compare scars

thirty one

Summer proved to be a grace period.

Together the men spent all their time together. From walks downtown to camping trips they did it all.

Kyle had finally found a job in a ceramic studio where he was in charge of leasing birthday parties, while Dan ran a photography class at an art studio.

Charlie still lived with Dan, leaving Kyle to buy himself an apartment in the same complex, not even a hundred feet away. In fact it was only two doors down and across the hall.

They both kept up their sober streak, and attended the Saturday morning meetings with the local AA group.

Life was great.

---

"Hey, I'm closing down the studio wanna go get dinner?" Kyle's voice made Dan smile as he gripped his phone tightly in his hand. He didn't want Kyle to hear that he himself was in the car.

"Yeah sure, I'll pick you up." He grinned and hung up, pulling into the parking lot.

Dan then grabbed the bottle of nonalcoholic champagne and walked into the quiet shop. Most of the lights were off and he could hear a quiet shuffling in the back.

"Dan?" Quiet voice rang through the quiet studio, echoing.

"Hey. What's up?" Kyle asked, his hands covered in clay.

"What's that for?" He grinned pointing to the bottle.

Dan could help but feel as a smirk spread from ear to ear.

"You know how you've been telling me you're going to teach me the pottery wheel? Well tonight it is finally happening." He couldn't help but let out a childish giggle.

"Dan I can't. Shop closes at 10:00." Kyle said, watching as his boyfriend sat in front of the pottery wheel, waiting for him.

"Come on don't be a dick." Dan teased, turning on the wheel on a low mode.

"Alright." He grinned and grabbed a slab of clay from the back.

Kyle then centered the clay on the wheel and watched as Dan tried to shape the clay. It though proved to be harder than he thought as all he had made was a lumpy ball of clay.

"Help me dick." Dan laughed, feeling as Kyle stood over his shoulder. He then sat down behind him, and wrapped his arms around him. He took Dan's hands cupping them in his own.

Together they carefully smoothed out the clay, and started making the hole in the center.

Within five minutes and countless giggles later sitting before them was a beautiful clay vase.

"Oh my god!" Dan smiled looking at the wonderful vase.

"See you're a natural."

"Well I mean I have the greatest teacher." Dan grinned, turning around to give Kyle a quick kiss.

"Cheesy bastard."

---

The two now sat up on the rooftop.

Kyle had found candles and a towel, both of them sitting, legs over the edge. Dan couldn't help but look over the edge in admiration of beautiful lights below.

"This is insane." Kyle couldn't hold back a smile as he took a swig from the bottle. He still secretly wish it was real champagne, but he knew better.

Dan didn't say a word as he silently took Kyle's hand in his, watching as an airplane flew above them.

"My god I love you." Dan couldn't keep it in.

The last time they had a roof top adventure Dan's world had been so fucked. The last time his vision was spinning from the booze and pain medication combination, and he couldn't help but think about jumping.

It was insane how crazy life had changed. Both of them couldn't help but smile at their situations.

Life wasn't perfect, but damn it was close.

If only they had known how quickly things would change.

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Ahaha I hated this chapter but it's okay