Butterflies (boyxboy)

Chapter 16: Balcony

"You are a cupid Alfie."

☆

"So, who's your friend again?" Alfie asks. He, Dale and a rather reluctant Tamesh were standing outside the apartment of Henry and (unbeknown to Alfie and Tamesh,) Blake.

"Henry." Dale responds. "...And before you ask, he's just a mate." He gives Alfie the 'don't even go there!' look, to which Alfie seems to be rather offended by. 

"I don't know what you mean?" He puts his hand to his chest in shock. "I've not even said anything!"

"You don't need to Alfie. I know how your brain is wired up." Dale lets a smirk spread across his face. 

"Am I that transparent?" Alfie now looks to Tamesh for some kind of back up. 

"You are a cupid Alfie." He says with a smile. "You can't help it! It's in your dna." 

Alfie goes quiet, not quite knowing how to take the comment. Was it a compliment or an insult? He doesn't get the time to decide as the door to the apartment suddenly opens...

"Ah Dale, you made it...and you brought friends!" Henry opens the door a little wider, to see the three faces looking in. 

"Yeah, is that ok?" Dale asks a little nervously.

"Sure, come in." Henry smiles, beckoning the three males inside. All three subconsciously stand by the now closed door, momentarily taking in the scene before them.  

The apartment was dimly lit, with a couple of disco lamps dotted around for a party effect. Bowls of snacks were scattered about the place on available surfaces and the table in the kitchen area was laiden with beers and other beverages. The music was upbeat and still being played reasonably quietly and judging by the tidiness of the place, it was evident the party was still young.

Dale suddenly holds out a bag of something which he had in his posession. "I brought these for the party." 

Henry's face lights up like the cheap lamps decorating the room. "Awsome!" He peers into the bag which is full of jelly beans. "Hey, let me find a dish for these."  He heads to the kitchen cupboards, with Dale dutifully following. Both Alfie and Tamesh are effectively left to their own devices.

"Now you see why I wanted you with me." Alfie half chuckles, glancing at Tamesh at his side. 

"Yep." Tamesh agrees, heading towards the table to pick up a couple of cans and offering one to Alfie, who takes the drink and pulls the ring to open it. 

"Do you see that?" Alfie says, now refocusing his attention on Henry who was emptying jelly beans into a glass dish, whilst not taking his eyes from Dale. 

Tamesh looks at Alfie, then follows his gaze to the pair "What are you looking at exactly?" 

"Dale sees Henry as a mate. Yeah,  but by the look Henry is giving Dale, he wants to mate. It's obvious can't you see?" 

Tamesh looks at the seemingly innocent interaction. "Alfie, I can't see anything. Are you sure you're just not maybe a little jealous it's Dale and not you getting the attention?" 

Alfie now looks at Tamesh, mouth slightly open in shock. "And that Tam is why you have no friends!" He bites back taking yet another swig of beer from his can.

"What have I said? I'm just being honest!...Blake liked my honesty." Tamesh mumbles the last part as he takes a sip of beer. 

"Well Blake isn't here." Alfie huffs. 

"He is! Shit he is!' Tamesh suddenly looks up to see the very man across the room, making his way outside to the balcony. 

"What do you mean he's here? How's he here?" Alfie looks at the man disappearing out into the open air. 

"I don't know?" Tamesh almost sounds defensive.

"Well...don't just stand here with me, go and talk to him!" Alfie gestures with his beer filled hand. 

"And, and say what exactly? Oh hi Blake, why did you leave your ramen and not come back?" Tamesh says, jokingly. He could already feel his heartbeat speeding up.

"Yes, say just that. You just said he likes your honesty." Alfie pushes a fist into the small of Tamesh's back, making him take a step forward. 

Tamesh regains his footing, he places his opened can on the table. He could do this. He could walk across this room of strangers and he could talk to Blake. Nice and easy.  

He makes it to the glass sliding doors of the balcony and stops and stares. He sees Blake pulling something from his jacket pocket. A small box, which he flips open and takes to his mouth, pulling out a white stick, before returning the box to his pocket, only to retrieve a lighter from the same pocket. 

Tamesh gazes on as he sees Blake spark up the cigarette. He watches as smoke bellows from Blake's nostrils, like a dragon. He hated the thought of this guy smoking, but couldn't help but enjoy the aesthetic Blake was creating. Tamesh places his palms on the sliding glass door, as if he was looking through the window at a longed for toy from a store. His weight on the glass accidentally causes the door to shift slightly open, which in turn causes Blake to turn to see who was invading his quiet time.

His initial look of annoyance is soon replaced with wide eyes, when he sees an equally panicked Tamesh looking at him. He wasn't quite ready to be seen. "Tam? W...what are you doing here?" Blake automatically hides the lit cigarette behind his back, like he had just been caught by a teacher behind the bike shed.

"I...I got invited. Why are you here?" Tamesh cautiously steps onto the balcony, closing the door behind him. 

"I live here." Blake replies, half smiling. 

"You live here?"  Tamesh repeats. 

"Yeah, I'm Henry's flatmate." Blake looks down, now letting out a full smile. 

"I didn't know you smoked?" Tamesh questions, taking yet another step forward gesturing towards what Blake was hiding behind his back. 

He sheepishly pulls his hand back around, looking at the lit cigarette sat wedged between his two fingers. "Technically I don't." He chuckles, "but sometimes I just need one." He goes to stub the cigarette on the rail but Tamesh reaches out an arm to stop him, lightly grabbing onto Blake's wrist. He uses his other hand to pluck the cigarette from in between Blake's fingers, before taking the cigarette to his own lips. 

Blake watches as the artist takes a drag, then blows the smoke out into the air, adding, "Yeah I get that." He takes another puff before handing the white stick back to Blake, who looks at the cigarette momentarily, before continuing to puff away.

The air is now met with silence, with just the muffled music being heard from inside. The tension between them is beginning to mount and Tamesh knows he needs to ask and Blake feels he should at least try to explain. 

"Tam I..."

"Blake..."

They both stop and look at eachother. A light laugh of relief leaving both their lips. 

"Sorry...you go." Tamesh suggests.

"No you." Blake says, smiling back. "I won't interrupt this time." 

Tamesh grins at the model who is now facing him a little more head on. Ok...he could do this. He could ask that question...

He clears his throat and looks Blake in the eyes...

"Blake...what did I do?"