Lessons On Kissing Guys (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 26

lol have a good new year

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CHAPTER 26

I leave Blair a note: ‘Rian is in trouble; I’m at the store and I’ll be back as soon as I know things are okay. I have my phone — call if you need me. I love you. Lucas.’ 

I feel bad for leaving him after such an amazing day spent together. But still, I put the note just next to him on the sofa where he fell asleep, kissing his forehead and whispering, “I love you,” before getting ready to go. 

Once I’m dressed in some joggers, and a vest top, I throw on some trainers and a coat and make my way out. 

I walk for a couple of minutes before remembering how upset Rian had sounded on the phone — he sounded as if his whole world had just crashed around him — and start jogging instead. Whatever has happened, I need to get there sooner rather than later.

By the time I get to the store, I’m slightly out of breath (I haven’t run for ages). The lights are all off, even above the shop where the apartment is.

When I push on the door, it swings open without a pause. “Rian?” Nothing. I almost shout for Phil as well but something stops me. 

I walk through the store, weaving through displays until I reach the till. The keys are just sitting there on top of it, so I decide to lock up before someone realises the store is open and decides to steal everything. Unsure that I feel okay about all of this, I pocket the keys as well. If I need to make a quick exit, I have to be prepared.

I open up the door to the stairs, making my way up until I reach the door to Phil and Rian’s apartment. My three knocks on the wood are hesitant. No one answers.

The door pushes open, and I make my way through, trying to be quiet. Goddamn, I’m not in a horror movie, but something just isn’t right. I mean, the two a.m. phone call was a pretty big hint that something is going awry. 

I search through the whole apartment, and it’s not until I reach the bathroom that I find him. I stop outside the door, terrified because I know there’s no where else he can be since I’ve checked the whole place. 

When I push on the door, it doesn’t open. Barely even budges. What the fuck?

“Rian?” Nothing. The silences scares me so much I feel my heart thumping against my chest faster than it ever has before. “Open the door.” I’m practically shouting. “Open the fucking door!” I don’t want to think about what could’ve happened. 

What the fuck do I do? “I’m coming in.” I try to sound strong, but my voice falters. I remember being ten and finding my brother locked in the bathroom, drunk off his arse. I never told Mum or Dad. 

I try to run against the door, slamming my shoulder into it, but it doesn’t budge. “Open the door open the door open the door.” I can’t tell whether I’m shouting or whispering. I grab a chair, slam that into the door. Nothing happens. I kick and kick but the door remains.

I feel something vibrating in my pocket; my phone. The screen lights up with Blair’s name. I answer. “Blair.” I think I’m crying. 

“Lucas? I got your note. I’m coming now.”

I don’t know what to say. I’m nodding (which is useless) but I can’t speak.

“I’m coming now.” He repeats. “Ten minutes and I’ll be there.” Everything goes silent as he hangs up and I follow his lead. I put my head in my hands for a brief second before making my way downstairs to wait.

When I reach the door to the shop, I take out my keys, unlocking it and opening it. The cold air feels harsh on my face. It feels like far too long before Blair makes it. When he does, he’s running towards me. He’s not even out of breath when he stops. His arms envelope me in a hug before he leans back, looking right at me. “What’s going on?”

I don’t say anything, just gesture for him to come inside so I can lock up again. Then I grab his hand, leading him through the store and up the stairs. 

We’re half way up the stairs when we hear a loud thump. I start running the rest of the way up, Blair close behind me. 

Just outside the bathroom, Rian is laying on the floor. Blair and I immediately take a hold of both his arms, lifting him up until he’s standing (slouching) enough that we can walk (drag) him over to the couch. 

When we have him propped up, Blair goes to get a glass of water. I stay put, trying not to break down because a guy I have come to know and love is barely awake, slumped over on the sofa beside me. 

Blair is only a minute, and then he’s trying to get Rian to drink — he props the glass against Rian’s lips, telling him to take sips. It doesn’t really work, but eventually Rian seems to come around a bit more. 

“Rian? Are you okay?” I know the question I’m asking is stupid. Of course he’s not fucking okay. I mean, I don’t even know what’s happened, but he’s drunk to the point of blacking out, his eyes are red and puffy, and he can barely sit up.

“I’m… fine.” He just about manages to get the words out.

“You’re not fine.”

Blair walks over to me, perches on the coffee table leaning towards me. “Let him rest; we’ll figure out what’s happened once he wakes up. He can hardly speak now anyway.” I hate that he’s right. The anticipation to find out what the fuck is going on is killing me.

Still, I move off the couch and help Rian to lay down. Blair grabs a blanket and puts it over him. Now, we just have to wait.

—————

I wake up not having a fucking clue of what time it is. It takes me half a second to realise I’m at Rian’s and Phil’s, but a little longer to remember why. When I do, I bolt upright, causing my head to ache, before standing up and walking into the kitchen.

Rian is sitting at the table. He looks practically dead, but at the same time he’s… well, he’s alive. Obviously. Blair is cooking something over the stove (no doubt something incredible since he always has been good at cooking).

“Goodmorning.” Blair sounds almost as chipper as usual. Almost. 

“Yeah.” Or not. It’s actually a pretty terrible morning.

My eyes flicker over to the clock next to the kitchen’s shelves. Eight o’clock. I guess one plus side is that I got a decent amount of sleep.

A while passes before anyone speaks again. It’s just Blair, telling us breakfast is ready as he slides plates across the table. Tofu scramble. Probably one of my favourite things, which is his way of trying to cheer up the mood.

As I’m eating, my eyes flicker over to Rian. His eyes look empty, as if he can’t even feel sad about whatever’s going on (which, considering yesterdays drunken state, we still don’t know about).

Blair — seeing the way I’m looking at Rian — gives me a warning look. It’s a look that says ‘don’t say anything you’ll regret.’ As in, don’t start interrogating Rian as soon as he’s awake. But damn it, I really want to know what’s happened.

“He left me.” Rian breaks a silence that seems to have been lasting far too long.

Blair and I shoot looks at each other. His is shocked, mine not quite as much. I mean, Phil wasn’t here when I got here, and still hasn’t turned up, so I just assumed that something had happened between them.

We wait for Rian to say something else; the silence begins to gnaw at me for a while. I’m almost sick of waiting. But then, in the quietist whisper, we’re finally told what’s going on. What’s really going on. More than just being left.

“He cheated on me.”