Changes

Chapter Thirteen: Only you can stop the rain

Chapter Thirteen: Only you can stop the rain

   Once Dennis finishes changing his clothes for the fifth time, he finally settles on a pair of denim jeans and a white t-shirt. Dennis then throws on a red flannel and returns to the living room. There, he finds Cass enveloped in the book he left on the dining room table that he thought Cass might enjoy. He carefully walks over to the couch before sitting next to him. Dennis then leans against Cass' side and begins to read alongside him. This earns him a look from Cass, who is quite taken aback by Dennis' sudden drastic change in opinion when it comes to personal space. Dennis ignores the way Cass is staring at him for a moment before rolling his eyes, glancing at him, and then moving away. Dennis turns to face Cassidy with a grimace. Cass suddenly feels immensely trepid as he is unaware as to why Dennis pulled away. Normally he just ignores Cass when he stares at him, but he's doing the opposite of ignoring him right now which leaves room for a terrifying variety of explanations. "Oh god. Do I smell?" Cass thinks to himself while accidentally saying it out loud. Dennis gives him a look before shaking his head. "What? No. Wait. Do I?" Dennis replies. Cass tilts his head at the larger man before scooting closer to him and leaning in where he slowly inhales against Dennis' neck with closed eyes. He's so close that he can feel the warmth radiating from Dennis' soft skin and taste its sweetness on his tongue. "Cass." Dennis says just above a whisper as Cass has been sniffing him for almost a full minute now. Cass slowly opens his eyes. "You smell...really nice, Dennis." Cass whispers, sending chills down his spine as he feels Cass' hot breath caressing his skin.

   "Okay. We should get you to bed." Dennis says while gently pushing Cass away and leaving his hands to rest on his chest. Cass quickly puts his hands over Dennis'. "Oh. No. Please. I'll be good. I swear." Cass pleads with Dennis who carefully takes his hands away from Cass before sighing with a slight smile and rolling his eyes at the older man that's acting like Dennis is his father. Dennis chuckles softly while standing up from the couch. "Fine, but if you puke on me again, I'm not gonna be so friendly." Dennis jokes as Cass follows him into the kitchen with a gentle hold on the back of Dennis' flannel. Cass stands directly behind him as he grabs a beer from the fridge while running his fingers over the soft fabric covering Dennis' back. "Dennis." Cass says quietly as he comes to a realization. Dennis turns to face him before handing him a beer. "What is it Cass?" Dennis asks while matching Cass' disconcerted expression with one of concern. "Don't you have work tomorrow morning?" Cass questions afraid that he's depriving Dennis of sleep. "At five. What about it?" Dennis replies while walking past Cass. He turns to him before forcing him to stop while taking his hand. Dennis rolls his eyes and reluctantly turns to face Cass again. "Dennis, it's almost midnight. Shouldn't you get some sleep?" Cass says, full of worry. Dennis squints at him with his lips subtly pouted. "I'm fine Cass. And if anyone should be getting some sleep, it's you." Dennis says back in a disregarding manner, clearly not wanting to talk about it. "How much have you had to drink anyway?" Dennis asks while letting go of Cass' hand as he comes to his senses. Realizing that since Cass is relatively inebriated, he probably didn't mean all the stuff he said today about having feelings for Dennis. Dennis wants to stay friends with Cass, even if they can't be anything more than that. However, if he lets himself fall prey to Cass' drunken behavior, it could ruin any relationship they may or may not have with one another. Cass tilts his head with a small frown. He didn't have very much to drink, though admittedly he was feeling pretty intoxicated earlier, and now he's feeling mostly embarrassed by his behavior. He doesn't want Dennis to think that the only reason he told him everything is because he's had a few beers. "Not as much as it may have seemed." Cass replies suddenly feeling entirely sober, thanks to the realization that he's sabotaging his chances with Dennis. "Oh." Dennis mumbles as he discerns the way Cass is now seemingly sober. Even though merely a few minutes ago, he seemed buzzed at the very least. Dennis wonders if Cass has been pretending to be drunker than he is, but can't think of any logical reason as to why he'd lie to him so intentionally. He quickly disregards the thought. Cass takes a deep breath while looking at Dennis yearningly. Dennis matches his gaze for only a moment before Cass blushes while looking down at the floor. "I'm sorry if I've been inappropriate Dennis. I know that maybe I said some things to you today that were...poorly timed as well as expressed. I don't drink often and when I do, I can't help...but to speak my mind." Cass explains before glancing up at Dennis while clasping his hands together. A moment goes by in silence as Dennis stares down at Cass with an expression that even he himself couldn't put words to. "Cass what are you saying?" Dennis asks with wide eyes, wondering if he's mistaken about what Cass meant just now. Cass looks up at Dennis and looks deeply into his eyes, suddenly unable to get the words to come out as they should. He wants to say it, but he can't. It's as if the expression on Dennis' face is telling him not to, begging him even. Cass wonders if the reason for this might be because of the fact that he's been in a drunken stupor for most of the day. He promises himself in this moment to tell Dennis tomorrow. He'll wait for Dennis to get off work and then he'll tell him that he's in love with him, and demand to never be apart from him again.