Fire and Ice

Max

                After Reuben and I left Denver, we walked back into my bedroom. I sat on the bed next to him and started drawing, while he looked over my shoulder. “You’re a great artist Max.” I smiled, but kept my head down. “Thanks, my mother taught me. I can draw you, if you want of course.” He grinned and propped himself up on my bed like a model. “Get my good side.” I laughed and smacked him with my drawing pad. “Come on Reuben, act natural.” I started drawing, my hand swiping across the paper swiftly. I glanced up and saw Reuben looking at my drawing. “Don’t look yet! I’m not finished.” He laughed and stared straight forward again. “Max, can I ask you something?” I nodded while I sketched some more. “Do you love me?” I stopped. I looked down and saw I drew a thick line across the forehead. “Oh Jesus,” I muttered erasing the line. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that. We barely know each other.” I brushed away the eraser bits, “No it’s not that. It was just so, sudden I guess. I haven’t had much time to think about love.” I started drawing again, hoping to put Rueben’s question off. We were quiet after that. I kept drawing him and Reuben just stared straight ahead, lifeless. I set the pencil down and turned toward him. “I-I um finished. Would you like to see it?” I handed him the notepad, hoping he would like it. “This is wonderful Max, you have a true gift.” He smiled at me and carefully ripped the paper out, then folded it and placed it into his shirt pocket. We sat quietly again. “I should go make dinner…” I said pushing myself up and off the bed. Reuben stood up to, brushing his pants off. “I’ll help.”

While dinner was cooking Reuben and I played a game that he learned as a child. I wasn’t very good at it, but Reuben didn’t seem to care. He was too busy kissing me to even teach me correctly. When dinner was finally ready Reuben helped set the table while I served the food. I guess it smelled as good as it looked because Denver came out of his room and his stomach growled loudly.

“Food? You guys made dinner, and it’s actually edible?” Denver teased picking at a roll.

I swatted his hand with a spoon and he laughed. “Can you not wait five minutes?”

“I guess. I’ll go get Emma.” Denver left the room to get his “girlfriend” and Reuben kissed me again.

“I love you so much.” Reuben said gently kissing my lips. I kissed him back, embracing him tenderly in my arms.

“I know. I love you too.” I said back. And I really meant it finally.

“Max…” he said moving his head away slowly. “We need to talk.”

I felt my stomach drop to my feet. That’s the worst thing to hear in the world, it made me nervous. I bit my lip and stood up, following Reuben into his bedroom.