Capturing Oliver (BoyxBoy)

Chapter Eleven

Aiden straightened up his tie. He was standing in his bedroom, staring at himself in the mirror. He looked himself up and down, an expression of uncertainty overcoming his face. "Is the tie too much?" he asked Oliver.

Oliver was sitting on Aiden's bed, his eyes focussed on Aiden's wall of photo's. "Mm?"

Aiden sighed. "Oliver, this is important." He waited for Oliver to say something, but it didn't come. Aiden called out Oliver's name.

Oliver snapped out of his daze. "Sorry, I was looking at your photos."

Aiden rolled his eyes but secretly he loved how much Oliver loved his photos. "Stop appreciating my work and start helping me pick an outfit."

Oliver stood from the bed. "You look great," he told Aiden. He walked over and poked at the tie. "This is a bit much though."

Aiden sighed. He looked at Oliver in the mirror. "I knew it." He pulled it from around his neck and tossed it on the floor.

Oliver laughed. "It's just dinner. You don't need to be so stressed." He picked up the tie and neatly folded it at the edge of the bed.

Aiden turned away from the mirror. "It's dinner with your friends. I do need to be stressed."

"Why?" Oliver asked.

Aiden bit at his lip. "I want them to like me." Oliver surprised Aiden by wrapping his arm around Aiden and pulling him into a hug. The smell of Oliver's cologne filled his nose and he sighed into the smell.

"Stop worrying," Oliver whispered. "They are going to love you."

Aiden smiled into Oliver's shirt. "Do you really think so?"

Oliver pulled back. He gently held Aiden by the shoulders. "I really think so."

Aiden admired Oliver's blue cashmere sweater and dark pants. He looked down at his own black jeans and navy blue button up. He was glad that Oliver had told him to ditch the tie. He took a deep breath and told himself to relax. He didn't think he had ever been this nervous to meet a boyfriend's friends. To be honest, the last few times were at house parties or casual meet ups. There wasn't any pressure. This was a dinner party, a real, grown up, dinner party. If he didn't click with Oliver's friends then there would be a silent dinner table, and he couldn't handle that. He took another deep breath.

"Why are you breathing like that?" Oliver asked after dropping his hands.

Aiden laughed nervously. "I don't know, I'm trying to calm myself."

"You will be fine," Oliver told him. He lent over and pressed a kiss to Aiden's lips. The kiss was so pure and wonderful that it brought Aiden some much needed confidence and serenity. He suddenly didn't feel like the night was doomed. "I promise you. Ava is lovely. Our friends are lovely. Hell, you are lovely. It's going to be fine."

Aiden smiled up at Oliver. "You are lovely."

Oliver laughed. "Come on, let's go."

Aiden led them into the living room where they found Chase who was wrestling with the tie around his neck.

"What are you doing?" Aiden asked. He walked over to Chase. There was a line of sweat on his forehead and he was angrily attempting to tie his tie. Aiden looked him up and down, surprised to see how formal his outfit was. Chase was the least formal person he knew. It was rare to see Chase without workout clothes and brightly coloured Nikes.

"I can't tie this damn thing," he spat out. His fingers angrily worked at the knot he had made. "This is why I don't wear these stupid things."

"Here, let me help you," Oliver offered.