Finding Your Legs

Chapter 1

        Nick stepped off the plane and onto the ramp into the airport, pulling his suitcase behind him. He felt as if he was pulling an elephant. His trip back home from Texas had drained him physically and mentally. He was so exhausted and just wanted to get home to his boyfriend (and his warm bed) as fast as he could.

        Nick walked through the John F. Kennedy International Airport for what seemed like a decade, until he finally was outside. The New York snow filled the air and taxis and airport busses filled the road in front of him. Finally, out of the many that passed, a taxi finally pulled over. Nick put his bag in trunk and hopped in the cab.

        The taxi driver turned around asked, “Where to, sir?”

        “165 East 60th Street, please.”

        And he was on his way home.

~

Michael had just gotten out of bed and was downstairs sitting at the bar drinking some coffee. He only had his boxers on and a white tank top, he didn’t really like to get dressed unless he had to.  And since Nick was gone he didn’t care how he looked. Not that Nick cared if Michael was dressed or not, Michael just preferred to look nice for him.

                After he finished his cup of coffee, he went upstairs to brush his teeth and comb his hair. When he was done, he put on his light blue robe and went downstairs and outside to get the newspaper. As soon as he opened the door, the cold breeze attacked his skin and gave him goose-bumps. He let out a ‘brrr’ and wrapped his arms around his chest and walked down the steps to get the newspaper on the sidewalk. He bent down, picked up the paper and stood up straight again. Michael looked around the street and admired the beautiful snow covering everything. The street had few tire marks in the snow, and no one was seen outside. It was a very tranquil sight. The snow had started to accumulate on his head and Michael was snapped back into reality when it fell off onto his face.

       Once back inside, he sat down on the couch in the living room and opened up The New York Times. He scanned the headlines and nothing interested him so he turned on the television. The Today Show was on, which Michael loved to watch, but it just so happened to be the Kathie Lee & Hoda segment, which Michael hated. Kathie Lee absolutely made him cringe up. To him, she was an annoying, obnoxious, alcoholic. His favorite SNL skit was when Kristen Wiig impersonated her. Every time she said “MAMA LOVES THE GRAPE!” he would die laughing. Michael immediately changed the channel.

        Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Who could that be? NICK!! No…It couldn’t be Nick, he thought. Michael stood up, tied his robe closed and walked to the front door.  He opened it and there stood Nick.

        Michael was so happy! He reached forward and wrapped his arms around Nick’s torso.

        "You came a lot earlier than I expected! What are you doing here?! You said you’d be gone three weeks! But I’m not complaining."

        And with that, Michael planted a big kiss on Nick’s cheek.

        With a relieved smile, Nick said, “You have no idea how happy I am to see your face.”

        Michael laughed and took Nick's bags and set them in the living room. Nick followed him in and took off his jacket and put it on the coat rack.

        Michael went to the kitchen and yelled, “You cold? Do you want some coffee?”

        “Oh my goodness, please! I’m freezing my ass off!”

        Michael laughed. “TMI, Nick!”

        Nick entered the kitchen and came up behind him and kissed him on the cheek.

        "I missed you."

        Michael put the cup of coffee down and turned to Nick.

        "I missed you too, babe.

~

        That night Michael and Nick went to dinner at 7.

        It had been so long since they had seen each other. Nick didn’t usually take trips to Texas, but he had gotten news that his mother was very ill, so he just had to go. Michael almost went mad over the two weeks Nick was gone. But they were together tonight, and that's all that mattered. They talked and laughed and joked with each other. Before they knew it, it was 10 o'clock. They paid their bill and left.

        As they were walking home to their cozy Manhattan apartment, Michael stopped Nick in front of the Music Box Theatre marquee.

        "What are you doing?" Nick asked, confused.

        Michael put his hand over Nick's mouth, got down on one knee and pulled out a ring.

        "Nick. This past year has been the most exhilarating, eye opening, and...just amazing year of my life. And I want the rest of my life to be that way. Nick, will you marry me?"

        Nicholas was speechless. He couldn't even say yes. But he managed to push it out.

        "Y-y-yes! Yes of course!"

        Michael put the ring on Nick's finger and stood up, smiling. It was the happiest he'd been in his whole life.

        They kissed under the marquee of the theatre for what seemed like an eternity. The lights of the city glowing around them, the cars whizzing by on the street, and the noise of the hustle and bustle of the never sleeping city, was completely tuned out. All that either of them could focus on was their lips touching and filling them with warmth. They released their embrace and continued their walk home.

        Nick looked up at the sky, thinking of the wonderful memories that were soon to be. And Nick swore, even in the city that outshines the stars; he saw a shooting star shoot across the sky.

        They would remember this night forever.

        Nothing stood in their way.