Pretty Boy

29

Two years have passed; Phil and I had moved into a new apartment about a year ago. It was back in my home town; London. We were both studying at the University of London; my majors were astronomy and teaching; Phil's were English language and linguistics and business. We were currently on spring vacation and it was nice to relax; we've really needed this.

"Hey, babe," I said, walking into the kitchen.
"Hey," he smiled. "How was your day?"
"It was good. How was yours?"
"Fine," he shrugged. "Work kinda sucked, but other than that, it was a good day,"
"What happened at work?"
"Prickly customers,"
"Awe, I'm sorry, baby," I rubbed his back. "What are you making?" I mumbled.
"Chinese,"
"Yum," I giggled.
"Are you being sarcastic?" he asked.
"What? No, I love your cooking,"
"Liar,"
"I am not lying!"
"Shut up," he smiled.
"Love you," I kissed his cheek and headed over to the fridge. "Hey, where's my wine?"
"Your what?"
"My wine. I bought a bottle yesterday and I don't know where it went,"
"Did you drink it?"
"No... I worked the graveyard shift yesterday; I wouldn't have had time to drink it,"
"Then I don't know," he said. "Maybe you just misplaced it,"
"Maybe," I sighed. "Y'know what, I'm just go out into town and by another bottle. I'll be back,"
"Okay," he beamed.
"Bye," I kissed his lips and left the apartment.

Phil followed me to the door, and waved as I left. Once he was sure I was gone, he ran into the kitchen, turned the stove off, then up to our room, and knocked on his closet door a few times.

"Come on, he's gonna be back soon," Phil said.
"You said he was away," the man spat, getting his jacket on.
"No, I said he'd be gone for the night. It was your fucking fault for staying over. Get out,"
"A please would be nice,"
"Are you serious? It's my apartment! Get out!"
"Still not hearing that please,"
"I swear on my life, I will call the police,"
"Tell me my name, and I'll get out," he smirked.
"I was drunk out of my mind! How the fuck do you expect me to remember your name?"
"I remember yours,"
"Oh yeah? What is it?"
"Dan,"
"No," he growled. "That's my fiancé, who will be coming home in a few. Get. Out."
"Fair enough," he shrugged, stepping out of the closet. "Name's Michael by the way," he smiled. "If things don't work out with this Dan guy, give me a call,"
"Fine, whatever, get out,"
"I'm going," he said.

He started leading Michael to the door, trying to get him out as quick as possible. On his way out, Michael spotted a picture of Phil and I. Michael stopped in his tracks and glanced at the nicely framed photo.

"Is this... Is this Dan?"
"Yeah, why?"
"I dated him for a while," he smiled, picking the picture up. "He was a good guy,"
"What happened between you two?"
"He just left one night,"
"Night?"
"Oh, yeah, we were roommates at school," he said. "Small world, huh?"
"You were the one that raped Dan..." Phil whispered.
"I'm sorry?"
"You raped Dan!" I yelled as I punched him.
"Ow! What the fuck was that for?"
"You had sex with with Dan—my Dan!" I continued yelling and throwing several punches.
"And I just had sex with you," he pat blood onto our nicely polished, wood floors. "What are you gonna do about it?"
"Get the fuck out of my house! I mean it! Go!" Phil yelled while pushing him.
"I have a question for you," Michael said, still refusing to leave. "If you love Dan, so much, and are willing to kill me for sleeping with-"
"Raping," I hissed.
"That's not the point," he said. "If you love him, why would you cheat on him?"
"Because of you,"
"I'm sorry?"
"I'm back!" I yelled, closing the door behind me. "I got this amazing-" Crash. "Phil..." I whispered. "Why-Why is he here?" I cried. "Get out!" I yelled. "Get out!"
"I was invited here, Dan," he smiled.
"Phil... What is he talking about?"
"Okay, Dan, please let's just sit down and-"
"Why is he here?" I screamed.
"We fucked," Michael said.
"Phil..." I sobbed. "What is he talking about?" I repeated.
"Nice seeing you, Dan," Michael winked as he walked out of the apartment.
"Explain yourself!"
"I'm going to. Just please, calm down,"
"You have no right telling me to calm down! I walk in here, expecting a nice meal, and I find that monster, and you... I just... Out of all the people you could have an affair with, you fucking fuck him!"
"I didn't know it was him!"
"How could you not know who it was?" I said. "Okay, first of all, why were you cheating on me?" I said with a slight voice crack.
"I love you..."
"Philip Michael Lester, answer the question! Why were you cheating on me?"
"I... I don't know..."
"Yes, you do! Tell me!"
"Okay, fine," he sighed. "I miss having sex," he said.
"So you go and cheat on me?"
"Dan, we haven't had sex in nearly three years! I miss it... I miss you..."
"Why don't you just ask me for sex, then?"
"Because, whenever I do so much as kiss your neck, you freak out! I can't even comprehend having sex with you like this... I would feel like I'm violating you..."
"That still doesn't make it okay to cheat on me!"
"What else was I supposed to do?"
"I don't know! Masturbate, go to a strip club, something along those lines! Not fuck another man!"
"I love you..." he started crying.
"How long has this been going on?"
"Just this one time," he whispered.
"Don't lie to me!"
"About a year..." Tears streamed down his face as he spoke. "I'm so sorry..."
"If you were sorry, you wouldn't have done it in the first place..." I wiped my nose and my eyes, in an attempt to stop crying.
"I am so sorry, Dan..."
"Lie to me, one more fucking time, and I'm walking out that door, I swear to god,"
"I love you..." he sniffed.

I bit my lip, and made an attempt to not cry again; I ultimately failed. Tears rushed down my cheeks are I swung the from door open and just started running.

"Dan!" Phil yelled, crying as well. "Dan, come back!" he sobbed. Phil collapsed to the floor and clung his knees to his chest. "Come back," he muttered to himself. "I love you... Please... Come back..."

***

"Hey, can I come in?"

My eyes were red. My nose was puffy and sore. I had just stopped crying a few minutes ago and I wasn't ready to start again, anytime soon. I stood in the doorway, hands buried in my pockets, and waited for a response.

"Yeah," Zoe whispered. "It looks like you were crying. What happened? Are you okay?"
"Phil and I broke up..."
"What? Why? What happened? You guys were literally perfect for each other!"
"He cheated on me," I pouted as I sat on her couch.
"I'm gonna get you a drink," she sighed. "What do you want? Scotch? Wine? Tequila?"
"Hardest liquor you got,"
"I'll go find the limes," she said.

I took out my phone and kept turning it on and off. Every time it blinked on, a new message from Phil popped up.

Phil: come home
Phil: come on baby I miss you
Phil: I'm so sorry please come home
Phil: Dan I love you please come back
Phil: Daniel James Howell I miss you so much. I love you. I live for you. Please please please come back...
Phil: Dan, we're getting married in four months... Please... Come home...
Dan: goodbye Phil
Phil: Dan... Please don't leave me...
Dan: I'm blocking you. The wedding is off. Have a nice life, Phil
Phil: please don't! I love you!!!

"Who are you texting?" Zoe asked. She returned with a bottle of tequila, some shot glasses, a cup of salt, and a few cut up limes.
"No one," I said, putting my phone away.
"Good," she smiled, pouring me a shot. "Cause we're getting wasted tonight," she clinked our drinks. "Bottoms up,"

Zoe and I drank. And we drank. And we drank. And we drank... Until we weren't drinking anymore. We started making out on the couch, but that quickly progressed into more. After our clothes came off, the whole thing kind of turned into a blur.

The next morning, I woke up with the worst hangover I've had in years. I looked around, and realized, I wasn't in my bed. I looked around the room, and found a sleepy Zoe next to me. Then, last nights memories came flooding back to mind. I rubbed my sore temples and reached over to the nightstand, so I could grab my phone. I turned it on, and only found one notification. It was from him.

Unknown Number: please come back, pretty boy... I love you...