Disclaimer: Boy Meets Boy property of K. Sandra Fuhr. Soley for
entertainment purposes, not for profit.
Warning: This is slash (boy on boy action) fiction. Some swearing
involved.
I sigh and stare into my plastic cup of beer. It's warm. I hate warm beer. I also hate the fact that the object of my affection is not in love with me. Then again, I suppose that's a good thing since I'm not supposed to love him. I'm the hetero one. It's supposed to be me and the hot chicas. Not me and Skids.
Skids is in love with the 'bride' if you will, because face it, Harley is way more feminine than Mik is; plus he did wear white while Mik wore black. So yes, he's in love with Harley. Not me. I'm just a little bitter about this if you can't tell. Right now he's across the room chatting happily with Harley, completely ignoring me. Then again, I'm not really being social.
"Torres." I look up to see Mik standing to my left.
"I suppose I should be congratulating you, Rasputin," I grind out.
"Well, don't feel obligated," he grinned.
"Don't worry, I don't," I look back into my cup. "What do you want?"
"See, I'm supposed to be the broody one around here and you're filling up my quota. It must be rectified."
"Stop trying to be smart, Rasputin. What the hell do you want?" I growl.
Mik opens his mouth to say something when Aurora turns on some slow dance music and announces that everyone should dance and that the new married couple must lead it. So everyone should join in. Exactly what I want to do. Mik thumps a hand on my shoulder.
"You need to get out there and dance, Torres," His grin is now a Cheshire Cat-like smile.
"Why?" I say, but he shoves me out toward the open space in the living room; in Skids' direction. Mik brushes past me on his way to sweep Harley out onto the floor. Random couples begin filling the floor around Mik and Harley.
I allow Mik's push to carry me farther than it should have. I realize that I am now about four feet from where Skids is standing. I notice that he has not joined the dance and realize what Mik was getting at. My temper flares for an instant until my brain registers the amount of sadness that Skids is projecting as he stares at Harley and Mik. Telling myself that it is only to get that sad look off of his face, I take his hand and pull him to the dance floor. He looks surprised for a moment until a shy smile replaces it.
After a couple awkward steps I realize that neither of us really knows how to dance with the other. "Skids, we're not going to get anywhere if both of us try to lead." I joke.
Skids giggles. "But it's fun to try anyway."
I grin and dip him. He squeaks in surprise and I take note of the fact that my beer cup has now been emptied onto the floor under Skids' back. I'd forgotten to put it down. Oh well. However a few people around us take notice and give us some odd glances. Skids realizes what I'd done and starts giggling harder.
"It's a good thing you don't like warm beer, Cya," he says.
I smile. "So true." I lift him out of the dip and lead him away from our mini scene. He's smiling now. So much better than the sad face.
"Huh?" Skids is giving me an odd look. Oh dios mio. I'd said that out loud.
"Well.well it's true!" I say forcefully and defensively. "I mean.no one should look as sad as you were looking."
Skids blushes and looks away. "I didn't think anyone would notice."
"Not all of us are oblivious, Skids," I say.
We sway silently for a while and I notice his expression becoming progressively sad again. I glance over my shoulder and see that we've approached Mik and Harley. Shit. I've gotta distract him somehow. How to get that look off his face again? Maybe he'd like to go for some ice cream tonight.
"Skids, how about some creamy goodness tonight?" I mentally slap myself. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Think of the connotations! No!! Don't think of the connotations! Bad!
Skids does not pick up on my distress. He seems perfectly oblivious to the meaning of what I'd said.
"Sure! I love ice cream!" Skids smiles.
I return his smile shakily. I guess ice cream really does solve everything. "So when do you want to go?"
"Now!" Skids says.
"Now?" I question. "But the party isn't over yet." Then I realize that he only wants to be away from Harley and Mik. "Now is a great time. Why don't you go grab your coat and I'll tell them we're leaving?"
Skids nods and goes for his jacket. I turn and see Mik and Harley behind me. I go up to them and explain that Skids wants some ice cream and I'm taking him. Mik grins devilishly at me and Harley smiles at me, holding my eyes for a moment longer than necessary. Damn. He knows too. I shoot a glare at Mik. I'll have to kill him later when there aren't so many witnesses. I turn then and head towards the door to their apartment. Skids is waiting for me. He slings an arm around me companionably. I let him lead me out the door and we walk down the hall like that for a ways.
Then I realize that by now I would have shaken his arm away. I blush and decide not to deal with it until we reach the elevator. The elevator doors slide open and we step inside. His arm leaves my shoulders. I'm disappointed and elated at the same time. I hit the button for the first floor. It lurches into motion and we begin down. Then it lurches to a stop again. Oh fuck. The elevator cannot possibly be stuck. The power flickers and goes out. Thank god for the security lights. They only give us about a candle of light, but it is better than nothing.
Skids squeaks and latches onto my arm. "What's going on, Cya? Why are we stopped?"
I gently push Skids off my arm and begin smacking buttons on the panel. Nothing. I move to the door and bang my fist against it. Nothing. I scan my rectangle of hell. Tabitha, in her infinite evilness, has not equipped this place with an emergency phone. This is twice now that I've been stuck in this damn elevator. I clap my hands to my pockets for my cell phone. Shit. I'd left it on my bed at home today.
"Well, Skids, looks like we're stuck here," I sigh heavily.
"So.no ice cream?"
I almost laugh. I can't believe he's still thinking about ice cream when we're stuck in an elevator with no communication. "No, no ice cream."
"Oh." Skids looks sad again.
I sit down in a corner of the elevator opposite to where Skids is standing. "Might as well make ourselves comfortable. We're probably not going to be moving any time soon."
"Yeah," Skids says. And sits down right next to me, our shoulders brushing.
I try to scoot away, but realize that I'd sat down in a corner. Damn.
"I don't like the dark, Cya," Skids leans further into my shoulder. There's no choice for me but to put my arm around him and bring him closer. I had no choice because I could not stand to hear that soft, quivering voice and not do anything.
"It's okay, Skids," I sigh. I turn my face to gently nuzzle his hair (no baseball cap for the ceremony, you know) and whisper. "I'm here."
I feel Skids stiffen for an instant before relaxing again. "I know."
We sit in almost awkward silence until he speaks again.
"I know why you're doing this," he whispers softly.
"Uh.you do?" I gulp.
"Yeah. You always know exactly what I need," he continues. "Today's been really hard for me and you're the only one to have noticed."
"Yeah.well, you know," I mumble.
Skids continues as if I hadn't even opened my mouth. "Watching Harley today and seeing him so happy with Mik tore at me. I wanted to be the one making him that happy, but I know that I will never be that person. It makes me wonder if I will ever be able to make someone that happy."
"You make me happy," I whisper unconsciously and hold him tighter.
He still continues. "I've always been too late for everything. I was too late to save him from being hazed in high school, I was too late in asking him out, I was too late with Ronnie, and now I'm too late to ever have either of their hearts."
"You have my heart, Corazón," I breathe.
"I feel so alone. All the time. I live alone. You have your mom and your sisters, Harley has Mik and his family, and that leaves me all alone. I hate being alone. I just wish that just once I would love someone, they would love me back and we could have the happily ever after."
"I could give you the happily ever after. I love you, querido," I murmur gently.
"Did you just say you loved me?"
I sigh and stare into my plastic cup of beer. It's warm. I hate warm beer. I also hate the fact that the object of my affection is not in love with me. Then again, I suppose that's a good thing since I'm not supposed to love him. I'm the hetero one. It's supposed to be me and the hot chicas. Not me and Skids.
Skids is in love with the 'bride' if you will, because face it, Harley is way more feminine than Mik is; plus he did wear white while Mik wore black. So yes, he's in love with Harley. Not me. I'm just a little bitter about this if you can't tell. Right now he's across the room chatting happily with Harley, completely ignoring me. Then again, I'm not really being social.
"Torres." I look up to see Mik standing to my left.
"I suppose I should be congratulating you, Rasputin," I grind out.
"Well, don't feel obligated," he grinned.
"Don't worry, I don't," I look back into my cup. "What do you want?"
"See, I'm supposed to be the broody one around here and you're filling up my quota. It must be rectified."
"Stop trying to be smart, Rasputin. What the hell do you want?" I growl.
Mik opens his mouth to say something when Aurora turns on some slow dance music and announces that everyone should dance and that the new married couple must lead it. So everyone should join in. Exactly what I want to do. Mik thumps a hand on my shoulder.
"You need to get out there and dance, Torres," His grin is now a Cheshire Cat-like smile.
"Why?" I say, but he shoves me out toward the open space in the living room; in Skids' direction. Mik brushes past me on his way to sweep Harley out onto the floor. Random couples begin filling the floor around Mik and Harley.
I allow Mik's push to carry me farther than it should have. I realize that I am now about four feet from where Skids is standing. I notice that he has not joined the dance and realize what Mik was getting at. My temper flares for an instant until my brain registers the amount of sadness that Skids is projecting as he stares at Harley and Mik. Telling myself that it is only to get that sad look off of his face, I take his hand and pull him to the dance floor. He looks surprised for a moment until a shy smile replaces it.
After a couple awkward steps I realize that neither of us really knows how to dance with the other. "Skids, we're not going to get anywhere if both of us try to lead." I joke.
Skids giggles. "But it's fun to try anyway."
I grin and dip him. He squeaks in surprise and I take note of the fact that my beer cup has now been emptied onto the floor under Skids' back. I'd forgotten to put it down. Oh well. However a few people around us take notice and give us some odd glances. Skids realizes what I'd done and starts giggling harder.
"It's a good thing you don't like warm beer, Cya," he says.
I smile. "So true." I lift him out of the dip and lead him away from our mini scene. He's smiling now. So much better than the sad face.
"Huh?" Skids is giving me an odd look. Oh dios mio. I'd said that out loud.
"Well.well it's true!" I say forcefully and defensively. "I mean.no one should look as sad as you were looking."
Skids blushes and looks away. "I didn't think anyone would notice."
"Not all of us are oblivious, Skids," I say.
We sway silently for a while and I notice his expression becoming progressively sad again. I glance over my shoulder and see that we've approached Mik and Harley. Shit. I've gotta distract him somehow. How to get that look off his face again? Maybe he'd like to go for some ice cream tonight.
"Skids, how about some creamy goodness tonight?" I mentally slap myself. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Think of the connotations! No!! Don't think of the connotations! Bad!
Skids does not pick up on my distress. He seems perfectly oblivious to the meaning of what I'd said.
"Sure! I love ice cream!" Skids smiles.
I return his smile shakily. I guess ice cream really does solve everything. "So when do you want to go?"
"Now!" Skids says.
"Now?" I question. "But the party isn't over yet." Then I realize that he only wants to be away from Harley and Mik. "Now is a great time. Why don't you go grab your coat and I'll tell them we're leaving?"
Skids nods and goes for his jacket. I turn and see Mik and Harley behind me. I go up to them and explain that Skids wants some ice cream and I'm taking him. Mik grins devilishly at me and Harley smiles at me, holding my eyes for a moment longer than necessary. Damn. He knows too. I shoot a glare at Mik. I'll have to kill him later when there aren't so many witnesses. I turn then and head towards the door to their apartment. Skids is waiting for me. He slings an arm around me companionably. I let him lead me out the door and we walk down the hall like that for a ways.
Then I realize that by now I would have shaken his arm away. I blush and decide not to deal with it until we reach the elevator. The elevator doors slide open and we step inside. His arm leaves my shoulders. I'm disappointed and elated at the same time. I hit the button for the first floor. It lurches into motion and we begin down. Then it lurches to a stop again. Oh fuck. The elevator cannot possibly be stuck. The power flickers and goes out. Thank god for the security lights. They only give us about a candle of light, but it is better than nothing.
Skids squeaks and latches onto my arm. "What's going on, Cya? Why are we stopped?"
I gently push Skids off my arm and begin smacking buttons on the panel. Nothing. I move to the door and bang my fist against it. Nothing. I scan my rectangle of hell. Tabitha, in her infinite evilness, has not equipped this place with an emergency phone. This is twice now that I've been stuck in this damn elevator. I clap my hands to my pockets for my cell phone. Shit. I'd left it on my bed at home today.
"Well, Skids, looks like we're stuck here," I sigh heavily.
"So.no ice cream?"
I almost laugh. I can't believe he's still thinking about ice cream when we're stuck in an elevator with no communication. "No, no ice cream."
"Oh." Skids looks sad again.
I sit down in a corner of the elevator opposite to where Skids is standing. "Might as well make ourselves comfortable. We're probably not going to be moving any time soon."
"Yeah," Skids says. And sits down right next to me, our shoulders brushing.
I try to scoot away, but realize that I'd sat down in a corner. Damn.
"I don't like the dark, Cya," Skids leans further into my shoulder. There's no choice for me but to put my arm around him and bring him closer. I had no choice because I could not stand to hear that soft, quivering voice and not do anything.
"It's okay, Skids," I sigh. I turn my face to gently nuzzle his hair (no baseball cap for the ceremony, you know) and whisper. "I'm here."
I feel Skids stiffen for an instant before relaxing again. "I know."
We sit in almost awkward silence until he speaks again.
"I know why you're doing this," he whispers softly.
"Uh.you do?" I gulp.
"Yeah. You always know exactly what I need," he continues. "Today's been really hard for me and you're the only one to have noticed."
"Yeah.well, you know," I mumble.
Skids continues as if I hadn't even opened my mouth. "Watching Harley today and seeing him so happy with Mik tore at me. I wanted to be the one making him that happy, but I know that I will never be that person. It makes me wonder if I will ever be able to make someone that happy."
"You make me happy," I whisper unconsciously and hold him tighter.
He still continues. "I've always been too late for everything. I was too late to save him from being hazed in high school, I was too late in asking him out, I was too late with Ronnie, and now I'm too late to ever have either of their hearts."
"You have my heart, Corazón," I breathe.
"I feel so alone. All the time. I live alone. You have your mom and your sisters, Harley has Mik and his family, and that leaves me all alone. I hate being alone. I just wish that just once I would love someone, they would love me back and we could have the happily ever after."
"I could give you the happily ever after. I love you, querido," I murmur gently.
"Did you just say you loved me?"