High on you

I've just seen a face

John wasn't sure what exactly was making him follow Paul around the mall. He felt an awful burn in the pit of his stomach whenever Paul turned to him. The back of his neck was damp with sweat, curling his loose baby hair out of his pompadour. Which was annoying all on its own but was increasingly irritating now that he knew he'd be obsessing over the fact that Paul might notice. He needed a second to sit down, maybe catch his breath but Paul was heading for an escalator. John took the chance to go ahead and sit on one of the rising steps, a confused Paul standing on the step below his.

"You ok, John?" Paul asked in that soft tone voice that just increased John's irritation.

John was silent but felt his ass bump as the stair slid under the floor as they reached the top. He stood, allowing Paul to claim space on the second floor.

"We done here Paul?" John asked, slightly breathless.

"Sure, but didn't you want to look at CDs-"

"Forget it. I'm tired." John snapped and started walking ahead. Paul didn't immediately confront him, he just crossed his arms and pursed his lips. They got to Paul's car without speaking.

"What's got you being a prick all the sudden?" Paul finally spoke his own annoyance.

John was ready to keep his answer vague but Paul standing there all high and mighty just had him seething with anger. "You're a right pisser Paul."

"What the fuck John?-"

John cut him off by hopping in his car, so Paul got in and started the car and pulled out. The radio started as they left the lot.

"What happened in the span of two seconds?" Paul asked and John switched radio stations. The long beginning to 'Hotel California' began filling the car.

"For starters, Paul I've about had it with being around ya-"

"The he'll have I done-?"

John slumped in his seat and shook his head. "I suppose it's mostly me, Paul"

Paul was just about to ask him what the hell he was talking about but the intro had just smoothed into the enticing lyrics and he couldn't help but start singing along. It was too perfect, the sun beat down through his windshield, warming the skin on his face. He soon realized that John seemed to have had the same urge as he too was unapologetically singing along.

"Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air- what do you mean, John?" Paul tried to hurry the question before the next line.

"Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light- just forget it Paul." John seemed to have realized vulnerability did not look too good on him. In fact, telling Paul how he really felt would only make the kids ego bigger and John didn't want to do that. 

"My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night.- you already brought it up, John!" Paul spat as soon as the line ended. John elected to ignore the comment and continued tapping the beat on the hot car door as his hand hung outside. Pauls face twisted in annoyance but neither one of them stopped singing along. Paul did wait for an opportunity to voice his confusion. He enjoyed the beautiful song but the back of his mind searched for a break long enough to speak.

"Welcome to the Hotel California, such a lovely place-" Paul turned his head to John slightly. His hair looked much more of a red shade to him now.

"Such a lovely face-" John just had to look back at Paul at that line, he wanted nothing more than to jerk his head back but he couldn't help but keep his gaze where it was. Pauls face was soft and delicately his mouth move to form the words gracefully. As he watched him, the words escaped his own mouth with much less focus.