Another chapter to make up for the lack of updates. I hope you like 15; it's my favourite one yet.
Chapter 15- Crazy Feelings.
“That was quick!” Stephen squealed as we came out of the living room.
“All good?” enquired Grant.
“All good!” Matt and I replied in unison.
“Good, good. You can stir that pot,” he said to me “And you Matty-boy, can lay the table.”
“Yessir,” Matt replied, saluting Grant in an ironic way.
“Don’t fuck with me, Army Boy, or I’ll have you court marshalled!” We all laughed.
* * *
Right on time, Tyrone, Rob and Chase arrived. Michael, the librarian, was at some sort of conference so couldn’t make it but sent his apologies. I wasn’t really that bothered to be honest; he wasn’t exactly the most ‘rock n roll’ of Grant and Stephen’s friends.
As soon as they arrived Stephen whisked Chase off to talk wedding plans. In my own selfishness, I’d completely forgotten about he impending nuptials and now realised they were about 3 weeks away. I made a mental note to get my speech started as soon as I could. Stephen and Chase were at the table, giggling over the ‘wedding book,’ as Matt and I helped Grant in the kitchen. More than once, I saw Chase looking over in Matt’s direction and Matt return a few of his smiles. Tyrone and Rob were in the lounge with some beers, flicking through the cable channels.
Dinner, as always was a light-hearted affair. Once again, I learnt far more about gay sex than I ever needed to know in my lifetime but they had a way of talking about it that made it seem so off-hand and normal. I sat next to Tyrone again and we spoke about ideas for our speeches, he had some great ones but, then again, he was allowed to as he was a hell of a lot more educated than I was. I didn’t actually mind that my speech would pale in comparison to his, as he was such a decent guy.
The rest of the table were conversing freely. Grant and Rob were talking animatedly about something which they were obviously passionate and, at the other end of the table, Stephen, Chase and Matt were laughing at something undoubtedly outrageous that Stephen has just said. Matt and Chase continued their conversation as Stephen went to get more wine, they were laughing still- after all that had happened, it was good to see Kiddo laughing.
Two taxis arrived at suitably-drunk O’clock and we stumbled in to them to begin our night of trying to maintain conversation over bass and noise.
The club was jam-packed when we arrived, there was nowhere to sit so we ended up hanging by the bar and getting evil looks from skinny queens who were having trouble getting their drinks. As always when you go out in a group, we ended up splitting off. The younger ones (Matt, Stephen, Chase and Tyrone) were dancing like they were auditioning for a Rihanna video while Rob, Grant and I watched on, wincing at the more-often-bad-than-good dance moves.
As the night progressed, I got to find out a bit more about Rob. Like Tyrone, he was a bloody nice guy and owned his own small property company, dealing mostly with business rentals and office space. He’d been with Tyrone for a few months and said he’d never been happier- especially after the ex that reared his ugly head a few weeks ago. For the first time, I was actually having a good night in Pretty. Whether it was fuelled by the alcohol or the company didn’t bother me, I was in a really good mood.
I turned back to look at the wannabe-starlets on the dancefloor. Stephen and Tyrone were still throwing some pretty impressive shapes but Chase and Matt had disappeared.
“Where did Chase and Matt go?” I asked Grant.
“Over there.” He replied, raising his glass to point in their direction.
I turned round to see Chase pushed up against the DJ booth with Matt’s tongue firmly down his throat. I looked away in shock as Grant and Rob laughed.
Moments later Matt came over to the bar; he was absolutely wasted.
“I don’t think you need any more, Matt.” I advised him.
“I’m just having one more, Hetero.” He smiled.
“No Matt, no more.” I said, forcefully.
“Ernie, fuck off. I’m having another drink.”
“No Matt, you’re not. You’re making a show of yourself.” I grabbed the top of his arm as he tried to push past me.
“You’re the one making it into a show, Ernie. Now let go of me!”
“No, Matt, not until you sober up a bit.”
“What’s your problem, Ernie?”
“Nothing, I don’t have a problem you’re just too drunk”
“Is this about me having a drink or about me kissing Chase? I saw you watching, Ernie.”
“You’re being a prick, Matt.”
“Answer the question, Ernie.”
“Grow up, Matt.”
“No!” he was shouting now, “Answer my fucking question! Are you in a bad mood because I’m drunk or because I was kissing Chase?”
“You’re being stupid, Matt.” I let go of him, “I’m going outside for some air.”
* * *
What the fuck had gotten into me? Why was I acting like such a jerk? I sank to the floor and buried my head in my hands. Within seconds, Matt was standing in front of me; I rose to my feet.
“You’re a fucking prick, Ernie Carmichael! A grade ‘A’, top-quality prick, you know that?” Matt screamed at me.
“Shut up, Matt and go back inside. Just a moment ago you were desperate for a drink. Maybe it’s time you went and got it.” I didn’t want to have this conversation.
“No! Not until you answer my question! It’s just you and me out here now. No one can hear you, so answer me. Was it the drink or Chase?”
“It was the drink. I told you I don’t like you like that.”
“You’re a fucking terrible liar, Ernie.”
“I’m not lying.”
“You’re ridiculous, Ernie. You’re a damn clown.”
“Go away, Matt.” I said calmly.
“No, I’m not going to pander to you anymore.” He was shouting again, “I do everything you tell me to, when you tell me to. I don’t question you; I just go ahead and do it. And do you know why? DO YOU FUCKING KNOW WHY, ERNIE?...”
He stopped and looked at me; his body language changed.
He continued “…because I thought I loved you. Pah! What a fucking joke.”
He turned to go. “Matt! Wait!” I called.
“What? There’s nothing you can say to make it better, Ernie.”
What I wanted to say wouldn’t come out “I….I’m sorry.”
“You’re always fucking sorry!” and he went back inside.
I had no intention of going back inside anytime soon, so I was relieved when Grant came out to find me.
“Well,” he said in his big-brotherly voice, “you royally fucked that up.”
“Yeah, like most things I do.” I replied.
“You gonna come back inside?”
“I can’t face Matt at the moment.”
“You needn’t worry, he’s gone home,” he paused before adding “with Chase.”
“What?”
“Yeah, they just got in a taxi.”
“Oh…” I should’ve known it was coming. “I guess I’ll come back in then.”
“Good, cuz it’s your round!” Grant smiled at me and whacked me on the big with his huge hand.
I managed to salvage some of the night by drinking myself into oblivion and attempting to shuffle-dance my way through some songs that I’d never heard. The LCD alarm clock read 5:17am when I got into bed and passed out.
* * *
My head was throbbing the following morning. Going to the window to get some air, I noticed Matt’s car was still in the driveway. My argument with Matt was the only thing I could remember from the previous night and, if that had been the main event, I didn’t want to be reminded about the rest.
“Moooorrrrnnniiiinnnnnngggg,” Stephen sang whilst dancing around the kitchen in his underwear; making breakfast for everyone. Rob and Tyrone were sitting at the table nursing cups of coffee and, from the looks on their faces, sore heads.
“Morning all,” I managed to mumble as I poured a coffee and got a banana and two aspirin.
“I don’t think I need to ask you how you feel,” Rob giggled.
I smiled at him and sat at the table. “The less we mention about last night, the better.” They all looked uncomfortable. “And don’t say a word about the dancing either.” They all laughed at this.
“You are a brilliant dancer, Ernie!” Stephen said dryly, “you’ll have to teach me that move. You know. The one where you step in time to the beat but clap just after it.” We all laughed.
The door opened and Grant came in removing his earphone. “Don’t say you’ve been for a run!” Tyrone said, appalled.
“Yeah, best thing for it.” He replied grabbing a mug and pouring some coffee for himself.
“Crazy man!” Tyrone sighed as he held his head in his hands. “Surely having fun shouldn’t be this painful?”
“I agree!” Rob said, slumping forward.
The doorbell rang and Grant went to answer it. A few seconds later Grant returned to the kitchen and shot me a you’d-better-behave-yourself look as Matt and Chase appeared, hand-in-hand behind him.
“Morning girls!” Stephen squealed, “did you have fun last night?”
The both smiled nervously before Matt answered ambiguously; “Yeah, it was a good night. Chase gave me a lift round to pick my car up.”
“You staying for breakfast?” Stephen asked, “there’s plenty to go round!”
“I don’t want to put you out,” Chase said, unsurely.
“Nonsense. Grab a coffee and sit down.” Stephen barked.
The only two spare seats at the table were the two either side of mine. Without saying a word, or looking at them, I moved across to the right to let the happy couple sit together. Matt whispered a ‘thanks’ but I pretended not to hear. It seemed that everyone else in the room was really happy for them and wanted all the gossip. I couldn’t handle hearing about it so, I quietly got up, made my excuses and headed back upstairs to sleep off my hangover.
What felt like about 5 minutes, but was actually an hour and a half later, Matt knocked on my door- waking me up in the process. He’d already entered before I asked him to come in.
“I just came up to check on you. You know, see if you’re ok?” He smiled nervously as I sat upright.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Now, you better run along, Chase will be waiting.” I said in the most nonchalant way I could.
“Drop the unconcerned prick act, Ernie. Besides, Chase has gone.”
“Oh…” I said, bringing my feet up to my chest.
“Is that all you have to say?” He sounded annoyed.
“Well, there’s not much else to say to be honest.”
“How about ‘Sorry for being an idiot last night?’”
“I’m not apologising for that, I had your interests at heart.”
“No, Ernie. You had YOUR interests at heart.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I was sitting bolt upright by this point, my feet on the floor; I was getting angry.
“Don’t play dumb, Ernie. We both know what it means.”
“No! I don’t! That’s why I’m asking!” By now, I was standing up in just my boxers.
“Then you need to do a lot more fucking soul searching that I thought you did!”
I sprang out of bed, grabbed him by the neck and pushed him up against the wall. We stood nose to nose; my blood was boiling. “You. Little. Fucking. Prick.” I spate; I gripped his neck harder as he struggled for breath. “I have no idea what you think I am, but I’m not gay and I’m not in love with you!” I let go of him, pushing him backwards as I did so.
As I turned away, I felt a heavy blow to the back of my head where he had punched me. As I turned to face him, he hit me again with a heavy left hand, knocking me onto the bed where he jumped on me and put his hands round my throat and hit me for a third time. In the struggle, I managed to bring my legs up and force him backwards off the bed. He landed on the floor, his back slamming against the wall. I took him by the scruff of his neck and punched him in the face; a clean right hook to his left cheek. We were both panting heavily and, still holding his shirt, I pulled him to his feet so our faces were level and I caught a glimpse of my anguished face in his eyes. I moved my face closer to his and through gritted teeth I told him “You’ve made a fucking fool of me, Matt. I never want to see you again, do you understand?”
I let go of his shirt and, still standing, he slumped against the wall and began to cry. He managed to compose himself enough to speak through the tears. “Please, Ernie. I can’t cope without seeing you, you’ve been my rock for the last month and I need you. Don’t you understand? I went home with Chase to hurt you, I wanted you to know how I felt when you used me and then didn’t want to know anymore. I fucking love you Ernie Carmichael and I can’t stop myself.”
I'd not moved since I let go of his shirt; we were standing with out faces just millimetres apart. He put each hand either side of my face and pulled me into his lips where he kissed me and the entire world seemed to stand still. He opened his mouth slightly to allow my tongue to enter and I did the same, our tongues met in the middle, wrestling each other in a show of ultimate passion.
I broke away after a few seconds; looked him in the eye and said; “You know this can’t happen, don’t you?”