Hi Again, I Want You
Chapter Two: if it isn't you, then anybody will do
...
"The appetizers better be pretty amazing, man."
Charlie tugged nervously on his tie, his fingers fumbling against his cufflinks.
"You look fine," Adam reassured. They were in the foyer, coats already given to the coat check, and yards away from the main gathering of people.
Charlie glanced up at him, a smart remark on the tip of his tongue. However, when he looked up, he was at a loss for worlds. There was this look on Adam's face that made Charlie stall. Meeting a few hours before the event, dressed and small talk at the forefront of his mind, keeping the nervousness in the pit of his stomach regarding eating and chatting in a room full of people eying him like he was a piece of meat, left Charlie little opportunity to just look at Adam.
Now that he was given an opportunity to stare, he could not find the willpower to turn away. Adam was the same old Banksie, his features a little sharper, his jaw line more defined, and a bruise on his cheek –a little green in the middle tinged with a putrid shade of yellow- finally fading away, but…
His eyes were- they were soft, and just…looking at him in a way that Charlie only dreamed of. He'd seen that look often throughout the years as a teacher on the faces of his teenagers in his classroom. That face, dreamy with a flush of pink on their cheeks, was more prevalent in the halls as they huddled together outside of their respective lockers. Their foreheads barely touching as the couple leaned toward one another, a smile on their faces as they gazed at one another.
Oh.
He had seen that look.
On Adam's face.
Charlie mentally jolted.
It was right after graduation at Eden Hall.
Adam and Charlie had embraced amongst the cheering graduates. The Ducks around them were probably the loudest. He remembered looking at Adam and Adam smiling back at him. He had the same expression on his face. Charlie thought it was anticipation for the future after graduation. Adam opened his mouth, as if to say something before he abruptly clamped it shut. Simultaneously, Linda rounded the corner, hugging him from behind and suddenly Guy and Dwayne followed suit and started a group hug. Charlie hadn't noticed Adam moving away until he looked back up, but Adam was already on the other side of the mass crowd of Ducks, cornered by a hug-happy Luis and Fulton.
"You're Adam Banks, aren't you?"
An enthusiastic promoter broke the moment. Adam abruptly stepped away from Charlie, nervously rubbing the back of his neck as he plastered a magazine-cover worthy smile on his face.
"Mingle time," he stated.
"Y-yeah," Charlie agreed, purposely bumping his shoulder into Adam's as they made their way into the main room, a promoter chatting a mile a minute beside Adam.
Adam shot him a grateful look as they were suddenly bombarded by a third of the people in the room, the promoter's voice a soft hum in comparison to the rest of the over exuberant crowd.
Half an hour later, several polite but nonetheless non-memorable conversations –minus the one with the mayor's aid and apparently, their mayor had an almost terrifying left hook from his boxing days- Charlie was ready to go.
Charlie didn't envy Adam as much as the other possibly did. He loved hockey, he loved the feeling of the ice underneath his skates, the freedom of it as he glided along the ice. Most of all, he loved the camaraderie.
He got that and more as a teacher.
That, and he didn't have to deal with corporate sponsors.
Although the alumni and parents of Eden Hall could possibly give these corporate dogs and reporters a run for their money at times.
The team's publicist and a potential sponsor cornered Adam and another teammate. Charlie sighed sympathetically.
He knew what it was like to paint a smile on one's face and basically lay yourself out to the sharks.
He was used to these fancy dinners and basically catering to the needs of the rich that may or may not sponsor various clubs or build wings for the library or science buildings for the following year. This was the same: swap out high strung parents with their rich kids or various alumni and replace it with politicians and corporate sponsors, and hey, Charlie was right at home. Minus the fact he usually had a few other teachers or coaches from other sports teams along with him to complain with.
The food was admittedly better.
"You okay?"
Adam appeared beside him, the smile, the one he reserved for reporters and whoever else was out there smarming it up, lessened until it was that small, sweet smile that Charlie usually saw when he was with the Ducks. Although that look in his eyes hadn't disappeared. It was carefully hidden, but that sense of warmth that leaked through onto the fringes of Adam's blue eyes couldn't be contained.
Charlie was pretty sure dragging everyone's favorite Minnesota born and bred hockey star into a nearby closet to make out and possibly confess his undying love for would be frowned upon.
"Bored, but if I can survive being checked by a nearly seven foot tall senior, then I'm sure I'll be fine," Charlie replied. He frowned lightly, his fingers instinctively inching toward Adam's hand. He'd seen the other move his wrist forward toward him several times during their mingling session. However, as if stung, he would pull his hand back and stuff it into his pant pocket. His hockey players, like Adam used to, were scholarship students and would often hide their injuries for fear of being benched, or worse, off the roster.
"Your wrist is acting up…?"
Adam immediately pulled away as if any touch from Charlie could possibly burn him.
"I-um…it's okay," Adam muttered, averting his eyes.
Well, ouch.
Fulton's idea of kissing and running away, minus the fact he would potentially lose his best friend in the process, was looking more and more appealing by the second.
"Thank you," Adam murmured suddenly, his fingers lingering across Charlie's shoulder, "For worrying."
Charlie smiled despite the fact all he wanted to do was pin Adam against the nearest wall and ask if there was a possibility of a future together.
"Anytime."
…
Charlie has this personal game where every time someone clucked in sympathy at the mention of his profession ("Oh, you're a teacher…"), he would take a swig of his drink.
He should've stuck with water.
To make matters worse, his eyes would not stop looking at Adam's mouth.
"Charlie, isn't that you?"
Crap.
A warm arm wrapped around his shoulder to steady his swaying body. Charlie blinked, looking up into vibrant green eyes that stared down at him with a friendly grin, also warm and familiar –pale in comparison to Adam's- and god, it felt good to be embraced by someone who liked him, really liked him.
"Hey Drew," Charlie murmured, burying his face against the other's shirt. He smelled nice.
"Wow, win one national JV championship and you already get to hang out with the big dogs." Drew said jokingly as he moved them toward a more shadowy corner to afford them some privacy.
Charlie lightly shoulder bumped the other man on the sternum, "Shut up. You know I don't like these events."
Drew grinned, "Shame. You look good in a suit."
That compliment, once upon a time, would've had a blush the color of a tomato screaming down his cheeks and neck.
They dated their last year of college, him a senior and Drew a junior. He headed first into the minor leagues and Drew followed. Except, while Charlie enjoyed hockey, he knew he was better off teaching the skills to the younger generation. He went to graduate school for teaching while Drew stayed in the minor leagues. They both dated on and off until Charlie was offered a teaching position at Eden Hall and Drew went pro. The following year, it was announced that the JV coach was retiring and strong rumors that Charlie was topmost prospect for coach.
Three years of teaching and one coaching the new JV team and leading them to state championships, Charlie did well for himself.
It all worked out in the end.
It did not stop him from peering into his empty apartment and wonder.
Maybe.
"I'm here with a friend?" Charlie sighed, wrapping his arms around the other's waist mostly for support and further for comfort.
"Is that a question?" Laughter, warm like that first sip of hot chocolate on a cold Minnesota day, filled Charlie's senses. He shivered.
"I lost him…" His grip tightened on the other and wow, no more alcohol for Charlie. Mindy the hot new science teacher was right; alcohol was a depressant and playing the drinking game should be left to the teenagers and college students.
Charlie frowned in surprise when Drew fully wrapped his arms around him, pressing him against the wall behind him. His voice was warm against Charlie's ear, "You should forget about this place and come home with me."
SS: So, let me forewarn y'all that the rating will go up. I hope none of you are complaining! haha Still, I hope the progression of the story isn't too confusing of fast-paced. Review and tell me what you thought! I'm aiming for five reviews to make an even count of ten. -slightly OCD-