Club - a Breddy Fanfic.

32) To kiss, or not to kiss.

It's around midnight when they leave for Brett's place.
At first Brett wanted to take Eddy home, but Eddy insisted he would walk him back as a real gentlemen should, because he was the one asking Brett out, after all.

When they walk through the front door they hear Chopin playing on the speaker. Mason and Timo have left the Club early and are sitting on the couch talking together amicably.

"Hey! You're back!" Mason says. "Wanna join us? You had fun? Vincent and Luke have gone with their dates and won't be arriving home any time soon, and Peter is still at the Club, probably dancing with some lady and having a good time."

Brett and Eddy sit in the extra chairs available and join the conversation easily.
"Hey, you are back early." Brett states. "Everything good?"

Mason looks at Timo and nods. "Yeah, we wanted to talk, but at the Club that's not possible, so we ended up here." He shrugs.

"Nice music you have on." Eddy remarks appreciatively. He and Mason start a conversation about piano music, which shows that Mason has quite a bit of knowledge. It's not surprising of course, since he does play the instrument professionally.

"I like to play too," Eddy tells him. "But nowadays I don't have a piano at home. I miss playing, though of course I'm nowhere near as good as you are."

Mason grins. "Then again, who is?"

Brett sits back and listen to Eddy about music. He's so in his element with the topic that he seems to forget about being shy. He clearly knows a lot too and sounds so eloquent. Brett finds he really likes listening to him.
"Mason, will you play Debussy for him? I know he would like that." Brett looks sideways at Eddy, who starts to beam instantly.

"Yeah. Of course." Mason says as he starts getting up, clearly amused that Brett is asking for Eddy's sake. "Would be my pleasure. So Eddy, you like Claire de Lune? I don't think the neighbours would mind that."

Eddy nods vigorously and Brett beams. He had figured that Eddy would love that piece. He watches Mason as he sits down at the piano and his fingers start caressing the keys.
When the last sounds rings through the air, Eddy sighs contentedly. "This will be one of my all-time favourites. Beautifully played too."

Timo seems to wake up now as well. He has been watching Mason as in trance when he played, totally in awe. "That was perfect!"
Eddy looks curiously at his best friend. Mason played it very well, yes, but it's not that Timo hasn't heard this piece played before. He was never this enthusiastic. But now Mason has played it, it's suddenly different? Hmm. He needs to remember to ask something about it later.

Mason grins at the praise. "Thanks. Want to hear more?"

Eddy sighs. "Yes! I would love to. But unfortunately I need to go. I have a new piece that I have to get in my fingers before Monday, so I really need some serious practice hours tomorrow." He stands up to leave. "But I'll be happy to ask for it later, if that's all right with you?"

"But I want to hear more!" Timo almost shouts, eyes shining. "Play for me?"

Mason smiles and starts playing Arabesque next, much to Timo's content.

Brett follows Eddy to the hallway. He leans against the wall and looks at him while he is putting his shoes on.
"I really had a great time tonight, Eddy." He eyes the beautiful man before him and wonders once more what he should do. Should he hug him like last time? Try for a kiss on the cheek? Or is that not allowed yet?

"Yeah, me too." Eddy walks over to him, pushes a strand of hair out of Brett's face with the tips of his fingers and then suddenly leans dangerously close, their lips almost touching.
"I really want to kiss you." he whispers, his breath caressing Brett's lips. Brett parts his lips expectantly, waiting for the touch. The moment lasts a few second, the air thick with anticipation, without anything happening.
"But I won't." He suddenly pulls away as quick as he approached, opens the door and steps outside, grinning deviously.

Brett is left standing in the doorway in a daze, feeling more than a bit neglected by not being kissed. "Aww. Why not?!" he whines like a small child.

Eddy's eyes twinkle mischievously. "Flirting, you know. I will make you want me more than you can handle. See you at Wednesday evening." He winks, blows him a kiss, turns around and walks away.

Brett is most aggravated. Eddy, you fucking tease!
But Eddy's plan is definitely working.
He can feel it in whole his body.

"And? How was your evening, lover boy?" Mason asks while playing Debussy, when Brett comes into the living room again.

"Lover boy?" Brett frowns. "Urg. That is so bad." He shakes his head. "But the evening was very nice. Very nice indeed."

Mason smiles. "You made out?"

But before Brett can answer, it's Timo who does. "No he didn't. Knowing Eddy they haven't."
After seeing Mason's surprised look he adds as it's the most common thing in the world. "First date."

"First date?" Mason scoffs. "You are aware that they already fucked, right?"

"Yeah, but that was before he made his resolution."

"What resolution? Come on man, spit it out in a way we can understand."

Timo looks at Mason and then at Brett, shrugs and decides that it's better if Brett knows what to expect. "For me it's clear Eddy wants Brett as his partner. Not as a fling. So he goes with his five-step schedule now." He sees the confused looks cast upon him and explains further. "Date one: handshake or maybe a small hug and/or small peck on the cheek. Date two: kiss. Date three: kiss and maybe a hand-job. Date four: maybe a blow-job. Date five: maybe fucking. If not really sure, there can be delay between the steps, so you are never totally sure if you will move to the next one."

"Wow." Mason and Brett exclaim simultaneously.
Brett speaks first. "So you mean to tell me I went from five, to one, to zero? Backwards!?! That isn't a good omen."

Timo laughs. "No, don't see it like that. It's a miracle he went beyond his schedule with you in the first place."

"Well fuck. I do hope that we get to level two soon." Brett murmurs more at himself than at the others.

"If you choose to be with him from now on, you will within no time. He really likes you, Brett." Timo looks in at him. "Question is: do you like him?"

"It's not that easy. I like him all right. More than like even. He's so freaking cute!" Brett blushes slightly. "And funny. It's amazing to be around him. Everything is good about him! But I don't know if I can be his. I don't know if I can handle a relationship again. Don't know If he can handle me. Or wants to, if he gets to know me." Brett frowns, he's getting agitated now. "There's too many fucking questions! I'll shut the fuck up and will go to bed." He yawns and rises, heading for his room.

"Good night" Timo calls after him, and Mason waves. "I'll hang out here some more."

When Brett is out of sight, Timo looks at him thoughtfully. "Why won't he just try? Eddy will definitely make it worth taking the chance. I just don't understand where he's coming from."

Mason walks to the couch again and sits down in one of the corners, tucking one leg under himself. "That's not my story to tell, but Brett's. I just hope he can put his past aside. I think they would be good together."

"Well,I agree with you on that one. Let's see how long it takes, huh? I've put mymoney on them." He winks at Mason. "Now let's have another beer."

A/N: Sorry for the late update. Had a serious case of malfunctioning brain and couldn't do English or something. Thanks goes to my Proof-reader-sensei: without you this chapter would be quite more difficult to read.