Gabriel (Rewritten Version) - LGBT, manXman

18

Three hours later, they shrugged off their harnesses and went up to the café for an ice cream, their arms and legs aching.

"I won't be able to walk tomorrow," Phoebe said, flopping into a chair and biting off the end of her lolly.

Gabe murmured his agreement.

Only Jordan was looking as though he still had a little energy left in him.

They caught the bus back to the hotel, and headed back to their room to change.

"It's six o'clock now," Gabe said. "What time do you want to get some dinner? Our room doesn't include any meals."

"'Bout seven?" Jordan yawned. "We could order a pizza, and get it delivered to the front door."

"Good idea," Phoebe said firmly. "I'm too tired to go out."

Gabe smiled.

"I think I saw some takeaway leaflets in the front office when I checked in."

Jordan went to fetch one, and they spent ten minutes pouring over lists of pizzas, salads and garlic breads, before finally using a payphone at the front desk to ring in the order.

When Gabe returned to the room, Phoebe had, ignoring Jordan's protests, set up a game of monopoly and was insisting they play it before bed.

With a soft groan, Jordan propped himself up on his elbows and picked up the top hat playing piece. Phoebe took the shoe, and Gabe the ship.

Half an hour into the game, when he'd lost almost all of his money and gained only three properties, Gabe ran down to the front desk to collect their pizza.

When he returned, he handed Jordan his pepperoni, Pheebs her ham and pineapple, and settled down on his pillow with his own green pepper and mushroom, trying to figure out how to get some money back.

Two hours later, he had gained Mayfair and Park Lane, turned them both into hotels, and was eagerly waiting for Jordan to roll a seven and land on Mayfair.

Jordan did so, and flopped down on his pillow with a groan.

"Thank Christ for that," he muttered. "It's finally over."

Gabe yawned and looked at his watch.

"It's almost ten."

"I'm tired," Phoebe said. "Can we go to bed?"

Phoebe showered quickly, and pulled her pyjamas on while Gabe and Jordan brushed their teeth in the bathroom. Gabe let Jordan have the shower first.

After finishing his own shower and pulling on his pyjamas in the privacy of the bathroom, he found Jordan and Phoebe already in bed, watching the news.

Phoebe was snuggled beneath the blankets of the single bed.

Jordan was in the double bed, pointedly avoiding Gabe's gaze.

Gabriel slid into the other side of the bed, careful not to touch Jordan, and watched the rest of the news with them in silence.

When it was finished, Pheebs flicked the TV off, murmured a good night, turned off her bedside lamp and rolled over to face the wall.

"Let me know if you get cold," Gabe told her. "There's got another blanket in the wardrobe."

Gabe reached over and turned off his lamp, and a moment later, Jordan did the same.

They lay in silence for a long time, listening to Phoebe's quite breathing, barely daring to move.

"Are you OK?" Gabe whispered finally.