Crossing Borders By: Jesse Drache
Disclaimers: I don't own Ephram, Colin, Bright or any other characters you might recognize, I'm just borrowing them for my amusement. So don't sue me.
Warning: This is Ephram/Colin slash; if you don't like it, don't read it.
Rating: There will be two versions of this fic, a PG-13 one (which I will post on Fanfiction.net) and a NC-17 one that I will post on my website and will provide links to.
Chapter 8: Disagreements
They sat at the window of some pizzeria. Ephram was slowly devouring a slice of pepperoni pizza while Colin picked at his, every once in a while taking a bite when he felt the weight of the other boy's stare lingering upon him for too long.
Ephram's morose mood had lifted and it seemed as if the boys' dispositions had interchanged for now Colin was the sullen one.
Ephram tried at random intervals to make conversation but Colin kept to one word responses and would go back to looking out the window if pressed on any particular subject.
After a particularly long silence, Colin stood up, his pizza barely half-eaten, and walked towards the back of the pizzeria muttering something about needing to go to the bathroom.
Ephram watched him walk into the men's room, remembering that Colin had already gone earlier while Ephram waited for their pizza.
Looking down at the table he started to gather their trash and placed it back on the tray that they had been given then dumped it into the trash can.
Glancing down at his watch he noticed that at least five minutes had gone by and Colin had yet to return.
Maybe there's a line, Ephram thought but decided to go check out the bathroom anyway.
When he stepped into the bathroom, Ephram found that there was no line and that the bathroom was mostly quiet except for the sounds of retching coming from one of the stalls.
Glancing to the stalls, he found one empty and the other one held a person on their knees.
Ephram sighed when he recognized the shoes as Colin's and that the retching sounds were coming from him.
He quietly knocked on the stall door.
"Colin?" he asked his voice full of concern.
The retching sounds stopped and Ephram waited by the door until it opened to reveal a pale Colin.
"Are you ok?" Ephram asked gently.
"Yeah, must have been something I ate," Colin said attempting to give Ephram a comforting look as he walked to the sink where he splashed his face with water and rinsed his mouth out.
"Yeah, it must have been," Ephram said mostly to himself, as Colin took his hand.
Ephram noted how the coldness and clamminess of Colin's hand as he allowed the boy to lead him out of the pizzeria and towards the apartment.
***
"Where are you going?" Colin asked as he watched Ephram gather his coat and keys and walk towards the door.
"Work," Ephram said nonchalantly.
"But you're not on for another hour and a half, I thought we could go out and get lunch or something," Colin said, getting up from his seat on the couch.
"I'm sorry, but I promised Austin that I would meet him for lunch since he took the morning shift at the comic store and I have the afternoon shift."
Colin frowned.
"You're always going out with Austin instead of me."
"What are you talking about?" Ephram smirked. "The only place I've gone without you in the last month outside of work was that one party. And I went with Austin and Megan plus you didn't want to come. Anyway you told me to go."
"Well, I regret it now," Colin muttered under his breath, turning around to face the TV again.
"Look, babe, I know you get bored being in here all day. I'll bring you something to read from the store and we can go out and do something tonight. Maybe go to a movie or something?" Ephram said giving Colin his most pleading his look.
"Ok, I'll go look at movie titles and times," Colin relented giving Ephram a smile.
"Great," Ephram said, leaning in to kiss Colin.
"See you tonight," he said as he walked out the door.
***
"Ephram, there's something important that I need to discuss with you," Austin said slowly as Ephram took a bite out of his hamburger.
"Well?" Ephram said when he realized that Austin needed some sort of encouragement.
"There's something wrong with Colin," Austin said after taking a deep breath.
"What?" Ephram asked distractedly as he stole a fry from Austin's tray.
"He's sick, Ephram. Colin is sick," Austin said his tone grave.
"What do you mean? Take a look at him, he's in perfect health," Ephram said, waving his hand as if Colin were standing before them.
"Megan and I have both noticed that he throws up constantly," Austin said, making his tone as gentle as he could.
"So, he has a weak stomach. Certain foods make him nauseous, he's been that way since I met him," Ephram said.
"Certain foods? Everything makes him nauseous," Austin said in an accusatory tone, then after a moment of though he added, "What about his headaches has he always had those?"
Ephram looked down at the half eaten plate of fries that Austin had slid closer to him, not willing to meet his friend's gaze.
"I guess it's because he hasn't been sleeping well," Ephram said, looking for an explanation.
"Ephram, stop kidding yourself, you don't get migraines because of lack of sleep," Austin said, his tone rising with exasperation.
"Look, I've talked to Colin about it and he says he's fine. If he says he's fine, then he is," Ephram said, making his voice sound firm and mentally willing Austin to drop the subject.
Austin recognized the tone of Ephram's voice and stared at the boy for a few minutes before returning to his food, letting the argument rest for the time being.