To See You Again [UWMA AU]

Chapter 31

Running around like little kids, Tom and Win were leading the ten people group of friends toward Lyon's smallest river. Following the new year tradition, the city had organised a firework display to celebrate the end of this year. The friends had been overjoyed to hear about it, planning right away to go at the location a bit earlier to find the right spot. Although it was freezing out there, if they wanted to see the firework over the cathedral, they had to go find the right spot before the crowd came.

They had found an empty spot on the river handrail and were either seating on it or leaning on it. Dean wasn't as enthusiastic about the spectacle, simply enjoying being with his friends rather than to see a display of the same repeated and patterned explosions. He was standing up behind Lucy who was sitting between Amber and Pharm, which in turn had his best friend by his side. Of course Win was standing right behind the said man, sneakily looking for an excuse to drap his arm on Team's shoulder. Tom, Yong Gi, Manaow and Pruk were a bit further away.

Pharm had consistently tried to catch Dean's attention, asking him questions about the city and the building he could see around them. Not wanting to give him anything else than basic answers and a bit bored too, Dean asked around if anyone wanted to drink some Vin Chaud (hot and spicy wine). It's not that Pharm wasn't cute or lovable really, but Dean wasn't interested. Maybe in another life, under other circumstances he would have been able to love the pretty and petite boy. It just wasn't now.

« Three Vin Chaud and a churros please. » requested Dean to the stall seller, following his friends' desiderata.

« That might be a bit difficult to hold ... » a deep voice suggested behind him.

Spinning around, Dean faced the one who had spoken to him and beamed. He didn't know which god he had to thank but he was happy he could see the tall handsome man for this special occasion. He had missed seeing him during the week they had been apart.

« Do you want one too ? » he replied, offering Liam to have his own hot drink.

Liam showed him his already half empty paper glass, thanking a slightly disappointed Dean.

« Let me help you get that back to your friends. » offered in turn Liam, Dean's order having been served and paid for.

It would have been a difficult task for Dean to hold the three full cups of hot liquid and the bag of churros, so he was glad to have come across the older man. As they came closer to his friends, Dean praid that Win's tongue wouldn't slip and tease him right this instant. It could be embarrassing in more ways than one, for Liam, himself and maybe Pharm. Luckily, Win was so absorbed by the difficult man he was trying to flirt with, that he barely registered the Vin Chaud and Team's churros that were handed to him. Dean was giving Yong Gi his drink when he saw Manaow's interest and handed her his own wine, signaling that he will go get a new one for himself.

Liam had waited for him to let him know he would go back to his own friend. On the spur of the moment, Dean asked to accompany him and rushed to let Yong Gi and Tom know, just in case.

« Don't you want to stay with them ? » asked cluelessly Liam.

« It doesn't really matter, they will enjoy just the same without me. » shrugged Dean « Where are your friends ? » he asked in return.

« Near the stall ... »

« Perfect. » finalised hastily Dean, stalking away to prevent Liam to question him more.

He was surprised to meet Lucas when, after he brought his new Vin Chaud, he joined Liam's friends. Lucas was one of the supervisors for the Mountain Club. Although if he thought about it a bit longer, it's thanks to Lucas that he first met Liam. But the surprise was even bigger when he recognized the third man that Liam introduced to him and the woman beside him.