The Cycle of Friends to Strangers

Chapter 23 - It Was Just Us. Perfection.

It was 11pm a week later, all the recording was finished and Anthony had to leave for his plane as it took an hour to get there. He was ready to get back to his apartment.

"Ian?" Anthony called from the front door, duffel bag in one hand, the door handle in the other.

No reply.

Anthony dropped his duffel bag and walked down the hallway as Ian wasn't in the living room.

Ian wasn't downstairs at all.

Anthony walked up the stairs, "Ian, I need to go now".

"Why?" a small voice said from Ians room.

Anthony poked his head round the door to see Ian laying on his bed, the only light source was the lamp next to him which was only dim but light enough to see the features on Ians face, his blue eyes... they were puffy and tired.

"Because I need to-"

"Get back to Kalel? Or Kristen? Whatever she's called" Ian interrupted Anthony.

"No, because I need to get back to where I live," Anthony walked in and slowly sat next to Ian on his bed, "I wish I could stay here with you Ian," Anthony felt butterflies at his own words, "I would prefer it".

Ian sat up, crossed his legs and looked Anthony in the eyes, "Then stay here for an extra day if you'd prefer it, heck, I'm your best friend Anthony".

Anthony put a hand on Ians knee, "I know you are, and no one could replace you," Anthony traced the outline of Ians knee with his finger, "but the flight's booked and I wouldn't want to waste my money".

Ian was now staring at Anthonys hand. feeling his stomach flip.

"I understand" Ian said trying to put on a brave smile.

Anthony pulled his hand away to look at his watch, "I can give you 10 minutes, but then I gotta go".

Ian couldn't help but give Logan a big grin, "Thanks".

Anthony hugged Ian, "Anything for my bestfriend".

'What am I doing?' thought Anthony 'I love Kalel, I should be leaving, then getting on a plane back to her'.

Anthony pulled away from the hug.

"So what do you want to do for 10 minutes?" Anthony asked.

"Talk" Ian replied.

Anthony nodded and turned to face Ian on his bed.

"Remember during recording when our neighbour kept staring because I was running down the street in my speedos?" Ian laughed.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure she's a perv," Anthony joined in until their laughter died down, "what's wrong Ian?" He asked.

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"Nothing" Ian shrugged, pretending he was okay so Anthony wouldn't be upset.

"Ian, I know when something's wrong with you,"

Ian tried averting his eyes away from Anthonys but Anthony reached out and held Ians face, forcing Ian to look him in the eyes.

"Please don't lie to me" said Anthony.

Ian lifted his hand and put it on top of Anthonys, "I've just been thinking" Ian and Anthony slowly removed their hands.

"About what?" said Anthony.

"Do you want me to be honest?"

"Of course"

"About us"

"What about us?"

"The us before you moved out, the us after I got my memory back, that one and a half weeks when it was just us - and I don't mean bestfriends"

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Anthony remembered that week and a half - it was just them, him and Ian, that's it. They were what he always wanted them to be, a couple... sort of, you know - all that cute and cuddly stuff, laying in bed with each other until the afternoon, watching movies together.

Perfection.

"I've been thinkig about that too," Anthony admitted, "I've been reliving them moments in my head," Anthony wasn't speaking directly to Ian at this point.

"Really?"

"Yes. God yes!"  Anthony whispered.

"Good... I just don't want you to forget" Ian smiled.

"I could never forget"

'Anthony, shut up, you love Kalel' Anthony thought, 'No he loves Ian, it's obvious" Great, now his mind is arguing with itself.

Ian was looking at Anthony for validation of what he said is true.

"I could never forget" Anthony said again, just to confirm it.

Ian leaned over and kissed Anthony.

Anthony was frozen at first but began to kiss back, it reminded him of when he first kissed Ian on that bench, the way Ian was stuck but slowly slipped into the heat of the moment.

Anthony lifted his hand up to Ians hair, slowly twisting his fingers in his bowelish hair cut, pulling him deeper into the kiss.

It wasn't rough, it was a long and soft kiss, as if to say 'I've missed you'.

Ian pulled away first, he look startled at what he just did.

Anthony nodded.

Ian nodded, "It's been 10 minutes"

Anthony checked his watch, "You're right".

Anthony and Ian walked down the stairs and to the front door, Anthony picked up his duffel bag which he discarded earlier.

Anthony opened the door and took a step out, he turned around to face Ian, "See you in two weeks", said Anthony.

"See you in two weeks" Ian smiled weakly.

Anthony looked down and slowly turned round and began walking towards his car, he looked over his shoulder and back at Ian once more.

'Stop looking back' Anthony thought, he waved to Ian who waved back, the got in his car and began his way to the airport.

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Ian stayed by the door until Anthonys car was completely gone from view.

"See you in two weeks," he whispered to himself then went back inside and went to bed.