Silent

36. You really think...?

"You've been avoiding me," Sam said, following Michael at the restaurant as he worked.

"Sam, not now please, I'm in a hurry," Michael said without looking at him as he turned around the counter to pour drinks to the customers who had ordered them.

"All right, then I'll sit here and wait until your shift ends." Sam replied stubbornly and sat down. Michael sighed and looked at his friend. He could guess what Sam wanted to talk about and had deliberately avoided him for that reason. He feared the encounter, his own feelings, and that Sam would not stand the truth.

"I'll get off at seven. You would have to wait quite a long time," Michael said as he settled the drinks onto the tray to take them to his customers.

"A couple of hours, I can handle it," Sam nodded, and Michael sighed in frustration as he walked past the man. Samuel followed the younger man with his gaze and waited until he returned to behind the counter.

"I could have a beer while waiting," he said, and Michael nodded as he poured the drink for him.

"Do you want anything else?"

"I want to know why you're so distant suddenly?" Sam asked. Michael lowered the drink in front of him and Sam dug out his wallet to pay. Their eyes met. "We need to talk, and you know it," Sam said, handing him the money and Michael funded him in silence, giving back the change.

"All right," he finally agreed. "But not now, as you can see, the restaurant is crammed full."

"I'll wait, like I said. I'll take you to dinner when your shift ends."

"We can go for a walk," Michael replied. "Now, I have to go serve my other customers."

Sam waited patiently; he was afraid Michael would come up with an excuse to avoid the meeting if he didn't wait at the restaurant.

 Eventually, Michael's shift ended, and they left the restaurant together.

"You know what I want to talk to you about," Sam said as they got out.

"Sam, please..." Michael started nervously.

"No, no more excuses! You're not happy with Jean and don't even try to claim otherwise. You deserve better, you know that! And you must have noticed by now, how... "

"Don't say that," Michael pleaded, looking away. They were still standing on the corner of the restaurant.

"Why? Why shouldn't I tell you how infatuated I am with you? Why shouldn't I say that I think you have feelings for me too and that I think we could stop pretending otherwise." Sam lowered his hand to Michael's cheek. "Look at me, please," he urged, and brown eyes glistening in tears met his own. "Jean doesn't make you happy, why are you with him?"

"You wouldn't understand the truth Sam, you wouldn't talk like this if you knew..."

"If I knew what?"

Michael felt his heart pounding. "I'm not who you think I am," he whispered. "You couldn't understand," and just as Sam was protesting, they heard Jean's voice.

"Michael?" The man called and, as he approached, he glared at Samuel, who seemed to be standing way too close to his lover. Michael smiled at the man, though his smile was somewhat strained and at the same time he was stubbornly avoiding Sam's gaze. Jean reached beside him, kissed his lips, and then wrapped his arm around Michael's shoulders. "I wanted to surprise you by coming to meet you, but I guess I came a little late?"

"Sam just came in for a pint, we talked for a moment." Michael explained and still tried his best to smile. Jean sensed that something more had happened between them and felt a bitter stab of jealousy.