Laurie closed his book and set it on the table beside him, stretching as a yawn escaped his lips. He had been reading for what felt like hours and now it was time to get some sleep. He was just about to turn off the light when he heard a knock at his door.
He frowned and looked at his alarm clock. It was 2 o'clock in the morning, which meant even if Christopher had forgotten his key he certainly wouldn't be knocking this early. His curiosity was piqued when there was another knock followed by a slightly slurred voice calling his name. The voice was loud and he knew he needed to get up before the rest of the dorm was awakened.
"Coming," he said throwing back his blankets to slip out of bed. He shuffled over to the door and looked through the peep hole before opening the door. "RJ?" he said pulling the other man into the room. "What are you doing here?"
"Hi," Robbie said happily as he wrapped his arms around Laurie's neck. "I Missed you and just wanted to see you."
"I missed you too," Laurie laughed as he cupped his face to kiss him. "Mmm," he said pulling back to cup his boyfriend's face with his hand. "Have you been drinking?"
"Just a little bit," Robbie replied honestly. "I went to this party with Grant, because I needed to unwind a little bit. I was sooo stressed out, and the beer helped."
"Come on sit down with me," Laurie said pulling him over to the bed. "If you were feeling stressed you know you can talk to me right?" he asked as he massaged his shoulders.
"I know," Robbie said, his eyes already half closed as he gave into Laurie's ministrations. "That feels really good. Can you keep doing that?"
"Of course I can," Laurie said as he allowed his fingers to knead deeper. "Maybe you should just stay here with me tonight."
"You always know how to take care of me," Robbie muttered softly.
"That's because I love you, RJ."
"Love you too."
He stopped only when he felt Robbie's body go limp in his arms. With a sigh he laid him down on the bed and undressed him, before covering him with the blankets. He climbed into bed beside him, pushing his brown hair off his forehead before kissing him softly, and settling down to sleep himself.
"Yeah he's here," Laurie's voice sounded extra loud in his ears and he reached for the pillow to try to block out the sound. "He's still sleeping, but I will have him call when he gets up. Yes I know he has a lot to do this weekend." Laurie's voice grew fainter as he walked away from the bed. Robbie heard a door open and close, and while he was certain his boyfriend hadn't slammed the door his head seemed to think otherwise.
He turned over on the bed opening his eyes for the briefest of moments before closing them again. A groan escaped his lips as he shielded them from the bright light coming from the window. With a heavy sigh he sat up, realizing too late that he was moving too fast and he was certain the room was spinning.
"Hey, you're awake," Laurie's voice met his ears and he opened his eyes again to see that violet gaze smiling at him. Laurie was holding something in his hand as he drew closer and Robbie wrinkled his nose at the scent.
"What is that?" he asked as Laurie settled down on the bed beside him. "And don't speak so loud…my head is throbbing."
"I'm sorry," Laurie said his voice softer as he pressed the glass to Robbie's lips. "Drink this it will make you feel better."
Robbie shook his head, but then stopped when that only made the throbbing worse. "Are you trying to make me sick?" he asked, "that stuff wreaks.
"Would I do that to you?"
"You might to prove a point," Robbie groaned.
"Just drink it…trust me you'll feel better.." With great reluctance Robbie took a sip from the glass and swallowed. He continued to drink until the glass was empty and Laurie moved it away from his lips.
"That was gross," He said wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"How do you feel though?" Laurie asked, placing the glass on the table beside him.
"Better actually. Still can't stand the light though, but the headache's going away."
"Hold on a sec," Laurie stood and went rummaging through a drawer, returning moments later with sunglasses.
"Ah you're the best," Robbie said placing the glasses over his sensitive eyes.
"How much did you drink?" Laurie asked curiously taking his seat once more beside him.
"Just three beers," Robbie replied as he felt Laurie's arms wrap around him. "They felt good going down."
"I bet they did," Laurie smiled. His fingers instantly started coming through Robbie's hair as he held him close. "I don't have to tell you you overdid it."
"Don't remind me," Robbie sat up to look at his boyfriend. "And the worst thing is I still have all this stuff to do for school."
"Well I could help you if you would like. I'm not doing anything today."
"Really? You'd do that for me?"
"Of course," Laurie smiled. "I'm always here if you need me, RJ. No matter what might be going on or what I'm doing, you're top priority. Besides I think we need to spend some time together. I miss you."
"Me too," Robbie burrowed deeper into Laurie's embrace and shifted slightly to kiss his cheek. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Laurie replied kissing the top of his boyfriend's head before resting his chin in the soft brown hair. He held tightly to him, a worried frown marring his features.
January 26, 2015
It's midnight and I have to get to bed, but I just couldn't go to sleep without making a quick entry. Thanks to my wonderful boyfriend I managed to get a lot accomplished, and the only thing I have left to do is a paper that's due on Wednesday. I think I can manage that. I didn't tell Laurie this, but the truth is that I liked drinking the beer. I just have to remember not to drink so much next time. Especially since I've never had anything to drink before. I wonder if maybe that was the appeal though. You often want to experiment and I think that might be what happened.
Grant was right though, it did help me relax a little bit. I was so buzzed. I don't think I like the hangover that follows though. My head was pounding so bad. I think it might be awhile before I drink again, and next time I won't go overboard.
"OH that feels good. Keep doing that, yes, right there. Your hands are amazing."
Reid smirked as he watched the expression on Luke's face change. The tension slowly slipped away from his features leaving only the look of bliss that Reid had come to adore. "I hope you are enjoying this," he remarked as he continued his ministrations. You are the only one I would do this for."
"I sure hope so," Luke said raising his head from the pillow. "Less talking and more massaging please."
"Someone's a little bossy. Ouch," he laughed when Luke gently jabbed him in the stomach with his foot. "Do you have to kick so hard."
"Sorry," Luke said wiggling his toes at him. "My little piggies just want your attention."
"How are you feeling?" Reid asked as he started working on Luke's other foot. It was the end of yet another long week and after Luke insisted on putting Landon to bed and fixing dinner for them, they changed into scrubs and settled down on the couch. Luke stretched out on the cushions, his feet resting in Reid's lap per his request.
"Better," Luke smiled. "You really do have magic fingers."
"You would know."
"Shut up," Luke laughed kicking him again playfully before pulling his feet away so he could sit up. "You always take such good care of me, I feel like I should be rubbing your feet or something," he said wrapping his arms around Reid."
"You cooked dinner, and took care of Landon after a long day of classes. This is the least I can do."
"Oh I see, so you only play with my feet because I cook you food?" Luke teased.
"I do it because I love you," Reid replied simply. They shifted slightly, Reid's arms coming around Luke embracing him in a comforting cocoon. "I feel like we're in the honeymoon stage of our relationship."
Luke nodded his head in agreement as he played with Reid's fingers. "I'm sure we'll have disagreements, or Lan will frustrate us…heck Laurie may even make us mad at some point." Reid laughed at the thought and kissed Luke's cheek. "I think we can deal with it though. I feel like with you I can deal with just about anything."
"One of these days I'm sure I will annoy you enough to hear you snap," Reid kissed the top of Luke's head before the blond shifted lifting his dark brown eyes to meet his.
"Can we make a promise then?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"If we have an issue I want us to deal with it together, no matter how long it takes or what that may entail. I don't ever want us to sleep apart, so if when you're upset with me we'll deal with it then and there no matter how long it takes. Unless of course you have to go to work early in the morning."
"I don't like that," Reid shook his head. "If you're willing to deal with it no matter the circumstances then I should too. Us…and our family has to be the most important thing no matter what else is going on…deal?"
"Am I more important to you than being a doctor?" Luke asked completely in awe of his partner.
"Maybe not more important," Reid amended, but just as much so. You'll remember that won't you?"
"I will," Luke replied softly.
"So do we have a deal?"
Luke cupped Reid's chin with his hand and brought their lips together, sealing their promise with a sweet kiss.
February 11, 2015
My second experiment with alcohol worked much better than the first. I didn't drink as much as I did the first time. Just enough to give me a comfortable buzz. And the best part about it is that I was able to write a very difficult paper. I think it may have been some of the best I've ever written and my teacher agreed. He gave me an A and wrote very encouraging comments on the last page under the grade. It made me feel good.
I made some new friends recently too. It was nice to find out that there are others like me who feel the need to unwind with a drink just to get through the pressures of school. It's been kinda fun making new friends, though its strange too. I'm very used to being with people that Laurie knows and hangs out with. I guess that's because when I met Laurie I was the newcomer and he helped introduce me to a lot of the friends we have in common. Now here we are in college and we're bound to meet new people. I suppose it's part of growing up.
In any case I think it's kind of cool that Laurie and I have lives outside of each other. I think that will make our time together all the more special, because we have time to miss each other. It used to be that I didn't want to spend time away from him, but now I see that time apart is an inevitable part of life that we need to get used to. That's fine though, since it seems to work for Reid and Luke, and for Jimmy and Krystl too. If it can work for them then it can work for us.
We're supposed to get together to celebrate Chris's birthday on Friday. Chris actually shares a birthday with my nephew Georgie, and I have to go home for his party…he's turning two. So that's why we're celebrating with Chris on the 13th. It should be a lot of fun. Right now I have homework to do and Grant wants to hang out later. It should be a good night.
"Did he really do that?" Laurie laughed as he settled back on his bed. He had been working on an art project when his uncle and Luke had called to talk to him. After bantering back and forth with his uncle for a few minutes he spoke with Luke who was filling him in on Landon's adventures.
"He did, and I'm sure he will do it again. Reid thinks it may be time to get him one of those kiddie computers so he doesn't wreck mine."
"Wow, Landon's pretty smart," Laurie smiled. Either that or he just likes mimicking daddy. He sees you writing all the time after all."
"You should have seen him though," Luke laughed as he related the story. "He was so very careful with it, as if he knew that if he dropped it he would be in big trouble. He put it down on the table and started tapping on it as if it were the most natural thing for him to do. Luckily his fingers were clean and there was a smudge proof cover on it."
"Awwww, I can't wait to see him on Saturday. He's usually sleeping when I check on him at daycare. It will be nice to see you too. Don't get to see you at all when you're on campus."
"College life is like that sometimes," Luke smiled as he put away the last of the dishes. "Where's Robbie this evening. I haven't heard from him lately. He usually tries to call at least once a day."
"He's studying tonight," Laurie smiled. "This semester is taking a lot out of him. Even I seem to have to pencil in time to see him."
Robbie tapped his foot to the music as he smiled down at his phone. His fingers moved across the key's with ease as he sent Laurie a reply to his message. He took a sip of his beer and laughed at the reply his boyfriend sent back. Sending another message back he turned off his phone and pocketed it before moving further into the room.
He felt a twinge of guilt about lying to Laurie, but he reasoned that he wasn't really deceiving him. He was studying hard for a test…he just took a break. Grant had wanted to go party, and Robbie had promised he would go with him. There was nothing wrong with hanging out with his friends, and having a good time. This was the other side of college life after all, and he was more than ready to embrace it.
"Did you finally put the phone away," Grant asked slapping Robbie on the shoulder.
"I turned it off," Robbie replied trying to be heard over the music. "I should probably head back to the dorm though. I told Laurie I was going to study."
"You did study," Grant pointed out taking the empty can from Robbie's hand and replacing it with a fresh one. "Now it's time for fun. You're the smartest one here, you don't need to study so much just relax."
Robbie looked down at the unopened beer, before his eyes went to the door as if doing so would help him make up his mind. "I guess one more drink won't hurt," he shrugged, popping the top on the can taking a drink while Grant and his other friends looked on approvingly.
