ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS - CHAPTER FOUR (Part I)

It was warm. The bed was.

It was always a good sign if the bed was still warm, because it meant that there was still a body
there to warm it.

So Arthur was still there.

In Curt's opinion, the worst possible feeling was that upon waking to an empty bed. There wasn't a
lower, more debasing thing in the entire world.

He remembered his first night with Brian. He should have known it would end badly. Even then,
things hadn't been right.

He had stretched awake in the morning to discover himself totally alone.

Of course, thirty seconds later Brian had wandered back in from the bathroom to bid him good morn-
ing, but for those thirty seconds, Curt had wanted to die.

But Arthur was still there.

Curt rolled over onto his side, yawning and slightly flexing his muscles. Arthur was already awake,
and had been watching him for some time.

The washed-up rockstar. His childhood idol. His lover. In his bed.

Arthur smiled.

Curt looked at him for a few moments, eyes flickering over the younger man's body.

The situation. It was much too similar. To before.

But it was also different.

Curt moved himself against Arthur, laying across his chest. He felt Arthur's whole frame rise and

fall with each breath. He was so calm. There was no awkward tension between them. It was ... nice.
He kissed Arthur, slowly, wanting to prove himself the superior. But Arthur just kissed back
lazily, keeping Curt's will at bay. And Curt didn't mind.

They weren't kids anymore.

Curt didn't understand how Arthur could be so laid back. But he was. And that made Curt feel good.

It made him feel like a real person. He liked that.

They lay entwined for a few minutes, gently touching and holding and exploring. Until Arthur grin-
ned again, and grabbed Curt's chin lightly.

"Good Morning."

* * *

Okay, here's the deal. That was *way* short. I know. However, this chapter would be hella long if
I did it how I originally planned it. So I have bits of the next chapters written, and I'll
update this chapter again soon. PS: Work bites. (I don't wanna grow up, I'm a Toys R Us kid!)