These Days

Chapter 2- Reminiscence

It was deep into the night. Only the moonlight shown through the cracks of the shades. The light bounced off in a burst of diamond and blue.

JJ smiled in the dark, gazing longingly at the precious stones. It was like he was in a dream. He was sure when he woke up it would all be gone. He snuggled closer the warm body beside him. Drake was breathing heavily, his bare chest moving with the rhythm. JJ brushed back the dark hairs and kissed his love's forehead. Drake stirred, but did not waken.

JJ couldn't believe how far they've come.

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August 26

"No, no, no!" JJ swatted away the hands moving up his smooth thigh. "Stop! You need to focus your attention on---"

"You…" Drake muttered, latching his lips onto JJ's soft neck.

"No!" JJ pulled away and shoved a pen into Drake's hand. "Read and sign."

"I don't wanna," Drake whined, slumping in his chair.

JJ put on a hurt face. "You don't want to end your long marriage to be with me?"

"No…I don't want to read."

"Oh, poor baby." JJ stuffed the papers under Drake's nose. "Sign."

"Spoilsport." He signed the divorce papers to get to the good stuff JJ offered underneath that towel.

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September 22

"Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me…"

JJ looked up from his work and eyed an excited Drake. He questioned, "Your excited to be thirty-nine?"

"Hell no!" Drake shuddered and shook his head. "But I'm excited for my birfday present." He grinned toothily.

"Who says I got you a birfday present?"

"Cos you're my lurver and you lurve me."

"Mmmhmm." JJ turned back to his work and ignored his lover's whimpers. But it became increasingly difficult when Drake propped himself on the desk and began to purr.

"Are you a kitty cat?" In response, Drake nuzzled his nose into JJ's hair. JJ giggled girlishly. "You are so weird."

Drake stopped purring. "You don't get it?"

"There's something to get?"

Drake purred again. JJ stared.

"I don't get it," JJ said.

"I got a cat for us."

JJ jumped out of his chair and into his lover's arms, kissing their breaths away.

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October 31

JJ gazed at his ghoulish appearance in the mirror. He saw Drake's reflection and him tying the face mask doctor's wear on.

"I would be frightened for my life if you were a doctor," JJ announced.

Drake turned around. He was wearing the standard operating outfit but was torn and bloody. The nametag pinned to his front read: "Dr. Ben Dover."

"But, my dear, you are my patient."

JJ laughed. They decided to go as doctor/patient for the Halloween party Ted and his girlfriend (whom he had met at Drake's wedding) were giving. JJ was scantily clad in one of those flimsy paper gowns with blood spatter on it. He had painted his face pale white and darkened around his eyes. A large gash decorated his right cheek. Drake looked crazy, JJ looked dead.

"Are you going to be okay tonight?" JJ asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Umm, because Ted's girlfriend is Jill who was one of your ex's bridesmaids."

"So."

"And I heard that she could be there."

"That's great…"

It turned out that JJ heard right. Drake's ex-wife, Cyndi, turned up in a witch's outfit, which led to many jokes and laughs. It was certain that she was pregnant, her usual slim petite self was gaining around the stomach. JJ and Drake weaved in and out of crowds to avoid her without realizing who else they could run into.

"Parker."

Drake turned around. He didn't recognize the man who called for him. "What?"

"Bill."

"Huh?" Realization hit him. "Cyndi's cousin."

"Ya. And you the ex." Bill eyed JJ bizarrely. "You the twit that broke up the marriage."

"Yeppers. That's me." JJ grinned but quickly dodged the fist coming toward his head. "Shit."

Bill kept throwing punches at JJ, who couldn't figure out why this lunatic was wanting to fight. Bill was one to talk, he's the one that Cyndi cheated on with when she was engaged to Drake. When Bill fumbled, Drake kneed him hard and he was sent to the ground.

Cyndi came rushing over. She began yelling and cursing. Drake grabbed JJ's hand and ran out as fast as possible.

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December 2

A young cat stretched languorously from her owner's lap. The owner was sound asleep. He was asleep until…

"WAKIE WAKIE!"

"urhngljrk…"

"WAKE UP!"

"nooooooooo………….."

"WAKE!"

Blankets were ripped off and cold hands crept up underneath JJ's shirt.

"Fuck! Cold!" JJ squirmed but the hands stayed put. His shirt was completely ripped off and his bare chest was exposed to the cold air. JJ fumbled for the covers but they were snatched out of his hands. Warm lips began a trail from his belly button to his neck. JJ was in the mix of misery and pleasure. Those warm lips then trailed up to his lips.

"Happy birthday," Drake drawled.

"I'm cold," JJ announced as if it weren't obvious by his shivering.

"I can help that." Drake stripped off his clothes and climbed into bed with his lover. They snuggled close together steadily warming up.

"I wish you were always there," JJ said as an afterthought.

"I can be."

JJ raised an eyebrow. Boldly, he asked, "Do you want to move in with me?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

------

January 20

"Whatever! Go the hell ahead and do whatever the fuck you want!"

"FINE! I will!"

JJ slammed the door behind him. The new housing arrangement wasn't going as smoothly as he had hoped. It seemed that everyday they argued and argued. JJ was absolutely sick of it. There was accusations of cheating, drug use, and the more outrageous things.

The most repetitive accusations was that JJ was cheating on the hot new police officer at the station. JJ was tired of the claims, knowing full well that the new officer was married and had children. But when he told Drake, he dismissed the explanation saying how he knew JJ could break up a marriage.

It was offensive when Drake later accused JJ of using drugs. So he seemed especially happy one day like he took rush. Then after two days of not sleeping, Drake accused him of smoking weed. JJ couldn't figure out this reasoning at all.

Tonight they were fighting over JJ being anorexic. He couldn't believe Drake could even think such a thing! Sure he was thin, but he always had been. And lately he'd been sick and the sight of food made him nauseous. No matter how much JJ said he wasn't feeling well, Drake wouldn't accept it.

JJ couldn't take anymore. If something didn't change soon, he would hurt someone.

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February 14

JJ was on the search for something. What exactly, he didn't know. All he knew was it had to be bad. Super douper bad.

The previous day, Drake had, out of the blue, said, "I think we need some time apart." Which absolutely infuriated JJ. When asked why, Drake replied, "I found something in here that I need to consider."

So JJ searched high and low for whatever Drake came across. He ended up empty handed. It was Valentine's Day for chrissake. And he was alone. He wouldn't have any of that.

JJ marched to Ted's house where Drake was hiding. Ted's girlfriend answered the door. JJ supposed she was a nice girl, even though one of her friends was Cyndi. When Drake came out to greet him, his eyes were red and puffy as though he had been crying.

Drake was sincerely sorry for how he had been acting. He was afraid of losing the one thing closest to him. JJ assured that he was fine and nothing would take him away from Drake. Finally, Drake admitted what had been bothering him.

"I found an old box with pictures and love letters from random lovers," Drake confessed. "I guess I was jealous and angry that you've kept them."

"An old box? Where was this?" JJ asked, not remembering the box at all.

"In the closet with all your photo albums," Drake responded.

"Oh! Ohhh…." JJ remembered it now. "So what? They're just old pictures and stuff. Heck, I didn't even remember it until you brought it up."

"Yea, but you lied to me."

"When?"

"When you said you and Dee never had a thing."

JJ cursed himself mentally. "It wasn't a thing… It was a fling."

"Same difference," Drake pointed out. "You still lied. You said nothing ever happened between you two."

"It really didn't."

Drake narrowed his eyes. "How far?" he asked.

JJ sighed. "Does it matter?"

"Yes."

"Umm…well."

"Don't answer. I know." Drake rubbed his eyes. "I guess it doesn't really matter." He embraced JJ tightly. "I love you."

"I love you too," JJ mumbled into his lover's chest, hoping that mess was all over.

JJ and Drake went through the good times and the bad. JJ hoped that the bad was all over with; the lies, the accusations. It seemed that they have experienced everything. What else could possibly happen?

He stared down at Drake who was still peacefully sleeping. He could think of several things that could happen, but were unlikely. But he still felt like something was missing.

"Family…" JJ muttered to himself. Several thoughts ran with that one word, both good and bad.