Post by Echo on Aug 23, 2011 0:17:27 GMT -5
It was finally summer. Ever since that day in the park things had been going pretty well. Extremely well to be honest. Over spring break Alex and I had mainly just sat around or watched movies while Honey and Sage played in their room. After break we had exams, which went well for all of us, and Bliss convinced Alex to let the twins stay with her after school. They adored Christy, and the feeling was pretty mutual; she couldn’t have been happier to have the two more-than-willing twins try her cooking.
They were at her house now in fact, Bliss had called earlier asking if they could come over. Alex was asleep on the couch, having just gotten back from dropping them off. I wished he was upstairs sleeping though, or at least a heavier sleeper. I needed to be able to use the kitchen without him waking up.
It was all part of my plan. Alex was always cooking, always doing everything for me. His birthday was coming up, though and I wanted to do something for him for a change. It was sort of for that reason, but the fact that I had no real job, and only a small allowance from my dad at the moment, was also a contributing factor.
“Nero?”
I whip around to see Alex standing in the door to the kitchen and nearly jump through the roof in surprise.
“I thought you were asleep…” I stammer, suddenly glad I hadn’t gotten any of the ingredients out yet for the cake I want to try making him.
He shrugs, “I just needed to lie down for a while.”
Worry flood over me and I look up at him, “Are you feeling ok?” my voice sounds really panicked but he shakes his head and smiles.
“I’m still tired from staying up late to study for the exams.”
I relax, “Oh.”
He leans back against the counter and I sigh, going back to my thoughts. Obviously cooking something won’t work. And we never got around to talking about his life like I’d wanted, so I’m at a loss. But maybe now would be a good time to talk about it? I turn to him and hesitate before opening my mouth.
“Hey, Alex?”
His eyes remain closed as he says, “Yes, love?”
I blush a little, but continue, “We never got to talk about your life.”
He opens his eyes and looks over at me, “What do you want to know?”
I think about it for a moment then frown. Where do I start? I want to know everything; where he lived before now, about his parents, everything. When I say this he laughs.
“Come sit with me.” He says, taking my hand. He pulls me into the living room and sits down in the couch, motioning for me to do the same. “How about I start with my life before Honey and Sage were born?”
I nod, “Can I ask you a question first?”
He smiles, “Anything for you, cutie.”
“How long have you known that you’re gay?”
My question, by the look on his face, surprises him. He doesn’t answer at first; instead he repositions himself so he’s lying down and then pulls me into his lap. I lean back and rest my head on his chest as he wraps his arms around me and takes my hands in his.
“Elementary school.” He says. “I was always a little different than everybody else. I felt more at home playing with the girls, and my teacher sent me home with a note for my parents one day. Being a curious kid, I opened it on the bus and decided not to give it to my parents. It was a note telling them I was showing ‘gay’ behaviors. When I asked my parents what gay is they told me not to worry about it. They said it’s an adult thing.”
He pauses and I wait patiently for him to go on.
“I left it at that, and although I thought about it a lot, I never talked about it. When I heard a kid in middle school use it to describe one of my classmates I asked him what it meant.” He laughs, “He told me it means you like boys and then asked if I was gay. I told him I was. I’d realized my attraction to guys by then, but I didn’t know people didn’t accept it. So I got a lot of crap for it at school For the most part it was the other guys who made fun of me, but I tried not to pay attention to it.
Then my grades started dropping and my parents wouldn’t leave me alone until I told them what was bothering me. In eighth grade I came out to them. Honey and Sage were about two year old, and my parents got really mad. They put up with me for a little longer and at the beginning of this year, my parents divorced and my dad moved out. My mom found some other guy and gave me legal guardianship of them to run off with him. The courts dragged her back and are making her pay child support. After that I started going to GSA and became president. Then I met you and,” he kisses my cheek, “You know the rest.”
“I’m sorry.” I tell him and his grip on me strengthens.
“Why are you sorry?”
I sigh and hesitate. He sits up a little and grasps my chin, making me look at him.
“I just… I’m always complaining and I never thought about what you’ve gone through.”
He rolls his eyes, “Nero, sweetie, you’ve got a slight tendency to forget that I don’t care how much you complain. I love you, it’s as simple as that.” Before I can say anything he adds, “Now come on, we’re a week into summer and we don’t have anything to do. I’m taking you to the pool.”
About half an hour and another embarrassing experience later and we’re at a pool house a little outside of town. I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as I recall what happened only an hour ago. After slipping one of Alex’s spare swimsuits on I’d gone into his room to grab my phone and he’d tackled me. He had trapped me by sitting on my while he rubbed sunscreen onto my back. Afterwards my face had been at least twice as red as it was now.
“What is this place?” I ask him as we enter a large building, trying to get the memory out of my head.
“It’s a pool house like I told you.” I give him a pointed look and he laughs, “There’s a lot of separate pools that are different sizes. They’re kind of for certain, uh… things.” He grins at my immediate look of horror, “But also for people who don’t like public pools.”
He turns to the counter we’ve approached and orders a room for us, telling me that people, like we’ll apparently be doing, can also stay the night.
“If it’s a pool house, why did we put on sunscreen?” I ask, curious.
“I got us an outside pool. Come on.” He takes my hand and leads me down a hall.
“Wait, Alex,” I stop and he looks back at me, “I… I can’t…”
He takes one look at my wide eyed expression and pulls me over to one of the rooms. He unlocks the door and the moment it clicks shut behind us he wraps his arms around me, obviously worried.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
I feel kind of silly though.
“I… nothing is wrong.” I give a small laugh, “I, uh, don’t know how to swim.”
He stands there for a minute, allowing what I’ve said to sink in. When it does he smiles, “I won’t let you drown. If you want me to teach you how to swim I can.”
I shake my head immediately; swimming isn’t something I’m dying to learn how to do. But the look of disappointment on his face is just heartbreaking. His bottom lip sticks out in a little pout, something he’s never done.
“Maybe.” I say, not wanting him to be upset, but still unsure.
“Is that a yes-maybe?” he jokes, but I hear the hope in his voice.
I sigh, “Do I have to?”
He pulls his shirt off and removes mine as well before I can, and then opens the door that leads to the outside pool. We walk to the edge and stand facing each other.
“Not today, but promise me you’ll let me tomorrow?”
I nod reluctantly and he claps his hands together joyfully. After a moment he takes a step into the water. I watch him, debating over whether to join him or not, but when I’m about to step in his hand reaches out and pulls me in. The cold water comes as a shock and for just a second I remember how those guys had been trying to drown me. But I force the thought away and press against Alex’s bare skin for warmth. I quickly regret it though when he scoops me up into his arms.
“W-What are you-” he cuts me off with a long kiss.
“You can’t swim, so I’m going to carry you.” He grins, looking down at me happily, “God you’re beautiful.”
I feel the blood rush into my cheeks at the random comment and he laughs. I glare at him a little, but still I stretch my neck up for a light kiss.
“Please put me down.” I say.
He closes his eyes and when he opens them a few moments later they’ve softened. He places me back on my feet but keeps a tight grip on my hand.
“Alex?” I sigh and decide that there’s no use trying to figure out what he wants without letting him in on it.
He pulls me closer and raises an eyebrow, “Yes, my love?”
“What do you want for your birthday?”
His expression gets serious as he says, “Nero, sweetie, you don’t have to get me anything.”
I look down at the water with a frown, “B-But I want to.”
“Nero,” his voice is calm and when I look up at him, I see he’s clearly not kidding, “I don’t need anything but you. You don’t need to go out and waste your money on me.”
I frown at him, “But, you’re always spending your money on me, why can’t I?”
He doesn’t answer; instead he pulls my hand out of the water and places it against his lips. “Can we talk about this later? We’re supposed to be having fun.”
I nod reluctantly, allowing him to pull me further into the water. We spend the next few hours in the pool, until I start to get cold. I watch him swimming in the opposite end, where it’s too deep for me, and begin to shiver. When he swims back to me I press my cold body against his warm one. He automatically puts his arms around me.
“Are you cold?” I nod and he gives a small laugh, “Well let’s get out then.”
I scurry out of the water, still thinking of his refusing to allow me to buy something for him. I open my mouth to mention it, but close it once again when I realize he’ll probably get mad. And the only time I’ve seen him mad was at the park when… I stop myself from thinking about it. Instead, I promise myself that I’ll definitely bring it up tomorrow.
“What time is it?” I ask as we go into the warm room.
Alex picks his cellphone up from the bed and slides it open, “About 8. We still have a while before it gets dark, are you hungry?”
“Kind of, are you?”
I look around for a moment as he nods, suddenly remembering we didn’t pack any clothes.
Meaning I’m stuck in the borrowed swim trunks. When I voice this though, Alex laughs.
“I packed some stuff while you were changing. It’s out in the car.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, but worry washes over me once again as I think of Honey and Sage. Does Christy know we won’t be coming home?
“They’re fine. I told Christy and Bliss we’d be going out. She doesn’t mind them staying over.”
“How did you know that that’s what I was about to say?” I shoot him a confused look.
“I kind of figured you’d be worried about that.”
I frown at him, but flop down on the bed, deciding not to discuss it any further. I feel the bed move as Alex sits down next to me, and I search out his hand, lacing our fingers together.
“What do you want to eat?”
I sit up, thinking. “Anything. You can pick.” I pause, “Just not seafood.”
The expression on my face makes him laugh and I smile, happy to hear the beautiful sound.
“Well, do you want to eat here, or go out somewhere?”
I close my eyes and curl up next to him, holding his hand in front of my face.
“Let’s eat here, I’m too tired to go anywhere.” I admit.
He chuckles and opens his phone up again. He orders a pizza and then goes to get our clothes and to tell the worker at the desk which room to send the pizza delivery person to. When he comes back I’m standing again. I had forgotten we were both still wet when we came in, so now the bed is damp in some places. Alex hands me one of the bags he’s carrying and gets dressed while I use the bathroom to shower and change. I finish quickly and wait patiently for him to come out. A few minutes after he steps out of the bathroom there’s a knock at the door.
“Just a minute!” he calls, grabbing something, his wallet, out of his bag.
He pays the boy at the door and then shuts it, setting the pizza box on the bed. The smell coming from it is amazing and makes my mouth water. I lie down on my stomach and open the box. Alex does the same, waiting until I’ve gotten my piece to reach in and take a slice.
Once we’re done eating it’s about 9:30 and I can’t keep my eyes open.
“Let’s go to sleep.” I mumble, resting my head on his chest.
He turns off the light then lies back down and wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead. “Night, baby.”
I press myself closer, “I love you.” I say and slip into sleep as he replies in a whisper.
“I love you too, Nero.”
They were at her house now in fact, Bliss had called earlier asking if they could come over. Alex was asleep on the couch, having just gotten back from dropping them off. I wished he was upstairs sleeping though, or at least a heavier sleeper. I needed to be able to use the kitchen without him waking up.
It was all part of my plan. Alex was always cooking, always doing everything for me. His birthday was coming up, though and I wanted to do something for him for a change. It was sort of for that reason, but the fact that I had no real job, and only a small allowance from my dad at the moment, was also a contributing factor.
“Nero?”
I whip around to see Alex standing in the door to the kitchen and nearly jump through the roof in surprise.
“I thought you were asleep…” I stammer, suddenly glad I hadn’t gotten any of the ingredients out yet for the cake I want to try making him.
He shrugs, “I just needed to lie down for a while.”
Worry flood over me and I look up at him, “Are you feeling ok?” my voice sounds really panicked but he shakes his head and smiles.
“I’m still tired from staying up late to study for the exams.”
I relax, “Oh.”
He leans back against the counter and I sigh, going back to my thoughts. Obviously cooking something won’t work. And we never got around to talking about his life like I’d wanted, so I’m at a loss. But maybe now would be a good time to talk about it? I turn to him and hesitate before opening my mouth.
“Hey, Alex?”
His eyes remain closed as he says, “Yes, love?”
I blush a little, but continue, “We never got to talk about your life.”
He opens his eyes and looks over at me, “What do you want to know?”
I think about it for a moment then frown. Where do I start? I want to know everything; where he lived before now, about his parents, everything. When I say this he laughs.
“Come sit with me.” He says, taking my hand. He pulls me into the living room and sits down in the couch, motioning for me to do the same. “How about I start with my life before Honey and Sage were born?”
I nod, “Can I ask you a question first?”
He smiles, “Anything for you, cutie.”
“How long have you known that you’re gay?”
My question, by the look on his face, surprises him. He doesn’t answer at first; instead he repositions himself so he’s lying down and then pulls me into his lap. I lean back and rest my head on his chest as he wraps his arms around me and takes my hands in his.
“Elementary school.” He says. “I was always a little different than everybody else. I felt more at home playing with the girls, and my teacher sent me home with a note for my parents one day. Being a curious kid, I opened it on the bus and decided not to give it to my parents. It was a note telling them I was showing ‘gay’ behaviors. When I asked my parents what gay is they told me not to worry about it. They said it’s an adult thing.”
He pauses and I wait patiently for him to go on.
“I left it at that, and although I thought about it a lot, I never talked about it. When I heard a kid in middle school use it to describe one of my classmates I asked him what it meant.” He laughs, “He told me it means you like boys and then asked if I was gay. I told him I was. I’d realized my attraction to guys by then, but I didn’t know people didn’t accept it. So I got a lot of crap for it at school For the most part it was the other guys who made fun of me, but I tried not to pay attention to it.
Then my grades started dropping and my parents wouldn’t leave me alone until I told them what was bothering me. In eighth grade I came out to them. Honey and Sage were about two year old, and my parents got really mad. They put up with me for a little longer and at the beginning of this year, my parents divorced and my dad moved out. My mom found some other guy and gave me legal guardianship of them to run off with him. The courts dragged her back and are making her pay child support. After that I started going to GSA and became president. Then I met you and,” he kisses my cheek, “You know the rest.”
“I’m sorry.” I tell him and his grip on me strengthens.
“Why are you sorry?”
I sigh and hesitate. He sits up a little and grasps my chin, making me look at him.
“I just… I’m always complaining and I never thought about what you’ve gone through.”
He rolls his eyes, “Nero, sweetie, you’ve got a slight tendency to forget that I don’t care how much you complain. I love you, it’s as simple as that.” Before I can say anything he adds, “Now come on, we’re a week into summer and we don’t have anything to do. I’m taking you to the pool.”
About half an hour and another embarrassing experience later and we’re at a pool house a little outside of town. I can feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as I recall what happened only an hour ago. After slipping one of Alex’s spare swimsuits on I’d gone into his room to grab my phone and he’d tackled me. He had trapped me by sitting on my while he rubbed sunscreen onto my back. Afterwards my face had been at least twice as red as it was now.
“What is this place?” I ask him as we enter a large building, trying to get the memory out of my head.
“It’s a pool house like I told you.” I give him a pointed look and he laughs, “There’s a lot of separate pools that are different sizes. They’re kind of for certain, uh… things.” He grins at my immediate look of horror, “But also for people who don’t like public pools.”
He turns to the counter we’ve approached and orders a room for us, telling me that people, like we’ll apparently be doing, can also stay the night.
“If it’s a pool house, why did we put on sunscreen?” I ask, curious.
“I got us an outside pool. Come on.” He takes my hand and leads me down a hall.
“Wait, Alex,” I stop and he looks back at me, “I… I can’t…”
He takes one look at my wide eyed expression and pulls me over to one of the rooms. He unlocks the door and the moment it clicks shut behind us he wraps his arms around me, obviously worried.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
I feel kind of silly though.
“I… nothing is wrong.” I give a small laugh, “I, uh, don’t know how to swim.”
He stands there for a minute, allowing what I’ve said to sink in. When it does he smiles, “I won’t let you drown. If you want me to teach you how to swim I can.”
I shake my head immediately; swimming isn’t something I’m dying to learn how to do. But the look of disappointment on his face is just heartbreaking. His bottom lip sticks out in a little pout, something he’s never done.
“Maybe.” I say, not wanting him to be upset, but still unsure.
“Is that a yes-maybe?” he jokes, but I hear the hope in his voice.
I sigh, “Do I have to?”
He pulls his shirt off and removes mine as well before I can, and then opens the door that leads to the outside pool. We walk to the edge and stand facing each other.
“Not today, but promise me you’ll let me tomorrow?”
I nod reluctantly and he claps his hands together joyfully. After a moment he takes a step into the water. I watch him, debating over whether to join him or not, but when I’m about to step in his hand reaches out and pulls me in. The cold water comes as a shock and for just a second I remember how those guys had been trying to drown me. But I force the thought away and press against Alex’s bare skin for warmth. I quickly regret it though when he scoops me up into his arms.
“W-What are you-” he cuts me off with a long kiss.
“You can’t swim, so I’m going to carry you.” He grins, looking down at me happily, “God you’re beautiful.”
I feel the blood rush into my cheeks at the random comment and he laughs. I glare at him a little, but still I stretch my neck up for a light kiss.
“Please put me down.” I say.
He closes his eyes and when he opens them a few moments later they’ve softened. He places me back on my feet but keeps a tight grip on my hand.
“Alex?” I sigh and decide that there’s no use trying to figure out what he wants without letting him in on it.
He pulls me closer and raises an eyebrow, “Yes, my love?”
“What do you want for your birthday?”
His expression gets serious as he says, “Nero, sweetie, you don’t have to get me anything.”
I look down at the water with a frown, “B-But I want to.”
“Nero,” his voice is calm and when I look up at him, I see he’s clearly not kidding, “I don’t need anything but you. You don’t need to go out and waste your money on me.”
I frown at him, “But, you’re always spending your money on me, why can’t I?”
He doesn’t answer; instead he pulls my hand out of the water and places it against his lips. “Can we talk about this later? We’re supposed to be having fun.”
I nod reluctantly, allowing him to pull me further into the water. We spend the next few hours in the pool, until I start to get cold. I watch him swimming in the opposite end, where it’s too deep for me, and begin to shiver. When he swims back to me I press my cold body against his warm one. He automatically puts his arms around me.
“Are you cold?” I nod and he gives a small laugh, “Well let’s get out then.”
I scurry out of the water, still thinking of his refusing to allow me to buy something for him. I open my mouth to mention it, but close it once again when I realize he’ll probably get mad. And the only time I’ve seen him mad was at the park when… I stop myself from thinking about it. Instead, I promise myself that I’ll definitely bring it up tomorrow.
“What time is it?” I ask as we go into the warm room.
Alex picks his cellphone up from the bed and slides it open, “About 8. We still have a while before it gets dark, are you hungry?”
“Kind of, are you?”
I look around for a moment as he nods, suddenly remembering we didn’t pack any clothes.
Meaning I’m stuck in the borrowed swim trunks. When I voice this though, Alex laughs.
“I packed some stuff while you were changing. It’s out in the car.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, but worry washes over me once again as I think of Honey and Sage. Does Christy know we won’t be coming home?
“They’re fine. I told Christy and Bliss we’d be going out. She doesn’t mind them staying over.”
“How did you know that that’s what I was about to say?” I shoot him a confused look.
“I kind of figured you’d be worried about that.”
I frown at him, but flop down on the bed, deciding not to discuss it any further. I feel the bed move as Alex sits down next to me, and I search out his hand, lacing our fingers together.
“What do you want to eat?”
I sit up, thinking. “Anything. You can pick.” I pause, “Just not seafood.”
The expression on my face makes him laugh and I smile, happy to hear the beautiful sound.
“Well, do you want to eat here, or go out somewhere?”
I close my eyes and curl up next to him, holding his hand in front of my face.
“Let’s eat here, I’m too tired to go anywhere.” I admit.
He chuckles and opens his phone up again. He orders a pizza and then goes to get our clothes and to tell the worker at the desk which room to send the pizza delivery person to. When he comes back I’m standing again. I had forgotten we were both still wet when we came in, so now the bed is damp in some places. Alex hands me one of the bags he’s carrying and gets dressed while I use the bathroom to shower and change. I finish quickly and wait patiently for him to come out. A few minutes after he steps out of the bathroom there’s a knock at the door.
“Just a minute!” he calls, grabbing something, his wallet, out of his bag.
He pays the boy at the door and then shuts it, setting the pizza box on the bed. The smell coming from it is amazing and makes my mouth water. I lie down on my stomach and open the box. Alex does the same, waiting until I’ve gotten my piece to reach in and take a slice.
Once we’re done eating it’s about 9:30 and I can’t keep my eyes open.
“Let’s go to sleep.” I mumble, resting my head on his chest.
He turns off the light then lies back down and wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead. “Night, baby.”
I press myself closer, “I love you.” I say and slip into sleep as he replies in a whisper.
“I love you too, Nero.”