Fire Starter [Book 2, BoyxBoy]

Fire Starter [Chapter 15]

Izazya’s POV

It seemed like only yesterday I was learning to dress myself, tie my shoelaces and colour in with bright colours, colouring over the lines but still believing it was a work of art, and that my work still belonged in the world’s best art gallery. My world had progressed so quickly, things had changed so fast. One minute, I’m running down the streets in shabby dungaree’s and stripy t-shirts, stained with mud and grass stains, and the next, I’m practically proposing to the one person who made my world worth living. There was never a time in which I’d doubted this; every obstacle we’d been given we had overcome, one way or another. There was proof in that – we were both still alive this very second.

As we walked down the beach, back towards the steps to leave, I felt happy; complete, in a sense. I had finally got him, after everything. I held his hand tightly in mine and stole a glance at him every few seconds, he had a grin on his face, and I’d see him look at me every now and again. We stepped off of the beach and I turned a corner, dragging him with me. He fell backwards and I caught him, grinning.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I asked teasingly. He looked at me, rolling his eyes and grinning back at me.

“I thought we were going back to the hotel, obviously not.” He answered in the same tone I had used. I shook my head. “Where to then?” He asked as I helped him back to his feet. I tapped the side of my nose, smirking.

“That’s a surprise.” I grinned, dragging him off down the street. He whined at me numerous amounts of times about how he didn’t like being dragged, or how he hated surprises, and how his feet hurt – I swear he was a woman deep down. In the end, I ended up giving him a piggy-back, earning us some strange glances and also some kind, accepting ones. It’s nice to know the whole world isn’t homophobic.

We piggy-backed all the way down the coastline, until I found what I was looking for; a dimly lit restaurant named La Romantica. Fancy, right? I set Joe down on his feet and watched him study the sign of the restaurant carefully.

“Why here?” he asked eventually, looking at me. “Why couldn’t we have gone to the McDonalds a few streets away?”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Oh, well sorry for trying to be romantic.” I said sarcastically.

“Cheeseburgers and fries can be romantic.” Joe pressed. I raised an eyebrow.

“Would you prefer cheap heart disease or amazing food from every country in the world?” I asked. He stayed silent for a few seconds, and I could see him thinking.

“Cheap heart disease seems cool to me,” he grinned. I sighed and grabbed his hand, dragging him into the restaurant. A friend of mine, Alejandro (yes, he’s Italian) spotted me at the door with Joe and immediately rushed over.

“Izazya! It’s been a while!” he chirped, walking over to us, looking Joe up and down. “And I presume this is Joseph, correct?” I nodded.

“Joe, this is Alejandro, my friend.” I explained. Joe nodded, shaking his hand quickly.

“Nice to meet you,” he said shyly, half hidden behind me. I raised an eyebrow, turning my head and looking at him.

“Since when were you shy?” I asked. He shrugged, burrowing his face into my arm. I sighed, wrapping my arm around his shoulders and murmuring in his ear, “Everything will be fine, don’t worry.” He nodded and slowly moved away from me, taking my hand in his own. I gave his hand a light squeeze and looked at him, smiling, before turning back to Alejandro.

“Table for two then?” he asked and I nodded. “This way then.” He led us through the almost empty restaurant to a table in the far corner of the restaurant. We both sat down and Alejandro handed up both a menu, before walking away. I watched Joe over the table, who was fidgeting nervously in his seat.

“What’s wrong?” I asked softly, shoving the menu to the side. He looked up at me and smiled, shaking his head.

“It’s nothing, don’t worry.” He replied quickly, biting his lower lip. “I’m going to go find the bathroom; I’ll be back in a second.” He stood up and walked briskly across the restaurant. I sighed, leaning back in my seat. Alejandro walked back over to me with a bottle of champagne. I looked at him and smiled, running my hand through my hair.

“Not going like you planned?” he asked, popping the top off of the champagne and pouring a glass for me. I shook my head, taking the glass and taking a gulp of the alcohol. He crouched next to me, his hands resting on the seat. “He’s obviously not used to this sort of thing, I mean, he looked so nervous before he left. Maybe you should just... Keep him talking, let him say what he needs to say and listen to him, it’ll work, promise.” Alejandro patted my shoulder before beginning to walk away.

“Alejandro,” I paused, he looked at me. “Who’s the champagne from?” Alejandro pointed across the room to a pair of men, who looked at me smiling.

“They say you remind them of when they first got together.” Alejandro explained quietly. I grinned and nodded to the men, before picking up my menu again.

Joe’s POV

As soon as I got into the bathroom, I just sat in one of the stalls, my head in my hands. I don’t know why I felt so weird, I couldn’t explain it. It was like I was being judged from every angle I looked from, and that scared me. Of course, I wasn’t being judged, not much. I knew what Izazya had said was genuine, he wouldn’t let people hurt me, so why was I sat here, like the idiot I was, waiting for something to change? Exactly there was no point.

Using every ounce of strength I could muster up, I stood up, walking to the sinks, looking in the mirrors. Yes, I was checking my hair. I brushed a few strands from my face before walking towards the door. Only, as I reached the door, I was hit in the face with it, by an anxious Izazya. I stumbled back, clutching my nose and falling back against the stalls.

“Shit!” I moaned in pain.

“Fuck! I’m so sorry Joe!” Izazya almost yelled his apology, running over to me and holding me steady. He slowly prised my hands from my nose to check for any injuries. Nothing more than a cut. I sat quietly whilst Izazya cleaned up my face and then kissed me softly, his touch lingering. I shivered and grinned, before standing up and taking his hand, dragging him from the toilets and back to the restaurant. 

We ordered our food quickly and as soon as the waiter left our table, began talking as we usually did.

"How'd you know the girl in the hotel?" I asked, tracing the pattern on the table cloth. He smiled at me.

"Family friend, that's how I knew where we'd be going." I nodded at his reply, "why'd you leave?" I swallowed.

"I felt like I was being judged," I mumbled quietly. I heard Izazya sigh, taking my hands from across the table. I felt a blush creep onto my face as he looked at me with a small smile. 

"Joe, people are constantly judging others, whether that's for their looks, their sexuality, their religion, whatever. It's something we have to overcome, if we're ever going to get anywhere. Understand?" he explained softly. I nodded, suddenly having more confidence than when I'd started. I leaned over the table, placing my hand on the back of his head, pulling him towards me and kissing him. The kiss suprised him, until he realised what was going on. He untensed and returned the kiss. I pulled away and smiled, planting another on his lips again softly, and sitting back in my seat, clearing my throat.

"Sorry," I muttered.

"No worries, that was rather nice." He replied in a teasing tone, winking. I grinned back at him. he made me feel so weird sometimes - but in a good way. 

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HEY PEOPLE!

I hope you guys are enjoying this, and yes, it's up for the watty awards WOOO. 

The only problem is that it's the second book... So people have to go read the other one first, and once they've read that one they're like: UUUHHHH. EFFOOORRTTTTT. I'll read it later. And then it doesn't get read. But oh well, it's still rather popular :D Thank yoooouuu for support and stuff. Still, you guys need to comment ;D