The Painter & The Pianist

viii.

CHAPTER EIGHT

"Hey, what's up?" Amadeus' hand slid smoothly into Monserrat's. "PDA!" Monserrat gasped putting his hand sarcastically to his mouth, feigning shock. "Don't worry I'll wear gloves." Then gave a quick look around, seeing the coast was clear, he snuck a kiss.

"So, have you picked out your suit?" Amadeus saw the other boys confusion and smiled. "A suit for what?" Monserrat began to think. "For Junior Prom? You are going with me, aren't you?" Amadeus said, worried.

"You're not going with anyone else right? I know your neighbor is cuter than me but I'm sure he doesn't have MY dance moves," Amadeus said as his words blurred together due to the speed he said them.

Monserrat chuckled. "No, I'm still going with you. I wouldn't go with anyone else."

"Whew, okay. Did you find your suit yet?"

Monserrat nodded. "Yes Amadeus, I did."

Shoulders pushing into a shrug, Amadeus smiled sheepishly, walking alongside Monserrat as they navigated the dangerous halls of the high school's math and science building. "Uh," he said, intelligently, "That's cool."

Monserrat raised an eyebrow. "That's all you had to say?"

"What's wrong with that?" Amadeus wiped away his blush and smiled. Both boys were stopped in the middle of the hall. "Well, I'll just head to class now." Monserrat turned to walk away when Amadeus pulled him back. "Wait," he said softly, his voice full of emotion. Amadeus felt his chest compress in and his heart began to beat faster than it already was. Amadeus placed his hand on Monserrat's, looking into his eyes for one moment before walking away. Monserrat looked down to see a homemade boutonniere set neatly in his hand.

Monserrat looked ahead at Amadeus who walked confidently with his back turned to Monserrat. The boutonniere was elegantly made, with a single white rose in the middle surrounded by sheer black ribbon and baby's breath. Monserrat took in a shaky breath before a grin plastered his face.

Monserrat practically glowed with happiness as he looked down at the boutonniere. He held it close to his chest before placing it gently in his satchel, on top of his books. For the first time, in a long time, he felt appreciated. He was in love.

//

"AMADEUS!" Monserrat stood in bewilderment at his 'roommate' or whatever he was, he wasn't sure what to describe his current...residency at his apartment. "What up dude?" Amadeus said casually as he flicked through channels in his heart-covered briefs. "Will you please put on some clothes?" Monserrat said before he turned around, not so much as to give him privacy - but to hide the growing redness on his face. "Oh, yeah!" Amadeus looked at his watch, then hurriedly dressed.

By the time he was done, the lanky artist had already moved to the kitchen and began to pour a travel cup full of coffee.

"Are we ready to go?" Amadeus flashed a smile to him. "First, we should get something to eat." Monserrat glanced at the metallic clock his mother had given him when he moved out. "It's a date, then...not a date, um, I mean not that a date wouldn't be right just um...?" Amadeus' smile turned awkward as Monserrat began to fumble with himself. "Okay...let's go."

Monserrat let Amadeus take the lead to the car, and he stopped on his way to say goodbye to the little chameleon Lennon, looking longingly towards the door of his cage.

As Monserrat turned and locked the door (with a load full in his hands: the Bleeding Heart canvas with the protective cover, a touch-up art kit, and a bag of dried banana chips), he looked down to see the little cactus plant that had not been watered for quite some time. He looked around to see if anyone was watching before he picked up the watering can and poured a waterfall of H2O into the little helpless plant that was begging for his pity.