It's a match!
Not five minutes passed before Levi's phone lights up: a new notification on the screen. He is on the couch, humming a familiar song that is playing on the radio. Having lost all hope that the guy would actually answer in the midst of Christmas celebration, he left his phone aside, on top of the end table on his right. He picks up the phone and stares at it open-mouthed, unsure of what to do. Maybe he didn't think this through. He doesn't even realize the song is over until the phone lights up again, signaling another received message. He puts the empty bottle he is holding where his phone was and slowly walks to the kitchen to grab another one - he just might need it to answer back.
He sinks into the couch and unlocks the screen. His heart speeds up a little.
"Merry Christmas!
Apologies in advance if I disappear. I have some friends and relatives over, and you know how these things are. How is Christmas over there?"
No, Levi does not know how 'these things are', but keeps his bitterness to himself. It is possibly best to start this brief conversation in a more cheerful tone. If he wanted an unpleasant chat, he could simply call his uncle.
"Merry Christmas.
It's okay. I didn't really think you'd answer tonight. Everything's fine here, no one to try to take my phone away from me. Just don't let your family catch you sneaking around - misbehaving on Christmas will get on the front page of the Naughty list."
The answer came almost immediately.
"To be honest, I'm trying to escape from all the fuss. It's almost 2 am, I wouldn't mind some peace and quiet. I wouldn't mind making the Naughty list either if you promised to come along."
This guy is clearly more experienced than Levi is, at least as online dating goes. What a flirt.
They talk for another hour and a half. Levi managed to empty his fridge of all the liquor it had, so for the time being, he doesn't mind that he promised to keep in touch the next day - which is the same day, if you want to get technical. He is a lot more interested than he anticipated: Dillion is a high school teacher and claims to be a rather private guy, despite having a bunch of friends. He is a little older, twenty-six, and prefers dogs to cats and bourbon to beer.
Feeling wide awake, Levi decides to clean the flat after they say goodbye. All of it. The sun is rising by the time he is done washing the restroom. He does the dishes, takes out the trash and takes a long, soul-cleaning bath. He changes the sheets and then finally sinks into his bed, daydreaming of a dark-haired teacher with a stern look on his face and square glasses, as he closes his eyes.
.o.
Levi isn't exactly sure if it was the hunger that woke him up or his loud neighbors, but blames it on those fuckers either way. He hears a voice coming from the window and wonders wether that is the world's worst singer, or if he should call the cops because they were getting bludgeoned to death. To prevent himself from going crazy, he turns on the radio and heats some leftover lasagna. While it is in the oven, he checks his phone for new messages: there is a standard happy birthday e-mail from the store where he works, a fifty percent discount gift card from a coffee shop and two unread messages from Dillion.
"Hi there!
How was your sleep? Better than mine, I hope. Some of my friends stayed overnight, and I barely got any. Thank goodness it's school recess."
Levi reads again: 'some of my friends stayed overnight'. Must have been a hell of a party. It bothers him, for some reason, and he decided it is sympathy for his neighbors before giving it much thought. If Dillion's Christmas was anything like his neighbors', he had more than enough reason to side with those poor people.
"Hiya.
I slept just fine. Things are quite loud here today, but I can't stay up late tonight. Gotta go back to work tomorrow, I just got a day off for my birthday. Not all of us get recess, you're a lucky one."
His lasagna smells and tastes just as good as it did the day before, and his phone was purposefully left in the kitchen - answering right on the spot might make him come across as too eager. Also, it is okay for a one-night thing to become a one-day thing, but he needs to slow down whatever thing they have going on. Although his mind is made up about not letting it last any longer than a day and be cool about it, his eyes betray him and shoot glances into the kitchen, hoping to see any sign of a reply.
He rushes to his phone as soon as the plate is clean and back in the cupboard. Three unread messages await him.
"YOUR BIRTHDAY?!
I mean, happy birthday! Why didn't you mention it before?
You probably have other plans, but I'd really like to take you out for some drinks, if you're up for it. It doesn't have to be today, of course - whenever you feel comfortable will be perfect."
A date is way farther than he is willing to go. He doesn't want an actual relationship. He isn't sure he will talk to him for another day, for fuck's sake. Well, of course Dillion seemed like a pretty decent and interesting guy, especially for someone whose real name he doesn't know and who could be, for all he knew, ugly as fuck. The hot teacher he pictured would hardly be matched by his real-self.
"Oh, yeah, sorry. My birthday has never been a big deal around here, it may have slipped my mind, but thanks anyway.
Now... As for those drinks... Maybe we should take baby steps. I could be a kidnapper, or your principal. Also, I go back to work tomorrow, and I don't know how much free time I'll have."
It wasn't entirely a lie. Actually, it wasn't a lie at all. He did work extra hours most days between holidays the previous years, and odds are he is in for some more. Besides, Levi believes that there is no point in prolonging the pain; rip off the band-aid and all that. Something about Dillion makes it just so hard that, this once, he decided to be gentle and let him go slowly.
"I'm sorry for rushing things. You're right, Raven: baby steps. Maybe exchange phone numbers and real names? Then, if you are my principal, I can tell you you're not really my type. If you're a kidnapper, I'll willingly follow you to your place - unless preying is part of the fun."
Levi grins. He really is a flirty bastard.
And it seems like Dillion is flirting his way into his mind.
Giving it a second thought, he has nothing to lose and could use some good distraction after work. It might be worth to give it a shot. He sends his phone number, but not his name.
Baby steps.
.o.
It is dark when his phone rings. Levi is reading a book, windows open to enjoy the silence around him. He isn't expecting any phone calls, and his heart summersaults in his chest as he slides his finger to accept it.
"I'm sorry if it wasn't okay to call." The voice on the other end is apologetic. Weirdly familiar. And deep. There is no way the man behind it isn't hot. "Just wanted to wish you a proper happy birthday, now that everyone is gone."
They don't talk for long, Levi has to get up early. But his mind is too noisy and he can't sleep long after they hung up. Everytime he closes his eyes, the teacher he has pictured shows up. This time, he has a ruler on his hand and says in his husky voice that he has been a very bad boy - and Levi's hand slides into his boxers and grabs his shaft. He starts by giving it slow strokes, but speeds up as the teacher in his head looks at him from over his glasses and says he needs to be taught a lesson, bending him over the table. Levi's body is embraced by the duvet as he finally relaxes and the last thing to go through his mind is that he will need to chance the sheets again.