Jeff wakes up, at 7:34 AM on this Saturday morning.
He gets up, still feeling a little groggy. He stumbles over towards the dresser. He and Mark had spent most of the day yesterday re-arranging the room's furniture. Bringing in several pieces that were from Jeff's old apartment, into the room. Mark allowed Jeff to form the placement of the furniture the way he wanted. Which meant that Jeff wanted the bed moved. And he had asked Mark if it would be alright, if he could paint the room. Mark thought about it for a minute, before asking what color exactly did Jeff want to paint the room with. Jeff smiled, looked to Mark and replied "How about, a light purple. Or Lime Green?." Jeff jokes, Mark's eyeballs go big. "Well, if it's gonna be your room, I guess you can." Jeff laughed, "I don't really want those colors." Jeff replied. Mark looks at Jeff. "Well, what color then?." - Jeff thinks about for a second. "How about a dark Red, Maroon?." - "I think that would be a nice color choose." Mark smiles.
So today, they were supposed to go to Lowe's hardware store, and grab a few buckets of Maroon paint. which meant taking the furniture out the room, yet again. Mark didn't ever say it was a problem though. And Jeff really did want some color on the walls, tired of seeing the plain white that surrounded him. He just didn't think to ask, until after standing in the furniture filled room, and staring out at the walls. It just looked too weak, Jeff wanted the room to pop. And a good color choose of paint, would give the effect that Jeff wanted. Plus Red is one of his favorite colors. And Red or Maroon as Jeff picked, tends to be a very romantic color. Maybe it would bring in some luck, maybe entice Mark into actually allowing Jeff to fill some of those desires, the thoughts that kept Jeff awake at night, thinking on. And fantasizing about. He just wanted a little taste, after-all. Was that too much for Mark?.
Mark walks over to Jeff's closed door. He knocks. "You almost ready, I wanna get to the store. So we can get back and get this done, before lunchtime." Mark explains. Jeff grabs his pants, slips them on and rushes over to the door. He opens it. And looks out. Mark was walking down the stairs, so Jeff walks back into his room, he grabs his shirt, that was laying on the end of the bed. He places it over his head, as he walks carefully down the steps. He makes it to the kitchen, to see Mark grabbing the dog-food bag, lifting it over and onto his shoulder, so effortlessly as he makes it seem. Mark's arm muscles were probably tightening up. Too bad it was cold weather, now. Mark was wearing a long shirt, so that his muscular arms were covered up by cotton-sleeves. - "Damn." Jeff whispers. Biting his lower lip, just envisioning Mark's muscular body.
- a few hours later -
Jeff and Mark stand in the middle of the now empty room, both looking onward to the half painted room. "It looks good. We did a good job."
"Yeah, partially good. We're have to finish the next two walls, tomorrow. Let's take a break. Let this paint dry." Mark explains moving his feet, slightly. The noise of the newspaper crackling underneath him.
Jeff nods, walks out in the cramped hallway. Boxes of his belongings that he hadn't gotten around to unpacking. Which Mark had made a thankful prayer that he didn't get around to doing it outline when they were moving the things out the room. It would have just been more things to have had to move.
Jeff walks down the stairs, looking towards the living room, filled with Jeff's bed-frame, his mattress which was laying on it's side, up against the far wall. His dresser had to be moved to the porch, for there just wasn't any other place to store it, in the house. No more room.
"It's a good thing, I never got the chance to get the T.V. and stand in your room, I don't think I could muster up moving another thing, today. Quite a workout, I must admit." Mark yawns. Stretching his tired arms up above his head.
Jeff nods, while taking a sit in the kitchen. A box of cds cluttered the kitchen table.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think of it earlier, before we had moved everything in there." Jeff whispers.
Mark laughs it off. "It's fine, you teenagers take things the wrong way all the time. I didn't mean nothing by what I said. Just that I need a break. There's nothing wrong with wanting the room painted, or when you asked me. Like you said, you just didn't think of it right away."
Mark smiles warmly over at Jeff. Jeff catching the subtle laugh-lines on Mark's face, smiles back. "Thanks, I think I could use a break too."
"Actually, I think the room looks really good, with a fresh coat of paint. It makes it look nice. I think you also made a good color choice."
Jeff looks over to Mark. "You really like the color?." He asks. - Mark nods approvingly. "Yes, I do."
Jeff smiles. And Mark gets up to grab a water. "You want one, too?."Mark asks. Jeff shakes his head no.
"How about we go to the park, maybe take one of the dogs?, or are you too tired?." Jeff replies. - Mark sits down, looks out side. "That's a good idea. But how about we do that tomorrow. It could give you some time, to decide which dog we can take." - "You want me to decide?." Jeff asks. Mark nods. - "Alright, we can do that tomorrow then." Jeff smiles.
Mark gets up, slaps Jeff lightly on the shoulder. "Come on, let's go relax. Watch some television."
Jeff sits there, looking up at Mark. He smiles. "Sure."
They take a seat, next to each-other. Jeff grabs Mark's hand gently.
- A hour later -
Jeff wakes up, on the couch. The television was off. And Mark was not next to him, as he was when he first fell asleep, cuddled up next to him. Jeff yawns as he gets up from the couch. He walks a few feet away, he could look right into the kitchen, and he knew Mark wasn't in there. But he continues to make his way near the side-door. To check if he happened to be out there, with the dogs. He wasn't.
Jeff walks to the front-door. He noticed the Jeep, and the motorcycle. But he didn't see Mark. "Mark!. Where you at?." Jeff hollers.
Mark didn't answer. Jeff begins to get worried. He rushes upstairs, runs into Mark's bedroom. But it was empty of Mark.
"Where are you?." Jeff whispers.
Jeff walks up to his room, the door was closed. But he could hear noises coming from behind the door. "Mark, you in here?."
Jeff opens the door, relieved to see Mark standing there. Painting.
"Mark, didn't you hear me calling." Jeff walks in the room. He noticed his stereo sitting on the floor, a foot from Mark.
"Mark?." Jeff calls out, placing a hand to Marks' shoulder. Mark turns around suddenly. Mark grasps the headphones. He places them on top of the stereo. "Damn boy, don't you know not to do that to someone, my age." Jeff smiles as Mark places the paint-brush in the bucket.
"Sorry, I was wondering why you wouldn't respond. Were you listening to some music." Jeff asks.
"Yeah. What do you think?." Mark asks. Turning around, and moving to the side. Staring at the newly painted wall.
"Three down, one wall to go." Jeff replies. "And it looks good."
"Good, then. And you can help me finish this other one up, since your awake." Mark stats.
"I thought you said, you were tired. That we've leave this for tomorrow." Jeff asks.
Mark grabs a brush, hands it to Jeff. "I've changed my mind, and besides. I rested up some. I've gotten re-energized."
Mark folds his hands around his chest. Turning to stare at Jeff sternly. "Is there a problem with that, with trying to be nice. Wanting to surprise you."
"Your joking, right. I didn't really piss you off, did I. I'm sorry, if I did." Jeff stutters. Staring into Mark's eyes. A sad pout.
Mark smiles. "I was just joking, take it easy. Let's get to this. Then I'll fix us something to eat." Mark explains.
Jeff places his brush in the bucket. He smiles at Mark. Who was already, getting to painting the blank wall.
"Well, it looks good. We're let it dry, and get everything back in here. Hopefully before bedtime." Mark replies.
"Sounds good, to me." Jeff whispers. Dropping the brush down into the almost empty bucket. He looks to Mark, who was beginning to leave the room. "Hey, Mark." Jeff smiles. Mark turns around. "Yeah." - "Come here." Jeff replies. Pulling the paint-brush out of the bucket. Holding it behind his back. Mark didn't notice it at all, and when he walked up to Jeff. Jeff pulled out the brush from behind his back.
Mark backs away, surprised but smiling. "What do you think your gonna do with that?."
Jeff had a gleam in his eyes. A gleam, that Mark had seen before. "Do not think that, I see what your gonna do. Don't." Mark warns. Halfheartedly. Jeff shakes his head, slowly. "That's not good enough." He whispers. Dragging the sentence out more then needed be.
Mark laughs, but starts backing away to the door. Jeff walks slowly, almost tip-toeing, towards Mark. "You know, you've been pretty bad to me. Not letting me do the things, that I've wanted too." Jeff explains. "What are you talking about." Mark asks confusingly.
Jeff walks up to Mark. "Don't do it, Jeff. There's no paper in the hallway. "Well, then. Don't go in there." Jeff whispers.
Jeff was unfazed with Mark's stares. His eyes slightly changing from amused to ignored.
"I mean, Jeff. Come on. Stop playing around." - "What, old men don't play sometimes."
Mark laughs nervously. Jeff getting ever closer to his clothes, to his body. Mark runs down the stairs. Thinking Jeff would give up. And stop it. But no, Mark couldn't believe his eyes, when Jeff continued to follow him. The paint-brush slowly dripping off the brush and onto his opened palm. "Damn-it Jeff. What are you doing. This isn't funny." Jeff just smiles, and continues to make his way to the living room. Stalking Mark, with the deadly paint-brush. Mark wanted to just bend over and laugh outline at his silliness. But Jeff was being serious. He was gonna get Mark, or Mark was gonna get him. Regardless who, but someone was gonna get painted on. Call it silly, all you want. But Jeff had a idea.
And he damn sure wanted to play it out, see what unfolds. No matter. He just hoped that what he had envision would come out of what's taking place now. A good dose of kisses, maybe finally getting Mark to give in. Let him lower his guard completely. And taking away that giant wall, would be a taunting task for Jeff. But a task, that Jeff would be willing to try to break down, time and time again. Until he finally achieved it. No matter what he had to try, in order do just that. This was one of those plots, ideas. He just hoped that it would work, like it did in his head.
Mark back-walks to the front door, almost tripping over the t.v. stand. "Watch out." Jeff warns. Luckily Mark got his balance. "This really is NOT funny, anymore." Mark warns. Jeff walks out the door too, his hand was covered by now, in a shade of dark red. No matter. Jeff didn't mind. He was planning to get a shower anyways. Mark walks over to the hose. "If you come near me, with that Paint. I swear, I will turn this water-hose on you." - "It's winter, you won't do that. I know you won't." Jeff whispers. - "Damn." Mark cursed, Jeff was right, he wouldn't.
Jeff gets infront of Mark. Mark stands there, defeated. Or so it seemed to Jeff. But just as Jeff was about to mark Mark with the paint. Mark grabs the paint-brush right out of Jeff's unexpected grasp. "Now look it's gonna get it." Mark laughs silently. Jeff grins, "fine, go on. I don't care." Mark drops the brush, "I'm tired, you've done worn me out. Let's go inside. Get something to eat, to drink." Mark whispers, slightly out of breath. "You wear me out, too much." Mark replies as he begins walking back to the front of the house. - Mark had made a mistake, thinking that Jeff would just leave it alone. All of a sudden, Mark see's the paint-brush, from behind. He could feel the wetness of the paint.
He turns around, Jeff grinning proudly. "You really made a dumb mistake, Mark." Mark looks down, and see's a long splash of Maroon going down his shirt and pants leg. "Damn it!, Jeff." - "You've gone too far. Look what you did, to my clothes."
Jeff begins getting worried, maybe he did take it too far. Mark did say repeatedly to cut it out. "I'm sorry." Jeff whispers, his head low, he allows the paint-brush to drop to the ground. - "Now it looks, like you've made a mistake." Mark grins. Jeff looks up. Dumbfounded. "What?."
Mark rushes to grab the paint-brush, before Jeff could. And before Jeff could react, move out the way. Mark grabs him by his shoulders. Pulling him down to the ground. He tells Jeff to cover his eyes. And to close his mouth. "What, why?." - "I'd just do it." Mark replies, as Mark runs the thick brush, through Jeff's beloved locks of blonde hair. Mark laughs, "Red suits you." Jeff spits, before mockingly laughing along with Mark. "Real funny, Mark. Real funny." Jeff pouts. "You had it coming to you, I told you to stop. Along time ago, didn't I." Mark stats.
Jeff looks up to Mark, and nods. "Yeah, you did. I guess, we're even." Mark grabs his shirt. Pulling at the end of the clean fabric. "Lean over, some." He tells to Jeff. Jeff does as told and Mark uses his shirt to wipe Jeff's face clean of the paint. "Thanks." Jeff whispers.
"Your welcome." Mark gets up, on one knee. "You hungry." Mark asks. As he waits for Jeff to get to his feet.
"I hope this comes out my hair." Jeff asks. - "I'm sure it will, don't worry."
Mark grabs Jeff gently, pulling him to his side. Kissing him softly on his cheek.
It didn't end the way, Jeff had planned, let alone wanted. But it was fun, and at-least Mark isn't mad at him, like he had thought. And he did get a kiss. "What do you want for dinner?." Mark asks. Noticing the fading sun-light, from the back of the house. It was after-all almost 5:40 PM, now. "What-ever you want." Jeff replies. Smiling.
TBC