Haunted

A Letter

It was hot in the city, the air thick with smells as he unlocked the door to the New York house. Maddox had forgotten how humid it could be on the east coast. The door opened slowly, bright sunshine lighting the foyer.

Maddox linked his fingers through Josh's before he stepped into the house. He took a deep breath and slipped his sunglasses off.

The house didn't look any different than it had the last time he was there but in the back of his mind he was identifying the changes. His suitcases, which he'd lined up by the stairs, were all gone. Upstairs, a cleaning lady had put all his clothes away again and re-made his bed, setting out fresh towels for him and Josh.

"Mom," Maddox sighed when he saw the flowers waiting for him in his bathroom. He wasn't sure he could handle reading whatever she'd had printed on the card.

"That was sweet of her," Josh leaned in to smell white blossoms.

"This is where Steve found me," Maddox told him, pointing to the floor.

"Babe," Josh folded his arms around Maddox.

"I'm okay. It doesn't feel real, like maybe it never happened. Or like it was another life."

"This is where I met you," Josh buried his face in Maddox's neck. "I'm glad it's not where I lost you too."

"Me too," Maddox smiled and pulled Josh away so he could kiss him, ignoring the tears in his eyes. "But I'm not the same person I was, Josh, I'm so different anymore."

"We don't have to hang out in here," Josh suggested. "Let's go out, have some fun."

"Okay, yeah," Maddox took one last look around, wondering if there was anything left from that night but couldn't see anything.

Josh took Maddox to some of his favorite places before they met up with Trevor and a few of the other guys for dinner. It was a night exactly like Maddox had imagined when he pictured a life in New York. They went out after dinner and didn't bother going home afterwards. The sun was rising as they left the restaurant they'd ended up at after dancing all night.

"Thank god it's not too hot yet," Josh leaned his head on Maddox's shoulder. Maddox slid his arm around Josh's waist. He knew he should be exhausted but for some reason he felt wide awake.

"Thank god there aren't a million photographers out," Trevor corrected, slipping his sunglasses on. "Sorry, Dax, I would ditch you so fast. I'm in no mood for cameras."

"What does that have to do with me?" Maddox asked. Everyone laughed.

"The best part is he was serious," Josh rubbed Maddox's back. They all laughed some more and Maddox smiled but he had a slightly sick feeling.

"Alright, darlings, I've got to get to bed," Trevor yawned. "See you later, right?"

"Us too," Josh agreed. "We'll come over before red carpet tonight."

"Perfect," Trevor yawned again. "Bye," he wiggled his fingers at them before dashing into the street to get a cab.

Maddox hadn't felt tired until he and Josh got into bed. He smiled as Josh pulled him close, his arm fitting snugly around Maddox's waist.

"Hey what did you mean earlier?" Maddox asked, his eyelids feeling heavy.

"When?" Josh sounded sleepy.

"When everyone was laughing at me."

"Aw, Babe, no," Josh kissed his cheek. "I didn't mean it like that. You're just so humble, you don't ever act like you realize you're like a thousand times more famous than any of us will ever be. If there'd been paparazzi waiting this morning it would have been all because of you, not because of any of us. That's why Trevor said he would leave you."