This Eternal Love of Ours

Chapter Two: Kiss

Author's Note: Hey everyone, thanks for making it this far into chapter two. For the first time in my life I've actually made a plot outline for each chapter and I am determined to stick to it. I thought this would help me avoid writer's block and would enable me to get chapters up more quickly (plus I may actually finish it!). Ha. I'm really very sorry that this took me forever to post chapter two. Believe it or not the plot outline was very specific and I knew what I wanted to happen this chapter, but I didn't know what specifically. So basically the whole thing holding up the entire story was (are you ready for this): what they would do on their second date! It really is very trivial I know, but it just held up everything! So, without further ado: Chapter Two of "This Eternal Love". English major people would this be put in quotations, meaning short story, or underlined meaning novella? I'm thinking it will be of novella length, but what is "novella length"?

Chapter Two: Kiss

Miguel was nervous to say the least. He had been meeting Andy every day since their first date, but always at the coffee shop. After their last date started off as a fiasco, they weren't too eager for another public date. But they were sick of meeting as friends in the coffee shop every day, and were ready for a second real date. The answer to their problems came when the owner of the coffee shop came to them to tell them that there was an 'Open Mike Night' in three days, and they were welcomed and encouraged to attend. It seemed the perfect date idea for their second try. Before Miguel knew it "three days" had shrunk to "twenty minutes".

He and Andy had been taking things slow, but not by any choice of theirs. The right moment just hadn't come along and the two of them were determined to make the moment special. They hadn't actually discussed how they felt about public displays of affection in great depth, but the general consensus was that because neither of them had come out, they would not flaunt their relationship. However, Miguel found himself so attracted to Andy, he didn't know how much longer he could continue without some displays of affection.

Miguel was broken out of his reverie at the sound of a series of knocks on his door and Andy's voice yelling to him.

"Miguel, come on, we're gonna miss the opening act!"

Miguel grabbed his coat and keys as he walked to the door and shouted to his boyfriend. "Relax, Andy! We have plenty of time. We might have had more if you had actually picked me up on time, but I'll let it slide."

They stopped in the doorway, face to face, each aware of the powerful feeling of their stomachs catching in their throats. While staring into the other's eyes they never felt themselves lose control, but they lost it all the same. As they closed their eyes and leaned into each other, within moments, both the men were out of breath and mere centimeters from the other. Suddenly, the sound of a car nearby backfiring brought them jerking away from each other and back into reality, each thoroughly embarrassed. They hustled back to Andy's car, each blushing and babbling, and feeling very put-out at the inconvenience of the commotion, moderately anxious about the anticipation they were feeling towards their first kiss, and just a little relieved they hadn't blown it yet.

Andy was the first to speak as they drove off in the car towards their coffee shop. "Miguel, do you ever have the feeling that the expectations for this kiss are spiraling out of control? I feel like each time we have an inkling of a moment, it results in us about to kiss. Then, some unforeseen outside force breaks it up. Maybe it's an omen."

"Andy, don't say that. The right moment just hasn't happened. We decided together that we were going to make it special. Maybe all this anticipation is going to work in our favor. Maybe it'll pay off. You're not having regrets, are you?"

"Only that I didn't kiss you the first time we met at the coffee shop."

The conversation quickly fell back into their normal banter, and within a half hour, they arrived at the coffee shop.

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"Andy," Miguel shouted over the sound of the band. "I know I'm not accustomed to American music, but does it always hurt this badly?"

"Not if it's done right! I can feel my ears bleeding."

"Do you want to go somewhere else?"

"It's only the first act! I'm sure the others will be better."

Unfortunately for Andy, he was very, very wrong. The acts seemed to get worse and worse, and after a two poets, one who spoke of unicorns and the other who spoke of death, the men were beginning to dread how the rest of the relationship would go based on the first two disastrous dates.

The night continued in similar fashion, with Miguel and Andy sneaking glances, and finding excuses to touch one another. Miguel's hand would brush Andy's thigh, or Andy would graze Miguel's foot with his own, just slightly wrapping his foot around the other man's ankle when he would innocently stretch between performers. However, the touches were subtle and fleeting, and despite the enjoyment Miguel found himself increasingly conscious of the quality of the performances, his observations quickly becoming paranoia as he continually leaned over to remind Andy that they could just go if he wanted to. Andy would turn to Miguel and tell him "it's okay".

Miguel's mind was whirring at breakneck speed. Was Andy joking? Was he being patronizing? He couldn't refer to the music as being "okay", could he? Miguel almost laughed aloud at the thought. True, he considered himself a musical aficionado, but even someone with no taste in music could see how terrible these acts were. Right? Maybe, just maybe Andy was enjoying the music. What would he think of Miguel pressuring him to leave? Miguel didn't want Andy to think that even though the music was great, Miguel couldn't stand being with him any longer. He considered telling Andy that he didn't want to get away from him, but if Andy hadn't been thinking about that in the first place, Miguel would be planting it in his head, and it would come to his mind, even if it hadn't been there before.

Despite Miguel's inner turmoil, Andy kept his eyes trained on the stage ahead of him. When a performer who had performed some sort of yelp to an acoustic guitar had finished, the owner came on the stage and announced it was the end of Open Mike Night. Miguel didn't fail to notice that she hadn't thanked the performers for coming out to perform. He turned to his side and to face Andy, trying with all his might to read the expression on the man's face for some indication of what he was feeling. After a couple moments, Andy stood up and stretched, looking around the room as he did so.

"Well, it seems you weren't the only one with the idea to leave. The place is basically empty."

Miguel blushed. So Andy had thought Miguel had wanted to get out of the date early. His stomach was knotted as he desperately searched for the right words to apologize and explain his desire to make it a good first date without offending Andy. Miguel's mouth hung open as he stammered incoherently. Putting him out of his misery, Andy took his hand and cupped it around Miguel's chin as he gently pushed his jaw up, effectively closing his mouth. Miguel wondered briefly about the calluses on Andy's fingers, before Andy proceeded to put a finger against Miguel's lips. Miguel swallowed hard against the pressure of Andy's finger on his own lips. Andy silently moved his hand to cup Miguel's cheek, his finger dragging across Miguel's lips as he went. In a daze, Miguel reached up to place his hand over Andy's, feeling the contrast of Andy's smooth skin to his calloused palms. Finding himself struggling to catch his breath, Miguel licked his lips where the ghost of Andy's finger still remained. As Andy licked his own lips and leaned in toward Miguel, Miguel felt his pulse quicken. Suddenly, he was snapped out of the moment, as Andy's hand yanked out of his at the sound of Karen, the owner addressing them both as she placed chairs up on the tables.

"I'm not going to even bother asking if you boys enjoyed the show and had a good time. I just hope I didn't ruin your date."

Miguel and Andy looked at one another, unsure of how to react, or even how to read Karen's comment. She hadn't sounded condescending or disapproving, and her face read nothing but honest regret to mimic her words. As Andy began delivering some story about how they were just friends, trying his best to charm Karen, Miguel cut across him. He wasn't sure whether he had spoken out jealousy at seeing Andy charm Karen, out of astonishment that Karen knew about their relationship, or out of embarrassment for being seen about to kiss another man in a public place.

"Actually, it's our second date."

Karen smiled warmly at them both. "I'm sorry I couldn't have provided a more enjoyable setting."

"You did fine honey," Andy said, kissing her cheek.

Again Miguel found himself speaking before he could stop himself, this time fully aware that jealousy was the cause. "How did you know?"

"Oh", Karen said, taken aback. "I didn't know it was a secret. I'm very sorry! I've just seen you two together every day at the shop, and I saw you guys tonight… I didn't mean to embarrass you."

Andy smiled warmly at Karen, much to the displeasure of Miguel. "Honey, don't worry about it."

"I'm sure no one else noticed," she said hurriedly. "It's not like I've ever seen you two be affectionate, and I haven't mentioned it to anyone. The way I see it, it's no one's business but yours."

"Thanks Sweetie," Andy said. "We'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

"Sure, Andy. Bye Miguel."

Miguel felt his face heat up as he watched Andy hug Karen goodbye and whisper something in her ear.

The car ride home was a quiet one, each man concentrating on his own thoughts.

When they arrived back at Miguel's house, Andy turned off the car, and Miguel unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to confront Andy.

"Sweetie? Honey?! What the Hell was that about, Andy?! You never hug me. You never call me some cute little nickname. I'm the one whose supposed to be your bloody boyfriend! This isn't going to work if you're going to act like that around women."

Andy sat dumbstruck as Miguel opened the door and stalked off towards his house. Recovering, Andy quickly pulled off his seatbelt and rushed towards Miguel.

"You called me your boyfriend."

Miguel ignored the flushing of his ears as he turned on Andy. "Don't change the subject, Andy. You were too—too… natural around her! It's not supposed to look so right."

Andy grabbed Miguel's hand that held the key he had been turning in the lock. "That's not what right looks like, Miguel. You and me. That's what's right. Looks have nothing to do with it."

With that he roughly grabbed Miguel's hair and pulled him closer, their lips roughly crashing together, ebbing and flowing like waves of the ocean as they found a rhythm coming together. Miguel was the first to pull away, out of breath.

"Everyone can see us out here."

"Screw everyone else."

With that, it was Miguel's turn to bring Andy to him. The kiss was much more gentle and calm than the first, conveying a feeling of affection and caring instead of the desperation and longing of their first. The first kiss had been passionate and unruly, this one was practiced and sensual.

This time it was Andy to pull away, panting slightly as a goofy smile crossed his features.

"So, your boyfriend?"

"Well, I don't just kiss any of my friends like that."

"Good."

"Good night, Andy."

"'Night, Miguel."

With that the two leaned forward together for one last goodnight kiss, and found themselves bumping their noses. As they pulled away, rubbing their noses, they laughed nervously, and Miguel voiced what was on both their minds.

"At least we made it through our first kiss without any disaster."

Andy laughed and agreed, placing his forehead against Miguel's for a minute before kissing him on the cheek. Miguel placed his hand over where Andy's lips had been and smiled wide.

Andy's smile mirrored Miguel's as he asked him, "So, that music really sucked, huh?"

Author's Note: Very sorry this took so long. I'll be going away in a couple of days, and won't have internet. However, I will have plenty of time to write, and am expecting to be able to post a couple new chapters when I get back on Sunday/Monday. Hope you review, and enjoyed the chapter.