Thanks for all of the lovely reviews :) Time for a night out...
It was a Saturday evening and Syed was sat staring at a mundane programme on the television, trying to distract himself from his thoughts of Christian. Ok, so he'd admit it. He found Christian attractive, incredibly so. And not just in terms of the way he looked either, his personality was endearing too. He'd been popping in and out of his new home, seeing how the renovation was going, and having a quick chat with Syed before heading off again. When it was just the two of them, normally stood on the roof terrace enjoying a quick coffee, it was as though Christian was a different person. His teasing nature remained but his suggestive remarks and sexual comments, which would leave Syed with a twinge in his groin and an ache of jealousy in his stomach, had diminished considerably. He'd talk to Syed as more of a person than a potential conquest, and it was… nice.
Day by day, Syed's anticipation grew and he felt his mood escalate when he saw Christian walk through the door. Sometimes there was something that Syed guessed could be called flirting, moments when a smile was more than friendly or contact between them lasted a little longer than it should. But despite that, Syed knew that even if anything more did happen with Christian, he'd never get what he wanted. He wanted a relationship with Christian, not some mindless shag. He knew that if he had him once then he'd only crave him more, the feelings he'd had before he came out would resurface. The desperation, the sadness, the emptiness, and he couldn't go through all of that again. So whilst he'd allow himself to enjoy his time with Christian, he always made sure to tell himself not to get too attached, not to read into things too much.
It was Pete's birthday today and there was something of a get together happening in the local pub this evening. Syed knew that Christian was going to be there and was sure that he'd be dressed to impress, no doubt searching for another man to take home with him. Syed stood in front of his wardrobe, idly looking through his collection of shirts. He found himself wondering which one Christian would like, the black one he thought, with a couple of buttons undone to show off a bit of chest. There was nothing wrong with a bit of visual flirtation, was there?
x-CS-x
The pub was busy, crammed with friends of Pete, some of whom Syed recognised, all there to help celebrate his fortieth. Shiny helium balloons were scattered around, making everyone well aware of Pete's milestone birthday. Syed spotted Ben slouched at a table in the corner, sat with a few of his other colleagues, and made his way over.
"If my fortieth is anything like this then I'll top myself," Ben had clearly bypassed the fun stage of inebriation and was now in a depressive mood, fiddling morosely with a beer mat.
Syed decided to go straight in for the kill. "Is Christian here yet?"
"Christian?" Ben sighed heavily and dropped the beer mat onto the table. "Have you had him yet? I bet you have, haven't you? Do you love him?" Ben made to get up. "Everyone. Oi!" Oh no. "Syed's got an announcement to make."
Syed quickly tugged on his sleeve and chastised him, "What the hell are you doing?"
"I was just going to tell everybody that you love Christian." Ben looked genuinely confused.
Syed's heart sank as he felt his presence before he heard him. "We haven't even shared a kiss and you love me already?" Christian asked, with a gratified twinkle in his eye.
"I didn't say that," Syed clarified. "He's drunk."
"Yeah I can see that. How much has he had?" Christian crouched down at their table.
"Not a clue, I've only just arrived."
"Well I think I'll leave you to sort him out. I need a drink." Noticing Syed didn't have one, he asked, "Can I get you one too?"
"I'm fine." Syed replied bluntly.
Christian excused himself, leaving Syed with a drunken Ben leaning on his shoulder.
x-CS-x
Having managed to finally detach himself from Ben, Syed was now stood chatting with a few friends at the bar. Occasionally he'd scan the room, seeing if he could spot Christian amongst the masses. At one point a crowd shifted and Syed caught a glimpse of him, surrounded by a cluster of men, sharing a joke. Syed felt something that could have been jealousy, but then what did he have to be jealous of? The heart-churning disappointment when Christian didn't return their calls? The feeling of rejection when Christian told them that he wasn't interested in anything more than one night together? Christian's tongue, licking a path over their flesh as they writhed on the covers of his bed? Syed felt a sudden rush of blood to his groin, the effect that Christian had on him was turning into something of a curse.
Syed smiled when Pete sidled over to them, a glass of champagne in his hand. "I saw you! Staring at Christian. You still sticking to your 'I'm not interested' story?" He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Christian! Get over here."
"What are you doing?" Syed suddenly felt very jittery as Christian approached.
"Saving him," he answered knowingly. "If that lot get their claws into him then there'll be no escape."
"Lifesaver." Christian turned to look at the men, who were all now staring at the three of them. "One of them clearly hasn't had any in a while, gagging for it, and not in a good way."
At that moment the pub door swung open and a man with a slight build strutted in, a bouquet of flowers in his arms. As soon as he spotted Christian he rushed over, shoving the flowers at Pete and mumbling his best wishes.
"Darling, how are you?" He gave Christian a peck on the cheek.
"Jack." Christian managed a tight smile, "Good thanks, yourself?"
"You know me, always happy." His grin was manic, Syed found him slightly unnerving. "I had such an amazing time the other night. We must do it again." He stroked his hand over Christian's cheek and the knot of jealousy in Syed's stomach tightened.
What could have easily become an awkward pause was averted by the sound of smashing glass as Ben fell onto the bar, sending various glasses onto the floor.
Christian looked at Syed, through a laugh he asked, "He really does he like throwing himself over things, doesn't he?"
"No, he just can't hold his drink. I'll take him outside." Syed reluctantly detached himself from the group and, after getting a glass of water from the barman, took Ben by the arm and led him outside.
x-CS-x
Syed had decided that he could no longer look after Ben, and wanting to salvage at least some of the evening he called a taxi to take the other man home. As he was telling the driver the address, he heard the volume of noise from inside the pub increase as the door was opened. He already knew who was standing there before he turned around. He mentally prepared himself.
Christian smiled, he looked incredible tonight. "You're a better man than I am. I would have just left him to get on with it."
"Well that's the difference between me and you isn't it? I'm not selfish." Had he really just said that?
"You really have got a low opinion of me, haven't you?" Christian looked hurt by that comment, hurt and annoyed.
"Blame Pete."
"Believe me, I do. He's prone to exaggeration you know. I'm not as much of a man-eater as he likes to make out." Was that really true? "Actually, the real reason I came out here was to ask if you could do me a massive favour." He gazed intently at Syed. "There are a couple of people in there putting me under a bit of pressure."
"Only a couple?" There it was again, the inescapable flirty note to his voice.
"Ok, maybe a few more."
"It's a good job you work out." Syed's eyes flickered towards Christian's arms, what they would feel like wrapped around his- Stop it. "It must be difficult having to fend off all of those men."
"You're really not very good at sarcasm, you know. Are you going to do me this favour or not?"
"You seriously expect me to say yes when you haven't told me what I've got to do?"
"It's the launch of the Health and Gym Awards and I've got to take a guest with me." Christian paused and sat down on the wall outside of the pub. "But now word's got out and all of them in there want to be the one that I ask. It's turning into an absolute nightmare and I could do without all of the hassle. I'm sure a fight's going to kick off soon; Jack's throwing bitchy comments at everyone. So I was thinking that the best way around it would be to take you with me instead."
"Are you serious? I'll be run out of London by them."
"Please." Christian pouted and Syed felt his insides turn to mush, why did he have to look so adorable when he did that? "None of them know you, not properly anyway. Think about it Syed, nearly everyone there has money. You can mingle and make some contacts. I guarantee you there'd be at least a couple of people there who are looking to get renovations done. Look at it as a business opportunity. We'll both gain something out of it. You can make some contacts and I can get that lot off my back. We'll have a fantastic evening, I promise."
"I can't." Syed shook his head. "I'm not interested in you, Christian."
"I never said that this was going to be a date. It won't be romantic. Not in any way at all. So what's the problem?"
Syed's mind was racing. Was Christian playing some kind of game? Whatever he was doing, it was working.
"Go on," Christian's tone was persuasive. "I'd take Matt but he and the wife are staying with her parents." Christian spoke about marriage in such an unexpectedly casual way, like it was a hindrance rather than a blessing. "I think the next best thing is to take you. It'll be purely platonic."
Syed guessed it did make sense, if not to just try and make some new contacts. God, Christian was good. This was all starting to get a bit too complicated.
"Unless you don't want it to be," said Christian.
Well that didn't help at all. Syed felt almost nauseous now. Christian was an absolute nightmare. The sensible thing would be to say no. Stopping before he was in even deeper.
"I'll take that as a no then." Christian took the unnaturally long pause as a sign of Syed's disinterest.
Nooooooo! He did want to go. He did!
"When is it?"
Progress...? ;)