To Seduce a Butler (Yaoi/BoyXBoy)

Chapter Six--Sam

Sam stumbled into the shared kitchen to find Sonia drinking the last of the orange juice.

“I needed that to wake up,” he grumbled.

“Shouldn’t have stayed out late, stud muffin.” 

That was putting it nicely. Once Sam demanded to know when Michael knew he was bi, Michael had to admit he didn’t know until he met Sam. Then Sam had wanted to know if it was because he looked a bit androgynous, and Michael said no. He knew from first glance Sam was male. The question game had to be put on hold as Sam grilled Michael on whether or not he was bored with girls and now just playing around with boys, and then they both agreed that to end the night on friendly terms, they should switch the topics to music and who’d win the next Oscar for animated feature.

Sam went to the fridge. He jostled the pickles into the soda, reached towards the back even though he knew he wouldn’t find any more OJ. Grocery shopping was saved for the weekend, when Sonia would get her part on Saturday, and he’d leave on Sunday to pitch in for his share of the food. 

“Stud muffin? At least I’m not a freakin’ string bean,” he muttered. 

“You’re still a skinny ass little boy,” she joked. “Just one that’s letting himself be a boy toy.”

 Her words cut. “No boy toy here.” Sam settled for milk. With the jug in hand, he walked over to the cabinet and took out his Superman glass. He placed it on the counter, then turned his palm upward. Little scars zigzagged across his lifelines.  He shook his head. If there was anything that Sam had learned in life, it was that he would never allow himself to be used by anyone again.

“You two didn’t tango last night?” 

Gosh, was she being extremely nosy today. “My mama taught me not to put out the first night.” Sam’s mouth twisted up in a half smile. “So I guess you want to know where we snuck off to?”

“No shit, Sherlock.” She tipped her head, and she pointed up at his face. “Hey, your nose is bleeding again.” 

His hand instinctively covered his face while he yanked at the roll of paper towels.

“Sam, I think you should get that checked.” The change in both Sonia’s demeanor and the way she’d said his name made the boy pause.

“I’m fine. Like I have the money to see a doctor.”

Hanging on to the edge of the counter with one hand, he leaned forward and pinched his nose with the other, when what he really wanted to do was kick at the cabinet doors, throw a plate against the wall, anything to vent out his frustrations. This couldn’t be happening. It couldn’t be back. His life was becoming one big blur of déjà vu, and there wasn’t anything he could do to stop it 

No, that wasn’t right. 

Michael wasn’t just going to barge right into his life and take over. Sam would play Michael's game of 21 Questions, no matter how intense it got. Like last night. They’d stopped after only two questions. Once they’d hit question 21, Michael would still be in Sam’s friend zone. 

But the nose bleeds. And the bruises. He couldn’t stop those.

Sonia, now standing beside him, took his glass of milk, then spooned in a bit of strawberry powder.

Sam caught her wrist, stopped her from stirring. “No, Soni. That’s from your stash.” 

She shrugged off his grip. “Let a girl give you a little lovin’, even if we’re not on the team you play for.” 

As she stirred, she looked over at him from the corner of her eye.

“I really am worried about you, Sammy.” 

Pulling the paper towel away from his face, he studied the stained paper. There wasn’t much blood this time. He wadded it up, then throw the paper towel in the trash. 

Sonia offered him the strawberry milk, and he accepted. 

Lifting the glass, he said, “Worry more about what’ll happen to me once Mrs. Day finds out she’s not my type.”

She let him take a swig before she said, “That’s exactly what I’m worried about. See a doctor now. Once you’re out that front door, who’s going to take care of your bills?

His eyes narrowed. “You know more about me than you’re letting on.”

She grinned. “Honey, I know about the skeletons in everyone’s closet, I may as well be a cemetery.”