Andante

CLXVII

Elated was too small a word for it, really. Ecstatic joy came a little closer. Brett had called his parents, first, and then they had kept themselves together long enough to make it out of the building without coming across like they were five years old, before whooping loudly and clapping each other's shoulders on the side walk.
"Come on! Bubble tea's on me!" Brett shouted as he took off at an awkward jog, going as fast as the violin case on his back would allow. Eddy overtook him easily, of course.
"Why you so slow, hey?" he quipped in his outragious Asian uncle accent, turning around and running backwards for just a moment, his eyebrows waggling hard and his tongue between his teeth. 
"Yeah, yeah. Hold up a sec." Brett grinned. 
They got on the bus back to the centre, still giggling, going in the direction of their regular bubble tea place without needing to agree to. Brett was beaming, radiating happiness like Eddy had never seen before. Every time he looked at him he had to smile, too. 
"I told you you'd get in." he said softly as they sat down on the back seat again, squeezing Brett's hand underneath the violin case once again. "I told you."
Brett turned to him, a sudden seriousness coming over him. 
"Yeah, I know you did. But I really don't think I would have, without you there today. This morning, and again before the audition. I'm going to have to give you a proper thank you. So maybe we should skip the tea until tomorrow... what do you think... the park?"
Oh. 
How could two little words cause so much electricity to flow through Eddy's system so quickly? 
The park. 
Oh man. That sounded so good. 
"O-okay." he whispered, suddenly shy. He squeezed Brett's hand again and looked out of the bus window. The stop that was within walking distance to their spot in the park was coming up. 
"The park sounds awesome... and then... erm, well, I should probably get home and face the proverbial music."
He regretted having said it the second Brett's face fell. 
Shit, why didn't he wait to say that until after the park? But he knew why, of course. Now that all the adrenaline was leaving his system, he had started dreading going home. 
Brett was quiet for a long moment as Eddy looked out at the streets of Brisbane. 
"How much trouble have I got you in?" he said then, his voice monotone. "Do you want me to come along? I mean... I can explain it was my fault?"
Eddy whipped his head around so fast it must have looked comical. "No, Bretty, please don't think that. It wasn't your 'fault' at all. Please. I always want you to call when you need me, okay? I just need to sort it out with her. It'll be okay."
Well. He really hoped it would be okay, anyway.
"Do you want me to come?" Brett asked again. Eddy shook his head. 
"Nah, this one I'll have to face alone. Otherwise she'll just wait until you're gone to talk about it. Don't worry about it, okay?"
Brett nodded. "I'll try. Can't make any promises though."
"I'll text you the second I'm back on safe ground, okay?"

The moment the bus braked by the park and they walked down the little steps his mum went right to the back of his mind again.  He had heard Brett's words, he had heard the promise in his tone, he knew exactly what was coming and the anticipation was almost becoming too much as they walked over gravel paths side by side, past colourful ducks, to the field they knew so well all the way in the back of the park. It was like Brett was a magnet, pulling him closer, the electricity between them almost visible.
After everything today, there was absolutely nothing he wanted more than being as close as he could to his love.
That solitary bench came up ahead of them. There was a young mother with a pram, walking right by it, and Eddy looked around him quickly as they waited for her to pass.
Lady! Move! We've got somewhere to be!
But it wouldn't do for anyone to see them disappearing between the trees, so he waited, checked again and made sure. Only when he was sure absolutely no one would spot them he walked briskly to their spot, Brett on his heels, and stepped in between the branches.  

Brett's mouth was on his before he could even breathe in. He pushed him against the big tree hard, the rough bark against his back a perfect counterpoint to the soft, insistent lips on his, the passion between them mounting ever more, every touch and every kiss an incantation. 
It had been ages since they had been able to let go like this, their breaths quick and audible, their bodies pressed together so tightly. 
"Fuck, Brett." he grunted between firy kisses. "I love you so much."
Brett let go for just a moment and gazed at him, his eyes burning with something he was sure no one but him ever saw. 
"Not as much as I love you, my love."
And he would have responded, he would have objected and told him no, he loved him more, but suddenly both his mouth and his breath were way too busy.