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Took Them Long Enough
***
“Your eyes were covered in sunglasses
When
they first met mine
I sat there and stared at you
You didn't seem to mind
The awkward ways we meet”
***
Chuck stood sat next to Pierre in the burger joint bored
out of his mind.
“When is this bassist friend of yours going to show?”
Chuck picked at his straw, he didn’t
understand why he had to wait in greasy fast food place just to meet, Pierre’s
friend. Who knowing Pierre, couldn’t
play to say his life. Chuck looked up as the door opened and the most beautiful
thing he had ever seen walked in. Blacks
jeans that looked like they were made for a girl, but framed everything just right, a bright pink t-shirt covering what must
have been a beautifully pale chest. Sharp features and silver nose ring. Chuck couldn’t see his eyes, because of dark
sunglasses. But he could see that the boy, no man was looking right at him.
“There he is,” Pierre said grinning,
“Over here, David.”
David smiled brightly when he noticed Pierre and walked over to the booth, sitting down
in front of the two friends.
“David, this is Chuck, Chuck this is David.” Pierre introduced. David took off
his sunglasses and raised his hand to
shake Chuck’s. Chuck swallowed ears turning a lovely shade of red and shaking
David’s hand.
”Nice to meet you,” David said warmly. There was a distinct pause, where Chuck was memorizing
David’s eyes with his eyes. Pierre jabbed him in the ribs.
“Oh…I...Uh... Yeah, Umm... nice to meet you
too.” Chuck managed, lisping worse than he had in years.
Pierre gave Chuck a confused look, David just met Chuck’s
and bite his lip smiling. Chuck’s cheeks burned with embarrassment.
***
I never cared how I dressed before
But I cared
that night
Anticipation ran through my bones
And my clothes never fit right
I can't wait 'til we meet again
***
The first sign that Chuck was losing his mind, in Pierre’s
opinion, is when Pierre walked in Chuck’s room to find the bed not visible under a huge pile of clothes and Chuck’s
backside peeking out of his closet, as he rummaged through it.
“Are you insane?” Pierre asked looking at the
disarray in shock.
“Why didn’t you tell me that I have nothing, but bland style less clothes?” Chuck
answered in anguish head still stuck
in the closet.
“When did you start to care?” Pierre asked pushing some
of the clothes aside so he could sit on the bed. Chuck cried out in frustration stepping out of the closest and threw a pair
of khaki pants at the wall.
“You are insane, aren’t you?” Pierre said in confused amusement.
“I
have nothing to wear, we’re going out to eat to celebrate and I have nothing to wear.” Chuck said, not really
noticing that he was repeating himself. It was then that Pierre realized that Chuck was in nothing but a pair of Looney Tunes
boxers.
“Dude, why aren’t you dressed, the band’s going to be here in five minutes.” Pierre asked.
Chuck groaned.
"I told you, I have nothing to wear!”
Pierre glanced down at the pile of clothes he was half sitting
on and gave Chuck a “yeah right” look. Pierre was going to answer, but a knock came at the door and David peeked
his head inside.
“What’s taking so long….Oh” David’s eyes had locked on Chuck in his underwear
and went wide eyed.
Pierre gave David his best smile.
“We’ll be out in a few. Chuck’s just having
wardrobe malfunctions.”
David’s eyes never moved from Chuck, something indefinable hidden just beneath the
surface
“Obviously. We’ll give you two a few more minutes”
The door thumped closed as David left.
Pierre glanced at Chuck whose mouth was slack and frozen in horror. Pierre frowned.
"what was the big…oh!" Pierre
eyes went wide, then he started snickering, “You…you like David?”
Chuck snapped out of whatever shock
he was in and looked at Pierre, blushing from hairline to his upper chest
“Shit, you do!” Pierre grinned widely,
having known about his friend’s sexuality for a quite a few years.
"Why didn’t you say anything?”
Chuck
ran his hand through his hair.
“He’s too good for me.”
Pierre laughed.
“Yeah and the Pope’s
Jewish. Here wear this.”
Pierre tossed Chuck as pair of black dickies and a white tank with dark green button up.
Chuck began pulling the clothes on.
“You really think I’ve got a chance?”
Pierre smiled eyes twinkling.
“I
know it, man. Don’t worry."
***
Framed pictures start to be put on the walls
Constant
visits while I'm out on the road
It’s hard to leave sometimes
But you know where I lay my head at night
***
Chuck watched the old tapes Pat had made over the past year.
David and Jeff were mock slow dancing for the camera before
flipping off the camera. Chuck frowned trying to remember the
incident. It must have been near when David had drunkenly
propositioned Chuck. Chuck sighed deeply at the memory. David
was a very affection drunk and he hadn’t taken hi up on that. He cared very deeply for the bass played and couldn’t
bring himself to a one night stand. Jeff had really been holding David, but it was for comfort not for the camera’s
benefit. He could tell that just from knowing his friends well enough. Mild jealously played in Chuck’s stomach. Pat
had probably asked them to play it up a bit. Why had David been so upset? He was so caught up in the memories, he didn’t
notice the object of his affection walking standing just inside the back room of the bus, far enough in to see the TV.
“Ah
Jamaica, interesting memories from there.” David said when Chuck didn’t seem to realize he was there. Chuck glanced
up only slightly startled and paused the video.
“Why aren’t you sleeping like everyone else?”
David
shrugged sitting down on the far end of the couch,
“I couldn’t hear you snoring, came to investigate.”
Chuck
nodded pressing play; David flipping off the camera smiled half playing on his lips.
David frowned at the memory and Chuck
noticed and muted the TV.
“What’s wrong?”
David stared down at his knees curled up on the couch and
bite his lip.
“I know this is ancient history, but...”
Chuck cocked his head.
"What is it?”
David
looked up at him uncertainty shining through his eyes.
“Why did you,…. I offered… I, shit,… Why
didn’t you want me?”
Chuck stared at him face voice calm compared to his trembling chest.
“I thought
that was obvious…”
David stood up, hands shaking.
“Alright, fine…”
He had turned his
back on the drummer and began to walk towards the door.
“You were drunk… You were so god damned drunk that
was the only reason you were near me that night.” Chuck said voice
harsh with self-pity. David turned staring at
Chuck, understanding sparkling in his eyes. He walked slowly to the boy and sat back down on the couch. He was a mere centimeters
away.
“I’m not drunk now, Chuck.” He said voice wavering audibly. Chuck eyes searched David’s face
for any dishonesty. He found none. Breath shaky, he leaned forward eyes glancing from David’s eyes to his lips quickly.
David laced his hand around Chuck’s neck as their lips met.
***
First comes heavy breathing
Staring at the ceiling
What will happen next?
I don't wanna know
I don't wanna know
***
Loud shaky breaths, quiet groans. Whispered sweet nothings.
A loud cry of ecstasy. Then silence. Jeff and Pierre glanced at each and towards the back room where the noises of their friends
were coming from.
“Took them long enough.”
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