Lukas was frozen in shock for a moment as the soft lips brushed against his own. He felt himself kissing back, slowly, softly. The bliss of it overwhelmed him, put his brain on hold. Suddenly, he realised what was happening and tore himself away. Mathias looked dazed and disappointed, and Lukas was breathless. He shoved Mathias away from him and unlocked the door as the shocked teenager fell against the opposite wall. Mathias hadn't been anticipating the physical violence this time, and the shove had sent him toppling. Once he had hoisted himself up, Lukas had disappeared away into the apartment and slammed the door behind him. Mathias slumped back down against the wall with a sigh.
He wasn't sure how long he sat there, in the hallway, alone. He was aware of wetness in his eyes. And his face. And his shirt. Eventually he found the strength to stand up and wobble weakly back to his flat before flopping down limply on his bed. Before he had really been too much in shock to even think much about the situation, but now the tears came, ugly and streaming down his face. He buried his face in his pillow and cried till the tears wouldn't come any longer. How stupid he had been. He had thought Lukas liked him back but of course he didn't. Who did he think he was, going for someone like Lukas anyway? He had been an idiot and he had been rejected. He had deserved to be rejected. What had he been thinking? Thoughts raced through Mathias mind, only sending him spiralling deeper into a pit of insecurity. He tried to muffle his sobbing in the pillow, but someone must have heard anyway. The door was opened a crack and Mathias briefly noticed Signe's eye peering in. Seeing Mathias lying there, she immediately flung the door open and moved to kneel beside him. He supposed she wasn't an awful woman really. Mathias just wished she was.
'Mathias... Mathias honey, what's wrong?' She whispered as she gently put her hand on his shoulder.
That just awoke a new fit of sobbing and she had to wait a few minutes before Mathias was fit to speak again. He glared at her, but supposed right now he was miserable enough to talk to just about anyone.
'Is it your girlfriend? Did she break up with you?'
Mathias rubbed his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket as he sat up slowly. He was just sniffling now, but his eyes and nose were red and he looked pitiful.
'I got rejected.' He finally mumbled.
'Oh, sweetheart. What silly girl doesn't want to go out with you? Don't worry, I'm sure you can win her over.'
'It's not a girl.' Mathias said slowly.
Signe cocked her head and looked at him, confused.
He sighed. She hadn't caught onto the hint.
'Signe... I'm gay.'
He words felt strange on his tongue. Spoken aloud it sounded like such a big deal. In his mind it was just normal, but only when he looked at Signe did he realise the gravity of the words he had just spoken. She recoiled and gasped, the most horrified expression on her face. An expression that crushed everything that had been keeping Mathias together. She flew from the room in a fury, half babbling, half shouting things that Mathias couldn't comprehend. However, one thing was made very clear to him.
'GET OUT. GET OUT OF MY HOUSE.' She screeched as she held the door wide open. Mathias stumbled out into the hallway, completely in shock as he was shooed away. He ended up in the lobby, tired, broken and completely drained. He slumped into the sofa down there and thought about what had happened. He wondered about what his dad thought. He had at least hoped his dad would understand, but where was he now?
Sometime in the early hours of the morning Mathias drifted off. It wasn't until people starting heading out to the mountains from their apartments that he was roused. When he finally did wake, he found an angry looking person standing over him and tutting. He wasn't sure what they were saying, as they spoke an odd dialect of Norwegian, but their intention was clear. Obviously it was not acceptable to sleep on the lobby sofa. Mathias got up and apologized continuously until he was eventually shooed out of the entire building. He found himself sitting against the wall of the opposite building, still utterly shattered and too miserable to do anything with himself. Eventually he fell into a light and nauseous sleep against the cold brick wall.
Authors Note: asnkdjf I hate being so mean to Mathias. Let's hope things shape up for the poor guy.