Important! - I skipped around a bit…I didn't want to write a weeks-worth of chapters, when there's really nothing that's going to happen. So, this takes place a week and a half AFTER the last chapter. Thanks.
AN - There is an insinuation of smut in this chapter. I'm sorry if it offends anyone…Honestly, it's not a romantic chapter. But I would like to apologize ahead of time for the people that may be offended.
Adam's POV
I sighed, walking into my dorm room. Luis said I was getting better at dancing, but I wasn't sure. In fact, he'd told me that I was the best he'd ever taught…but when I asked him how many people he'd taught, he blushed and changed the subject.
I was practicing the samba steps, when there was a knock on the door. I looked at it, and turned off the music.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Charlie came in. I smiled, and he frowned. I furrowed my brow, but tried to act casual.
"Something up?" I asked.
"I could ask you the same question…for the millionth time!" Uh oh!
Yeah, I'd been avoiding the topic of my problems. I still hadn't told him that I was leaving…possibly never to return. I kept putting it off, and putting it off, and when he confronted me about it, I'd put if off, and change the subject. Obviously this had been bothering him; I swallowed fiercely, and frowned.
"So, Adam…what's wrong?"
I sighed softly, walking over to him. I had no idea where Luis was now, but he'd been pretty good in letting me have time along when I asked for it. I'd asked for it, and I didn't expect him to be back for a while. My frown deepened, as I looked into Charlie's hardened face.
"Are you going to tell me, or not?"
"Do we have to have this conversation now?" I put my hands at his waist, but he pushed me back, and away from him.
"Yeah, I think we do. Just tell me what's wrong!"
"I don't want to."
He glared at me, but released an anguished sigh.
"Jesus, Adam…why can't you tell me?" My eyes widened at his use of profanity, but I suppose I'd pushed him pretty far. He wouldn't stop until I told him.
"Just…because." I knew that wouldn't work.
"Damn it! Tell me!" This wasn't a matter he was about to take lightly.
"Nothing is wrong! Can we please just forget about it?" I was close to begging…
"Do you think I'm just going to forget that something's wrong?" He looked really mad…
"Well, no…but I wish you would."
"Well I'm not going to! I care too much for that." How touching…
"Please, Charlie…just forget about it." I was begging now…he'd pushed me to my limits.
"Adam!" He was raising his voice to a fever pitch.
"Shh! Charlie! You don't want everyone to hear you scream…" Okay, that's not really what I was thinking…but you imagine what it was like! Okay, two gay guys, in a room together…alone, with one screaming the other's name. Right…WRONG! Well, I didn't want anyone getting any ideas.
He eyed me. He understood. Yeah, I didn't give him enough credit. He always knew what I was thinking. Almost always anyway. He frowned, and I sighed, for the hundredth time that week.
His expression softened, and he moved back towards me. He was going to get me on a guilt trip, damn! I took my hand, and held it between both of his. With an almost sly smile, he nodded.
"I believe you. If you say nothing's wrong, then nothing's wrong."
I smiled, pulled him closer. He still looked pained for me. I sat down, and he sat next to me.
I looked down, frowning. I had to tell him sooner or later, so why not sooner? I had to. I just had to!
He sensed that I was about to tell him, and grew somber. I looked up at him. For the first time in what seemed like forever, my eyes filled with tears. Yeah, I'm serious…I was near crying.
"Adam, if it's this emotional for you…you don't have to tell me." But I wanted to…I needed to. I'd delayed long enough.
"No, you need to hear this."
He shifted his position, so that he was facing me.
"My dad, well, you know how he got fired?" Charlie nodded.
"Well, he got a new job." Charlie nodded again, and let me continue. I kept pausing, and something on Charlie's face almost told me "Get to the point." So I tried.
"The job's in Buffalo."
"New York?" He frowned.
"Yeah." He didn't seem to get it. "We're moving to New York, Charlie."
He sat for a moment, considering. He looked at me, I knew it hadn't sunk in.
"You're going to school here thought, still, right?" Almost exactly what Luis had said.
"This semester. I have two weeks…Then they're transferring me to a military academy. They don't have a hockey team, either." The look on his face made me feel rueful to the whole thing, all over again. It made me want to have disowned my parents when I had a chance. I still can't believe to this day that I didn't. I've always believed in the goodness of people until they've done something to make me believe otherwise. I believed that my family could change…stupid me.
His breathing started to sound erratic, as he buried his head in his hands. I had had more time to deal with it, but I knew it was going to be hard.
"How long have you known?" Oh no…
"Almost two weeks…" He snapped up, eyeing me.
"And you didn't tell me?" I should have expected this.
"I was afraid to." Lame, I know.
"Oh, Adam…" He leaned forward to cradle me in his arms. This wasn't going to help. I needed to withdraw. But I was caught up in the moment…it might be our last.
"Charlie, I'm sorry for not telling you." He looked at me, the pain obvious. He was being strong…he was being strong for me. The knowledge of that caused me to break. The tears streamed down my cheeks, I buried my face into his shoulder. I would ask Luis if he and Charlie could switch dorms for just one night. I needed to be with him right now.
