Double Date

Chapter 14

Terrence

There was loud music coming from his apartment and I paused and blinked thinking to myself how stupid I was to just show up, he probably had guests, one of those college parties I used go to as a student or that I'd hear about.

Still, I found myself by the door knocking as though he could hear it, tempted to let myself in as the situation called it. I mean, college parties never had locked doors, specifically because the music would always be too loud and there wasn't a guarantee whoever invited you was close enough to their phone to hear it ring for a call or text. If they were careless enough to bring it with.

The volume turned and there was laughter before it opened and bright blue eyes looked up at me, sparkling.

Man, I missed him so much.

"Oh, I thought you were a neighbour." He beamed up at me a glass in his hand. The volume was low enough now that people could whisper and talk and yet there was no sound, not even a murmur and I wondered if he truly was alone or they were pulling a hide and seek.

"Is this a bad time?" I touched the back of my neck, glancing behind him to see nothing but a box of pizza open and three bottles of wine. He shook his head, hair fluffy and wiping around and I chuckled.

"A pleasant surprise, come in." He stepped aside, stretching the hand that held the wine and I ventured forth, looking around and expecting someone to jump out at me. "Sorry about the mess, I was detoxing."

"Detoxing?"

"Yeah," he chuckled moving around to pick up his fallen blanket and stray feathered scarves. "End of each week if I can, I blast music and pretend I'm a performer and just..." He stood and smiled at me waving his arms. "Put on a show." He chuckled his cheeks pink on his tan skin. There was something in the way he looked at me, he took a deep breath and finished the content of his glass. "It can be fun and I can get lost in it."

I nodded and picked up on the song that was playing and recognised it. "Well, shall we?" I smiled seeing the remote and turning the volume up. He watched me, eyes squinting.

"Terrence?" I started moving to the rhythm of the song by Labrinth- No Ordinary. He laughed as I moved my head more than my body and I followed feeling ridiculous and unashamed before the beat dropped and he joined me biting his lips.

I watched him move to the sound, his eyes fluttering his head nodding before he started singing along, moving his arms around him all ethereal and beautiful and I paused to watch instead.

Oh, I really missed him, having spent the last week away plainly because I didn't want to be a distraction. Our phone calls and texting had gotten me through but ultimately, nothing beat the real thing.

He stared up to the ceiling, reaching his arms along and twirled, swaying his hips and it was as though he was in his own world, flushed and happy as the smile never left him. His eyes opened then and landed on me, his movements unflinching as he approached me then and grabbed my hands, he pulled me closer and smiled up at me, urging me to move like him but compared to his hips I was still.

His eyes seemed to flash a darker blue, something about it was instinctive and wild, he blinked a few times and inhaled deeply as though trying to calm down as his body pressed further into me.

The song ended and he laughed as the next played, it was less club vibes more sweet and slow. I grabbed onto his waist then, preventing him from moving away and we swayed.

I twirled him and pulled him back, thankful he had pushed his small table farther in the corner with the pizza. I dipped him and he laughed and I admired how radiant he was, how handsome. This man in my arms was too good to be true.

"I actually thought this was some kind of college party." I chuckled then as we continued to sway. "I'm glad it wasn't."

"I don't do parties very well," he beamed, chuckling and shaking his head. "Crowds make me nervous."

"I'm sure you just haven't met your people yet."

"Maybe," he laid his head on my chest then and we enjoyed each other for a moment and for a while I hoped the song never ended, that I could stay with him like this.

Soon the track ended and there was silence. He was silent, head on my chest and I wondered if he'd fallen asleep. I didn't say anything and instead pretended the music was still in, I sniffed his head, smiling and eyes closed before my stomach decided it needed food.

His head shot up then, his eyes wide. "Are you craving anything in particular?" I chuckled shaking my head and looked at the pizza box only to realise it was actually empty and I pouted. He pulled from me while my hand only tightened around his shirt. He smiled while I nervously let go and touched the back of my neck.

"Uh, anything is good."

I followed him to the kitchen then. "So, is there a reason you stopped by?" He asked as he dug around in his fridge and I wondered what he would make me. I sat patiently, leaning on my palm and watched him.

"Boredom." As if I needed a bigger reason.

"Oh wow, you don't have friends either."

I rolled my eyes with a small smile. "No, they just don't do it for me."

"Am I to be flattered?"

"I think so." I said firmly, nodding as he smiled and took out a pan. "So, you like Labrinth?"

He shrugged then as he worked. "I like what sounds good. I don't really pay attention to whose singing unless they're horrible human beings who abuse and rape then no, I won't listen no matter how good people say it is." He pouted.

"That must make things hard."

"Not really," he smiled. "I try not to invest my time in the media."

"Then you won't know whose doing what."

"Oh, I will." He smirked and rolled his eyes. "You a fan?"

I shrugged smirking at him. "I listen to what sounds good."

"Oh, wow."

We talked then as he assembled sandwiches of egg and avo and another of beef with tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber and sauces. He poured me water and drank his wine.

"Just how much of that have you had?" I nodded at the wine and his eyes widened as he swirled the wine in his mouth and smiled sheepishly.

"I don't get drunk, trust me."

I snorted. "Still."

"Well, this would be my third bottle today I think." My brows rose and he blushed.

"Don't judge me."

"Oh no, I'm planning." He eyed me then as he ate. "We're going clubbing next weekend."

"I don't do crowds, remember?" He smiled shyly.

"Not even with me?" I gave him a look at he rolled his eyes.

"If you leave my side, I'll never go anywhere with you." I held my hand out for him to shake.

"Deal!" I told him as he held my hand, his palm soft in mine, the usual shock like electricity came, stronger than I was used to but welcomed and it unexpected rung through my arm in waves, constant and nice enough that I didn't want to let go.

He stared at me as I stared at him, he looked down almost as though he were panting and smiled. "Deal." He got out of my grip, he played it off like nothing but it felt as though he needed to put some distance between us and I wondered why. I grinned at him instead, focusing on the prospect of getting him drunk.

I have to see him drunk. The sight I could tell would be so adorable.

A\N
Written: 2 November 2021