Coldeternal, The Friend U Gave Away (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} astoryat3) wrote in ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} a7x_slashness,@ 2009-07-08 20:39:00 |
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Request #3
Title Sleep Over
Author:astoryat3
Rating PG
Pairing: A bit of a different take on Brian/Matt
Forsynysterangel_x
A/N: Sorry, I know you wanted sex but this was the best I could do. cshads, yours is coming, at least chapter one is...sometime soon
Brian doodled through the last part of his third period Geography class. Lunch was next and today was a very big day. His parents had not only deemed him old enough at 14 to stay home while they went to look in on their grandmother while she had hip replacement surgery. That would have been great enough. Added to this was the fact that they had taken his bratty little brother, who was too young to realize that any visit to their grandparents was a snooze fest waiting to happen. This was a coup as well. But the real prize was not only having the house to himself but finally finding the courage to ask someone over to spend the night.
It wasn't just anyone he was choosing to ask. It was Matt. Matt was the most popular guy in the school. He always had a trendy haircut before anyone else had it. Whatever he wore, weeks later, so did everyone else. Brian had actually attempted to be one of these followers. That is until he walked into the Armani Exchange and saw that the price of the pair of jeans Matt had worn to school that Monday was almost as much as his father brought home in a week. Brian then realized maybe it was better to be a secret admirer than an acolyte.
So had begun what could only be a courtship on a ninth grade level: candy left on desks, notes in lockers, goofy poetry written way past his bed time. But somehow Matt had figured out who it was coming from. And while he hadn't been mad, well he hadn't really cared either. Brian didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed.
His idol had opened a letter, looked right at him and said "Oh, this is from you, isn't it?", and Brian was not thinking clearly enough to lie so he had nodded. "Thanks." Matt had said simply and patted him on the shoulder and then walked away.
Brian wasn't sure where he'd found the courage but as soon as his parents told him they were leaving he had looked for the chance to catch Matt alone. This was no easy task. He was never alone. But finally he walked up and asked if Mr. Popularity had a minute and to Brian's shock Matt stepped away from the football players he'd been regaling with some dirty joke and turned his full attention to Brian. Brian had taken a deep breath and simply blurted it out.
"My parents are going out of town Friday. Wanna come over?"
"Let me check my calendar." Matt had said. And then to Brian's surprise he actually pulled out a calendar filled with scribbles and checked the date. "I'm free after 7, is that okay?"
"Sure Matt, that would be great."
"My friends call me Matt." He gave Brian a wink. "Here write your address in my day planner."
Brian was shaking so much inside he didn't know how he managed to hold the pen but somehow he did.
"Okay, well...thank you for the invitation and I'll see you sometime after 7." Brian was then rewarded with a brilliant smile and a flip of dark hair as Matthew hurried back to his band of admirers.
Now it was Friday and Brian had much to do before Matt's visit. There was food to buy, things to put in order, movies to lay out. Brian's parents had left him enough money for food for a week but he was planning on spending a good portion of it on Matt's visit.
Brian skipped lunch preferring to put his lunch money in toward whatever it was he was going to need for Matthew to stay over that night. From school he walked to the closest grocery store and then hauled everything on the bus back home and put it away. He bought only the most expensive brands of everything, from soda to chips to hand sliced ham from the deli. As far as he was concerned the 88 cent frozen cheese pizzas would have sufficed, but he really wanted to impress Matt. He then went out and rented some movies and bought popcorn and ice cream from a convenience store, which was much more expensive, but the ice cream would have melted on the bus anyway. Finally he arrived back home in time to take a shower and gel his hair and wait.
That's when the dread set in. What if Matt only SAID he was coming over? Why would he want to hang out with a loser like me anyway? Oh god, what if he saw the address and realized what a crummy neighborhood it was? What if he couldn't find the place to begin with? What on earth had ever given Brian the idea he could pull something like this off?!
Just when Brian thought his nerves couldn't get worse there was a knock at the door. Matt arrived wearing a button down long sleeved shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up half way. The shirt had black and white vertical stripes on the outside but was lined in blood red. It looked very expensive. With it he wore a pair of baggy black jeans and a studded black belt. Brian had only changed into a clean t shirt and off brand blue jeans and immediately felt under dressed.
"Wow...this place....wow!" Matt looked around. "Your furniture......my god. My grandparents had this stuff when I was a little kid. I think they had that exact couch!" Matt seemed amazed but hardly impressed.
"I...um..yeah....it's my couch." Brian said nervously as Matt looked around.
"I didn't think they made these things anymore. Did you get it on Ebay?"
"Um...no...we've always had it." It then occurred to Brian that the decor of his house probably had not changed since before he was born.
"Wow and you're totally not ashamed to invite people over!" Matt grinned, still looking around. "That rules, man."
"I, um, thanks." Brian said softly.
"Well thank you for the cards and the letters and the poems...and ...candy I think..." Matt said ticking off the items on his fingers. "I didn't think I was THAT hard to get, but thanks!"
Brian blushed fiercely.
"Glad you...ah...got them all."
"Where can I set my bag?"
"Oh! My room, come on." Brian ushered Matt through the house, cringing to wonder what other thoughts Matt had that he was keeping to himself about the decor. To Brian's relief Matt seemed to approve of the posters on the wall even if the Slayer one made him shudder.
"Have you eaten yet?" Brian asked.
"No, actually. I just got out of a Key Club meeting. I'm hope for Vice President next year. That's why I'm dressed to kill."
"You're always dressed to kill." Brian gave Matt a shy smile.
"Ya think?"
"Oh definitely."
"Thank you. So, back to your offer of food..."
"Yeah, um, come on." Brian took Matt by the arm and led him to their small dining room. "Just, ah, sit down and I'll be right back."
Brian was glad when the kitchen door closed fully because he was full of such nervousness he bounced up and down several times before setting to work on the sandwiches. Ham, two types of cheese, gourmet mustard, mayonnaise and lettuce on the larger sliced premium brand bread. It was quite possibly the nicest looking sandwich Brian had ever seen. It looked like it could be served in a restaurant. It was almost a shame to put a pile of chips next to it to distract from it's beauty. He knew he couldn't carry the plates and sodas both so he took the plates in first and presented Matt with his masterpiece.
Matt looked at the sandwich.
"Um...Brian? I don't eat meat." He gave an apologetic smile and pushed the plate away. "I'm trying to drop weight for the La Cross team.I can't. I'm sorry."
Brian was stunned.
"I....uh...I did not know that."
"Obviously." Matt shrugged.
"Well, um.....the bread cheese and mayonnaise and lettuce is still good I guess. You could...just eat that."
Brian suggested, his mind already cursing itself for not getting the plain cheese pizza.
"Here is your health lesson for today. Cheese is made from milk. Mayo is made with eggs. Eggs and cheese come from animals. Animal products make you fat."
"But you said you don't eat meat."
"I don't eat any type of animal product."
"Oh." Brian sighed to himself, taking back the plates. "I could make you a tuna sandwich."
"BRIAN!! Tuna is a fish. A fish is an animal! Did you not pass biology last year? A fish breathes, a fish is alive. Therefore I will not eat it!"
Brian was now getting irritated.
"Does peanut butter and jelly come from animals?"
"Don't be stupid."
Brian clamped his teeth together to keep from saying something he'd regret and took both their plates back into the kitchen.
"Just cuz I don't doesn't mean you can't eat yours!" Matt called, but the kitchen door was already shut.
He put both the sandwiches in the fridge, suddenly not very hungry himself. He looked at the package of ham with the deli label still attached. His parents would KILL him if they knew he'd spent so much on something to make a stupid sandwich with. He opened the door, called to his dog, then dumped the contents of the package into the dog's dish and threw away the label.
"Eat up, boy. That's two weeks of my allowance you're chowing down."
The dog said nothing but ate hearty. Suddenly those 88 cent frozen pizzas weren't looking like such a foolish choice after all. Brian left the back door open so the dog could leave when his gourmet doggy dinner was done. He hastily fixed the PB& J sandwiches, poured two glasses of milk that had been $4.50 a gallon and just as he returned to the dining room he saw the look Matt was giving the glasses.
"FUCK! You can't drink milk can you?" Brian blurted out, really beginning to panic. "You said that and...I ....I guess I wasn't listening. Damn, I'm sorry!" He grabbed the glasses and whirled around to head back to the kitchen.
"Brian, calm down, it's fine." Matt got up to follow him. "Don't sweat it, dude. Just give me a soda."
"You can't drink a SODA with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!!" Brian sighed setting down the plates with a bang on the counter.
"Watch me! I'll have such a sugar rush you'll have to peel me off the walls all night." Matt was grinning.
"You sure?"
"Dude, it's fine. And let's not sit at the TABLE! I have to sit at the dinner table with my MOM. Let's take our food and go watch tv. I mean face it, what MORE could we do to that couch of yours?"
Brian had to laugh at this, remembering countless stains from dog drool to his brother throwing up.
"Okay, sure." He poured Matt's glass of milk back into the jug and shut the fridge door, but not before pulling out a soda.
"Sorry, it's Coke. Not a vanity brand."
"Coke's good." Matt shrugged. "Coke's fine. Coke is a classic, so to speak." He took his plate and the two settled into the livingroom. Brian handed him the remote. "Wow, and here I was thinking you'd have an old fashioned set with the turn-y knobs!" He laughed. Brian only looked down. "What a shock. No surround sound." He grinned and elbowed Brian in the ribs. "Seriously, this is SO refreshing!"
Brian said nothing, pulling the crust from his sandwich and again wishing he'd just gotten the damned cheese pizzas. But then Matt wouldn't have been able to eat the cheese either. How was he to know this guy was a human rabbit?
Matt selected a movie from the 80's and they sat watching for bit.
"So, who do you like at school? Aside from me of course. I got THAT much from the notes and candy." Matt gave Brian a cocky grin. "Anyone else you fancy?"
Brian was not prepared to be put on the spot.
"Uh no. Not really." He blushed.
"So who was your first kiss?"
Brian bit at his lip and blushed even harder.
"Oh god! Don't tell me you haven't? With all the sluts at this school? No guys?"
Brian shook his head.
"No girls either? Girls are SO easy!!"
Brian sighed and shook his head.
"Well let's see the first guy I ever kissed was this greaser named Jeremy, had a Glenn Danzig fetish that was so hot. Then I kissed a girl named Maren then I kissed this guy named Brent but he thought he was a girl so that sort of counted for both!" Matt laughed. "All the debs are sluts but trust me, get some of those jocks drunk and they'll be up for anything too."
"Um...debs?"
"Debutantes."
Brian felt incredibly stupid.
"You've.....kissed guys on the football team?"
"Shhh! I never name names." Matt grinned.
Talk then turned to teachers and classes and the random gossip that was making the rounds about who was putting out and who could possibly be pregnant.
"So what do you do for fun Brian?" Matt asked.
"Skate, hang out, go to the arcade."
"Cool, me too. How long have you been skating?"
"Just two years. I'm not ....into tricks or anything. It's just a way to get around."
"Well maybe I could show you a few things sometime."
"I'd like that."
"Got a video game system?"
"Just a Gameboy."
"Ah." Matt sounded disappointed. "What's on it?"
"Just Tetris. But I rented some movies."
"Cool." Matt looked at Brian and licked his lips. "Why don't you stick one in and see what happens."
Brian had no idea how to react to this. Was Matt really flirting or was he being made fun of? There was no way to gauge it since he hadn't spent any amount of time in Matt's company. He blushed a little and put in one of the movies at random.
"You know it's supposed to freeze tonight." Matt said a few minutes later.
"Really? I'll have to keep the dog inside."
"Don't worry, if it gets too cold, I'm willing to keep you warm." Matt slid closer and put an arm around Brian.
"Um, Matt? Chill." Brian said nervously, even though it was really the last thing on earth he wanted the other boy to do. He really just wanted the chance to get his own bearings. More than anything he wanted to know whether or not he was about to be laughed at.
Matt sighed, rolled his eyes dramatically and slid back to his side of the couch.
"Well you know Haner you could have told me this was the type of sleep over that's....you know cookies and pie and Kool Aid."
"What?"
"You sent me notes and candy and poetry and shit and then you invite me over. You know, I kinda thought it was ...........for a reason. Unless you're playing hard to get and if you are, when you tell me 'no', you're supposed to bat your lashes and grab on to my leg anyway."
"I just wanted to hang out."
"So in other words you're just a tease?" Matt crossed his arms over his chest.
"NO!! I'm not!! Don't say that!" Brian snapped. "I'm sorry! Sorry for trying to be nice to you! Sorry that you obviously thought I wanted something in return other than starting out as friends."
For a second Matt looked genuinely hurt.
"So I guess I don't understand. You sent me all that stuff but you only want to be my friend and hang out? You don't......like me like that? You send poetry to guys you wanna ........skate with?"
"No, that's not it. I DO like you. Doesn't mean I'm going to fuck you on the first date."
"This isn't a proper date and I was not expecting you to." Matt's eyes narrowed and he glared at Brian before fixing his gaze back on the movie. He crossed his arms over his chest but he didn't get up. They watched the rest of it in silence.
"Are you still hungry?" Brian asked softly after the movie finished.
"Not really but I could nibble something if you want to." He added hastily "And no, that's not some sort of come on, so don't freak out."
Brian didn't want to make Matt any more pissed off so he merely nodded and suggested popcorn.
"Sure, that sounds good."
Matt followed Brian into the kitchen and soon a bag of popcorn was spinning in the microwave.
"Lived here long?" Matt asked, still looking around as if he was inspecting the house for rodents.
"Most of my life. I think we lived in another house once but I was too small to remember."
"Think you'll move out when you're sixteen?"
"I um, wasn't planning on it."
"So you're folks are cool then?" Matt asked as the microwave beeped.
"They're okay."
"Me? I cannot wait to get the hell out of Dodge. I was meant for much better things than this shitty town could offer."
"So what do you want to do?" Brian pulled open the bag and was about to dump the contents into a bowl when Matt waved him back and stuck his hand in the bag.
"It's cool." He stuffed a handful in his mouth. "I'm not real sure I just know I don't want to stay here. You?"
"I don't know. Maybe teach. Maybe be a coach. Maybe just do something with computers. I really have no idea."
Matt nodded.
"Hey Haner, open your mouth."
"Why?"
"Oh for god's sake I'm not sticking anything .....inappropriate in it!!" Matt dug into the bag of popcorn again. "Or don't open your mouth, fuck it!" A piece of popcorn suddenly bounced off Brian's nose. "Well you may be a coach but you sure as hell won't be a receiver, buddy boy!"
"No fair! I wasn't ready!!" Brian backed up and opened his mouth. The next several minutes turned into a popcorn flying free for all until the bag was emptied and both boys were out of breath from laughing.
"Didn't you say something about bringing your dog in?" Matt asked, looking out the window at the setting sun. "You might want to do that now."
Brian stuck his head out the back door and called.
"What did you just call your dog?"
"Uh, Nanook." Brian waited for the other boy to either ask why or burst out laughing.
"Like in the Lost Boys?!"
Brian nodded, feeling a grin spread over his face.
"That is so cool! That is like the best name ever!!"
"Thanks." Brian could feel himself blushing and becoming warm all over. But after several more attempts, the dog didn't come bounding up and it was getting too cold to stand there with the door open.
"Tell ya what, we can go look for him. I'll take you." Matt offered.
Brian thought it was getting way too chilly for a stroll outdoors but he wasn't going to question Matt wanting to do anything with him so he agreed. Matt ushered him out the front door and that's when Brian saw the car parked on the curb.
"You drove here? In a car?!"
"No, it's a dog sled! Yes, a car, dumbass!" Matt shook his head. "A car. Four wheels, gasoline powered, 300 horsepower..........people use them as transport."
"But.....you're MY age! How is that possible?!" Brian followed him down the where the shiny black dream on wheels sat.
"It's possible because I took my step dad's keys." Matt shrugged, producing the keys from his pocket and jingling them. He opened the door for Brian.
"It's gorgeous! Aren't you going to get in trouble?"
"Eh...it's only a Volkswagen." Matt said dismissively. "And I do it all the time. The only catch is that if I get pulled over or get in a wreck, I'm on my own. I won't be bailed out and I have to pay for all the damage, mine and whoever I hit, out of my own money. So I tend to be careful and it hasn't happened yet. So it's all good." He turned the ignition and the Cure began to blare from the stereo.
"Sorry. Guess we should turn that down so you can call the dog."
"Don't be sorry............." Brian's voice trailed off in amazement. "That is the best sound system I ever heard!!"
"Pfffffffffttt....it's factory! If this really was my car, I'd have something MUCH nicer!"
As the sun disappeared completely and darkness fell, they rolled through the neighborhood in silence except for the stereo and Brian calling sporadically for his dog. It was cold but Matt had turned the heater on, despite the fact that Brian kept the passenger window down. The combination of the cold air from the window, the warm air from the vents, Robert Smith in the speakers and Matt so close to him navigating through neighborhoods he was unfamiliar with had lulled Brian into a state of near hypnosis. It was almost a disappointment when they did find Nanook nosing through an overturned trash bin several streets away.
"Um, what now?" Brian asked, the dog's ears pricking up when he heard his name.
"You get your dog and I take you home."
"I get my dog.........in your car?"
"Well it's not technically mine so who cares!?" Matt laughed. "If the dog doesn't howl and drown out the Cure I have not problem with having him as a passenger."
Brian opened the door and called and Nanook took a running leap, landing right in Brian's lap. Full of canine joy, the dog began to paw Brian's shirt and lick at his face. This was fine but then the pooch decided to give the same treatment to Matt.
"Ahhh! No! Get off me!!" Matt said as the muddy dog jumped from Brian's lap to his. "I can't drive and dog sit both."
"He likes you!" Brian laughed.
"Ewwww! His hair is getting in my mouth!" Matt made a face. "He stinks!" Brian pulled the dog back into his lap. With the windows up now, the scent of the car's interior quickly went from new car to wet dog. Thankfully they were close to home. When they got back Matt started stripping as soon as he got in the door.
"Okay, where's your washer?"
"We....ah. We don't have one."
"Are you fucking prehistoric?!" Matt blurted out. "Do you beat your laundry on rocks or what?"
"We did have one!" Brian put his fists on his hips. "But it broke and we haven't had the money to get it fixed. We take our stuff to the Washeteria next to the school." He sighed, dropping his hands. "I could hand wash it for you."
"Don't bother, the mud and dog smell probably won't come out anyway. Just toss it." Matt threw the shirt to Brian and went to get his bag in the bedroom. Brian stood, shocked, and looked down at the label. He couldn't even pronounce the name. Who knew how much it cost. He held the inner collar up to his face and inhaled. It even smelled expensive. Maybe he could save up enough to get it dry cleaned. He certainly couldn't afford to replace it. He folded it carefully and slipped it between the cushions of the couch for safe keeping.
He found Matt laying on his stomach on his bed, glancing over an old copy of Rolling Stone. He'd changed into a t shirt and shorts. The one bare bulb in the ceiling fan was making a halo around his dark hair and his legs, while not as long as Brian's, looked far more muscular. For a moment Brian just stood there watching before approaching the bed and sitting down.
"So, do you have any music or do I need to crank up an old Victrola?" Matt winked at him.
"Yes, I have cds, Richie Rich. What do you want to listen to?" Brian pulled out his cd case and poked Matt in the ribs with it as he presented it to him.
"Dude, metal is so dead since GNR broke up....." Matt flipped through the disks. "Hey! Rancid!" He grinned and handed the cd to Brian. "Tim Armstrong is so fucking hot! Someday I am so going to get a tattoo on my neck. That is the sexiest thing ever."
Brian had never heard another guy talk about liking........well, another guy before. Especially not someone famous. He could only smile and nod as he turned on the cd.
"I mean, Robert Smith and Martin Gore are great but there's just something to be said about a manly man who could just.........throw you down and have his way with you. Don't you think?"
Brian started laughing. No one had ever spoken to him like this and he had no idea how to respond.
"You are so damn repressed, Brian!" Matt shook his head. "Embarrassing you is so easy, it ain't even fun anymore! You need to rent some porn or something."
"Why rent it when I could borrow yours?" He was trying his best to flirt back but it was so hard when he had no earthly idea what he was doing. "You must have some or else you wouldn't be bragging about it."
"Of course I do! What else do I have to scare my folks with? My family is Catholic so that means the unholy trinity is being openly gay, leaving porn for them to find and refusing communion."
"You refused communion? Why?"
"Okay, number one: It's wine. And I am never drinking. EVER. I have the body of an athlete, I am not fucking that up with liquor. Number two: If Jesus is alive like they teach us? Don't you think he needs his blood for himself? And number three: If Jesus' blood really is wine.......... sounds like Jesus was an alcoholic! Would you wanna follow a guy like that?!" There was that cocky smile again, daring Brian to say something back. "You wouldn't watch porn with me, Haner. You're so scaredy I couldn't even put my arm around you on the couch without you getting your panties in a twist."
Brian's chagrin must have shown on his face because Matt reached over and ruffled his hair.
"It's okay though. Someone in this world has to stay innocent. Might as well be you."
"Can I aspire to be as worldly wicked as you?" Brian teased, trying not to show how hurt he really was. If there was one thing no 14 year old boy ever wanted to be, it was innocent.
"Sure. You can be the president of my fan club. You can spread the Gospel of Matty far and wide."
"Porn and skateboards for all?"
"Amen and Amen, my son." Matt pretended to bless Brian. "Hey, if you like Rolling Stone, I have a subscription. And I read really fast. I'll bring 'em to school and share 'em. Not like we really need to do work ALL the time when we're there."
"Cool."
The room was getting chilly and Brian was getting very tempted to scoot closer to Matt and cuddle up to him. He excused himself to turn on the heater, shut the dog up in the kitchen and lock up for the night. When he returned Matt was already under the covers, in his bed.
"Hope this is okay. I don't like sleeping alone in strange places. It sort of creeps me out."
Okay? Brian was overjoyed to find Matt in his bed but he knew better than to show it.
"I am sorry about your shirt." He said, changing the subject as he climbed in bed.
"It's okay. I guess Nanook was just so happy to be in from the cold he couldn't help himself. How long have ya had him?"
"Oh man, as long as I can remember. I think we got him as a pup for my brother’s fifth birthday."
"I've got a brother too. Are you two close?"
"Not really. He's a brat!"
Matt laughed and asked Brian to turn off the light. First Brian was afraid he was going to try something, then he was afraid he wasn't. But all Matt seemed to want to do was talk, so talk they did. They named favorite movies, favorite heroes, favorite comics, favorite skaters, movie stars, musicians and even talked a bit of politics. Finally though Matt was taking longer and longer to answer. Then he didn't answer at all.
Anyone else would have considered the night to have at least ended on a good note. Matt seemed to be sleeping quite comfortably next to Brian and surely that meant the night had not been a total wash up. But Brian did not think so. He lay awake for hours listening to the clock tick and the sound of Matt breathing. It was hard enough to sleep with Matt in the same bed but for some reason Brian was starting to feel a chill in the air. He was sure he'd turned on the heater, but the room seemed to be getting colder by the minute.
Finally he gave up and got out of bed. He knew something was up when he stepped out in the hall and flipped the switch and nothing happened. He made his way to the kitchen but the lights were out there too and the refrigerator and freezer weren't on. Next to the fridge, Nanook snoozed in a ball with his head resting on his rear paws. Two of the three occupants of the house were sleeping soundly, why couldn't he? He checked the breakers but they were all set to on. He flipped them back and forth, nothing.
They must've paid the bill late again!
He thought. A lot of times his dad didn't have the money to pay the bill in full so he'd either send payments or pay it late. He'd always call the electric company first and let them know though. This time either he forgot to call in the hurry to go check on his mother or the electric company had gotten tired of the late payments and just shut the electricity off for spite.
Could this night get any worse?!
He didn't bother trying to salvage the expensive food in the fridge, he left it. It was all for Matt anyway.
He felt his way to the restroom, checking to make sure that at least they had running water. They did. There he found a used towel and brought it back to throw around Nanook though the dog had enough fur to keep him warm. Brian didn't want to take a chance though.
He walked slowly back to the bedroom, grabbed the blanket at the foot of the bed and threw it over Matt who continued to sleep soundly unaware. When he went in search of one from himself he found the linen closet only contained towels and his parents' room was locked.
Perfect. Perfect shitty ending to a perfectly shitty day.
Careful not to wake Matt he crept back in bed and tucked his arms inside his t-shirt. The night wore on, the temperature dropped and Brian was then way too cold to fall asleep. All he could do was lay there surrounded by thoughts of his own failure and imagine how Matt was never going to speak to him again after he managed to get out Brian's front door in one piece. He could only imagine the stories Matt would carry back to his friends at school. He probably wouldn't even let him call him Matt anymore, he'd probably go back to just being Matt. Brian curled himself in a ball, covering his face with his hands.
He had no idea how long he'd been crying but he had assumed his hands were so tight over his face that there was no way he could be heard. Suddenly though the bed shifted and he felt a hand on his side.
"Brian, what's wrong?" Matt sat up and immediately ducked his arms back underneath the covers. "Christ! It's freezing! What's going on? What are you doing without anything on your side of the bed. Where's your blanket?"
"I...I only had one. I wanted you to be warm. I ruined everything else! I couldn't let you catch a cold too!" Brian gulped, without turning around. "I'm so sorry. I know you're not ever going to hang out with me again. Hell, you'll probably never even speak to me after this. I should have planned it out better! I should have known----! I should have asked—! I just–! I just–!" Brian's voice broke into incoherent sobs.
"Brian, babe. Take a breath for God's sake! You're gonna choke on your tongue or something!" Matt seemed more startled at his behavior and loss of control than sympathetic or concerned and that only confirmed Brian's fears that he had screwed things up to the point that his new friend hated him.
"Didn't mean to wake you up—." He sniffled, shivering and rubbing his hands over his arms after wiping at his nose. He sat up. "I'll go sleep on the couch."
"Oh you will NOT!" Matt scolded, throwing back the blanket. "You'll freeze out there without something to cover up with." He didn't wait for Brian to respond before pulling him back down in bed, pressing himself up against his thin, shaking frame securing the blanket around the both of them. "Just lay close to me, I'll keep you warm. The blanket is plenty big for the both of us if we're close enough together."
Brian nodded, still trying to catch his breath from both his teeth chattering and crying.
"What happened, babe? Is the heater out?"
Brian gave up. There was no use in trying to pretend he was even close to being in the same league as Matt. Suddenly the whole plan of him spending the night seemed like the stupidest thing he could have ever come up with. There was no sense in trying to front or be anything he clearly wasn't.
"My folks didn't pay the bill on time or didn't pay enough of it. I don't know. Our electricity was cut off. I didn't know, man. If I'd known I would have never asked you over. Just another stupid mistake."
"And you only had one blanket?"
Brian was becoming aware that Matt's arms were around him, starting to realize how close their bodies were and all the places where their skin touched. But the question seemed full of scorn and condescension. What kind of person only owned one blanket? He began to cry again as he nodded.
"I tried to get into their room but it was locked."
"And....and you gave your one blanket to me?" Matt seemed dumbfounded. Obviously the rich did not share.
"I didn't want you to be cold!" Brian cried. "I'd already ruined everything else! I didn't know you didn't eat the same food I did. I bought the most expensive stuff I could. I spent all the money my folks left for me to try and impress you, and I could have just asked! You were so nice to take me to find Nanook. I didn't mean for him to ruin your shirt! That shirt probably cost more than everything in my closet!! There's no way I can pay you back for it!! I'm not as good as you, I'm not as smart as you and all I wanted was to prove that I could fit in with your friends and I can't and I'm sorry! You could have gone with them and done something fun tonight and here you are in this shitty house I'm embarrassed of now with no fucking heat, freezing to death with me. I am really, really sorry!" He sobbed.
"Brian...shhh...." Matt's lips pressed to his forehead as he began to rub at Brian's back and shoulders. "Don't say that. There is nothing wrong with this place. You did not ruin anything about tonight. Do you have any idea how nice it was to go and hang out with someone who wasn't trying to one-up me the entire night? To have a conversation about something other than who's going where on vacation and who stayed at the nicer hotel? It is so nice to lay here and hold someone who's not trying to get me drunk and get in my pants. Brian, you don't understand. I don't get to do this. I don't meet nice guys like you. This has been a great night for me."
Brian tried to speak but it was coming out in gulping gurgles so Matt shushed him again.
"Don't cry, Brian. I ....I could have been a lot nicer about things. I was awful, you shouldn't apologize for anything. You were the perfect host tonight."
"No. No I wasn't."
"You were perfect and fun and accommodating and understanding. I'm just used to being around shallow people. Shallow people act a certain way and you have to act a certain way back, and sometimes you do that so much you forget how to be around anyone else."
"Why did you even agree to stay over?" Brian sighed, still shaking against the cold, but finally starting to calm down a little. "I'm nothing like you're other friends."
"Which is exactly why, Brian." Matt said softly. "You're nothing like them. You're real and intelligent and kind, and grateful for what you have. You're a real person and not a projection of someone else's expectations."
Brian couldn't think of anything to say and wasn't even sure he was understanding what Matt was saying. He nodded and pressed a little closer, still waiting for Matt to come to his senses and push him back.
"I'm used to interacting in a certain way with people. It's like we use the language of disdain. If we showed any genuine love or appreciation of one another, it would be seen as weakness."
"Well that's just stupid!" Brian blurted out, then regretted it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean...."
"No. It is stupid. But that's how some people are and there's no sense in trying to change them, you'll just drag yourself down to their level. Some days it's just easier to play along." Matt had inclined his head and his lips were so close to Brian's ear he could feel the warm exhale of breath. "They're not all fake, any more than I am. We just have to try and keep up appearances for everyone else. Kind of a hard job."
"Don't think I could do that." Brian mumbled, feeling calm return to him for the first time since he'd opened his eyes that morning. He now realized how warm and safe he felt with Matt's arms around him.
"I wouldn't want you to. And you don't have to." Matt let go of him enough to run a finger down the bridge of his nose. "You are not like them so you don't have to pretend. But that doesn't mean you can't be my best friend."
Brian was so surprised at this he lifted his head and his mouth collided with Matt's chin.
"Oh! I'm sorry! Did I—?"
Brian's apology was cut off by a swift, soft kiss that ended so quickly, he almost wondered if he'd dreamed it. Matt's mouth was on his, pressing hard, then nibbling at his lower lip, then pressing again and then it was gone and Brian's head was being held to his chest once more.
"Just wanted to show you I wasn't mad." Matt's voice held the slight edge of laughter waiting to escape. "And face it, who better to give you your first kiss? You know you wanted it and were too scared to ask."
Brian was speechless so Matt continued. "Do you have a number to get a hold of your folks?"
"Yeah." Brian breathed though he was still so stunned he barely heard the question.
"Call them tomorrow. Tell them you're going to stay with me until they can arrange to get the electricity back on."
"What? You...you want me to stay with you? Are you sure?"
"Brian!" Matt sounded as if he couldn't believe Brian would question him. "I was absolutely horrible to you and yet you gave me the only blanket you had and were prepared to silently freeze your ass off the rest of the night just so I'd be warm. That is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. You AND the dog are staying with me. End of story. I'm not going to let you stay in a cold house without electricity. Especially all by yourself. In a house with no lights and no heat? Friends don't do that."
"Friends...." Brian sighed sleepily, relaxing against Matt as his body finally felt like it was retaining warmth. "What is your house like."
"Um...it's big. You can have your own room if you want."
"I don't like to sleep alone in strange places." Brian giggled. "How's that for aspiring to be like you."
"Bless you my child. You have said the magic words that earn you another kiss. If you want it."
"I do."
Brian slid up higher in the bed, reaching out to Matt and bringing his face closer until their lips met again.
"Mmm...that was nice. You learn fast."
"You're a sensai."
"Grasshopper."
"Teacher."
"Teacher's pet."
"Master."
"Servant."
"Dave Gahan."
"Martin Gore."
"Goodnight Matt."
"Goodnight Brian."
The END
Title Sleep Over
Author:
astoryat3 Rating PG
Pairing: A bit of a different take on Brian/Matt
For
synysterangel_x A/N: Sorry, I know you wanted sex but this was the best I could do. cshads, yours is coming, at least chapter one is...sometime soon
Brian doodled through the last part of his third period Geography class. Lunch was next and today was a very big day. His parents had not only deemed him old enough at 14 to stay home while they went to look in on their grandmother while she had hip replacement surgery. That would have been great enough. Added to this was the fact that they had taken his bratty little brother, who was too young to realize that any visit to their grandparents was a snooze fest waiting to happen. This was a coup as well. But the real prize was not only having the house to himself but finally finding the courage to ask someone over to spend the night.
It wasn't just anyone he was choosing to ask. It was Matt. Matt was the most popular guy in the school. He always had a trendy haircut before anyone else had it. Whatever he wore, weeks later, so did everyone else. Brian had actually attempted to be one of these followers. That is until he walked into the Armani Exchange and saw that the price of the pair of jeans Matt had worn to school that Monday was almost as much as his father brought home in a week. Brian then realized maybe it was better to be a secret admirer than an acolyte.
So had begun what could only be a courtship on a ninth grade level: candy left on desks, notes in lockers, goofy poetry written way past his bed time. But somehow Matt had figured out who it was coming from. And while he hadn't been mad, well he hadn't really cared either. Brian didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed.
His idol had opened a letter, looked right at him and said "Oh, this is from you, isn't it?", and Brian was not thinking clearly enough to lie so he had nodded. "Thanks." Matt had said simply and patted him on the shoulder and then walked away.
Brian wasn't sure where he'd found the courage but as soon as his parents told him they were leaving he had looked for the chance to catch Matt alone. This was no easy task. He was never alone. But finally he walked up and asked if Mr. Popularity had a minute and to Brian's shock Matt stepped away from the football players he'd been regaling with some dirty joke and turned his full attention to Brian. Brian had taken a deep breath and simply blurted it out.
"My parents are going out of town Friday. Wanna come over?"
"Let me check my calendar." Matt had said. And then to Brian's surprise he actually pulled out a calendar filled with scribbles and checked the date. "I'm free after 7, is that okay?"
"Sure Matt, that would be great."
"My friends call me Matt." He gave Brian a wink. "Here write your address in my day planner."
Brian was shaking so much inside he didn't know how he managed to hold the pen but somehow he did.
"Okay, well...thank you for the invitation and I'll see you sometime after 7." Brian was then rewarded with a brilliant smile and a flip of dark hair as Matthew hurried back to his band of admirers.
Now it was Friday and Brian had much to do before Matt's visit. There was food to buy, things to put in order, movies to lay out. Brian's parents had left him enough money for food for a week but he was planning on spending a good portion of it on Matt's visit.
Brian skipped lunch preferring to put his lunch money in toward whatever it was he was going to need for Matthew to stay over that night. From school he walked to the closest grocery store and then hauled everything on the bus back home and put it away. He bought only the most expensive brands of everything, from soda to chips to hand sliced ham from the deli. As far as he was concerned the 88 cent frozen cheese pizzas would have sufficed, but he really wanted to impress Matt. He then went out and rented some movies and bought popcorn and ice cream from a convenience store, which was much more expensive, but the ice cream would have melted on the bus anyway. Finally he arrived back home in time to take a shower and gel his hair and wait.
That's when the dread set in. What if Matt only SAID he was coming over? Why would he want to hang out with a loser like me anyway? Oh god, what if he saw the address and realized what a crummy neighborhood it was? What if he couldn't find the place to begin with? What on earth had ever given Brian the idea he could pull something like this off?!
Just when Brian thought his nerves couldn't get worse there was a knock at the door. Matt arrived wearing a button down long sleeved shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up half way. The shirt had black and white vertical stripes on the outside but was lined in blood red. It looked very expensive. With it he wore a pair of baggy black jeans and a studded black belt. Brian had only changed into a clean t shirt and off brand blue jeans and immediately felt under dressed.
"Wow...this place....wow!" Matt looked around. "Your furniture......my god. My grandparents had this stuff when I was a little kid. I think they had that exact couch!" Matt seemed amazed but hardly impressed.
"I...um..yeah....it's my couch." Brian said nervously as Matt looked around.
"I didn't think they made these things anymore. Did you get it on Ebay?"
"Um...no...we've always had it." It then occurred to Brian that the decor of his house probably had not changed since before he was born.
"Wow and you're totally not ashamed to invite people over!" Matt grinned, still looking around. "That rules, man."
"I, um, thanks." Brian said softly.
"Well thank you for the cards and the letters and the poems...and ...candy I think..." Matt said ticking off the items on his fingers. "I didn't think I was THAT hard to get, but thanks!"
Brian blushed fiercely.
"Glad you...ah...got them all."
"Where can I set my bag?"
"Oh! My room, come on." Brian ushered Matt through the house, cringing to wonder what other thoughts Matt had that he was keeping to himself about the decor. To Brian's relief Matt seemed to approve of the posters on the wall even if the Slayer one made him shudder.
"Have you eaten yet?" Brian asked.
"No, actually. I just got out of a Key Club meeting. I'm hope for Vice President next year. That's why I'm dressed to kill."
"You're always dressed to kill." Brian gave Matt a shy smile.
"Ya think?"
"Oh definitely."
"Thank you. So, back to your offer of food..."
"Yeah, um, come on." Brian took Matt by the arm and led him to their small dining room. "Just, ah, sit down and I'll be right back."
Brian was glad when the kitchen door closed fully because he was full of such nervousness he bounced up and down several times before setting to work on the sandwiches. Ham, two types of cheese, gourmet mustard, mayonnaise and lettuce on the larger sliced premium brand bread. It was quite possibly the nicest looking sandwich Brian had ever seen. It looked like it could be served in a restaurant. It was almost a shame to put a pile of chips next to it to distract from it's beauty. He knew he couldn't carry the plates and sodas both so he took the plates in first and presented Matt with his masterpiece.
Matt looked at the sandwich.
"Um...Brian? I don't eat meat." He gave an apologetic smile and pushed the plate away. "I'm trying to drop weight for the La Cross team.I can't. I'm sorry."
Brian was stunned.
"I....uh...I did not know that."
"Obviously." Matt shrugged.
"Well, um.....the bread cheese and mayonnaise and lettuce is still good I guess. You could...just eat that."
Brian suggested, his mind already cursing itself for not getting the plain cheese pizza.
"Here is your health lesson for today. Cheese is made from milk. Mayo is made with eggs. Eggs and cheese come from animals. Animal products make you fat."
"But you said you don't eat meat."
"I don't eat any type of animal product."
"Oh." Brian sighed to himself, taking back the plates. "I could make you a tuna sandwich."
"BRIAN!! Tuna is a fish. A fish is an animal! Did you not pass biology last year? A fish breathes, a fish is alive. Therefore I will not eat it!"
Brian was now getting irritated.
"Does peanut butter and jelly come from animals?"
"Don't be stupid."
Brian clamped his teeth together to keep from saying something he'd regret and took both their plates back into the kitchen.
"Just cuz I don't doesn't mean you can't eat yours!" Matt called, but the kitchen door was already shut.
He put both the sandwiches in the fridge, suddenly not very hungry himself. He looked at the package of ham with the deli label still attached. His parents would KILL him if they knew he'd spent so much on something to make a stupid sandwich with. He opened the door, called to his dog, then dumped the contents of the package into the dog's dish and threw away the label.
"Eat up, boy. That's two weeks of my allowance you're chowing down."
The dog said nothing but ate hearty. Suddenly those 88 cent frozen pizzas weren't looking like such a foolish choice after all. Brian left the back door open so the dog could leave when his gourmet doggy dinner was done. He hastily fixed the PB& J sandwiches, poured two glasses of milk that had been $4.50 a gallon and just as he returned to the dining room he saw the look Matt was giving the glasses.
"FUCK! You can't drink milk can you?" Brian blurted out, really beginning to panic. "You said that and...I ....I guess I wasn't listening. Damn, I'm sorry!" He grabbed the glasses and whirled around to head back to the kitchen.
"Brian, calm down, it's fine." Matt got up to follow him. "Don't sweat it, dude. Just give me a soda."
"You can't drink a SODA with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!!" Brian sighed setting down the plates with a bang on the counter.
"Watch me! I'll have such a sugar rush you'll have to peel me off the walls all night." Matt was grinning.
"You sure?"
"Dude, it's fine. And let's not sit at the TABLE! I have to sit at the dinner table with my MOM. Let's take our food and go watch tv. I mean face it, what MORE could we do to that couch of yours?"
Brian had to laugh at this, remembering countless stains from dog drool to his brother throwing up.
"Okay, sure." He poured Matt's glass of milk back into the jug and shut the fridge door, but not before pulling out a soda.
"Sorry, it's Coke. Not a vanity brand."
"Coke's good." Matt shrugged. "Coke's fine. Coke is a classic, so to speak." He took his plate and the two settled into the livingroom. Brian handed him the remote. "Wow, and here I was thinking you'd have an old fashioned set with the turn-y knobs!" He laughed. Brian only looked down. "What a shock. No surround sound." He grinned and elbowed Brian in the ribs. "Seriously, this is SO refreshing!"
Brian said nothing, pulling the crust from his sandwich and again wishing he'd just gotten the damned cheese pizzas. But then Matt wouldn't have been able to eat the cheese either. How was he to know this guy was a human rabbit?
Matt selected a movie from the 80's and they sat watching for bit.
"So, who do you like at school? Aside from me of course. I got THAT much from the notes and candy." Matt gave Brian a cocky grin. "Anyone else you fancy?"
Brian was not prepared to be put on the spot.
"Uh no. Not really." He blushed.
"So who was your first kiss?"
Brian bit at his lip and blushed even harder.
"Oh god! Don't tell me you haven't? With all the sluts at this school? No guys?"
Brian shook his head.
"No girls either? Girls are SO easy!!"
Brian sighed and shook his head.
"Well let's see the first guy I ever kissed was this greaser named Jeremy, had a Glenn Danzig fetish that was so hot. Then I kissed a girl named Maren then I kissed this guy named Brent but he thought he was a girl so that sort of counted for both!" Matt laughed. "All the debs are sluts but trust me, get some of those jocks drunk and they'll be up for anything too."
"Um...debs?"
"Debutantes."
Brian felt incredibly stupid.
"You've.....kissed guys on the football team?"
"Shhh! I never name names." Matt grinned.
Talk then turned to teachers and classes and the random gossip that was making the rounds about who was putting out and who could possibly be pregnant.
"So what do you do for fun Brian?" Matt asked.
"Skate, hang out, go to the arcade."
"Cool, me too. How long have you been skating?"
"Just two years. I'm not ....into tricks or anything. It's just a way to get around."
"Well maybe I could show you a few things sometime."
"I'd like that."
"Got a video game system?"
"Just a Gameboy."
"Ah." Matt sounded disappointed. "What's on it?"
"Just Tetris. But I rented some movies."
"Cool." Matt looked at Brian and licked his lips. "Why don't you stick one in and see what happens."
Brian had no idea how to react to this. Was Matt really flirting or was he being made fun of? There was no way to gauge it since he hadn't spent any amount of time in Matt's company. He blushed a little and put in one of the movies at random.
"You know it's supposed to freeze tonight." Matt said a few minutes later.
"Really? I'll have to keep the dog inside."
"Don't worry, if it gets too cold, I'm willing to keep you warm." Matt slid closer and put an arm around Brian.
"Um, Matt? Chill." Brian said nervously, even though it was really the last thing on earth he wanted the other boy to do. He really just wanted the chance to get his own bearings. More than anything he wanted to know whether or not he was about to be laughed at.
Matt sighed, rolled his eyes dramatically and slid back to his side of the couch.
"Well you know Haner you could have told me this was the type of sleep over that's....you know cookies and pie and Kool Aid."
"What?"
"You sent me notes and candy and poetry and shit and then you invite me over. You know, I kinda thought it was ...........for a reason. Unless you're playing hard to get and if you are, when you tell me 'no', you're supposed to bat your lashes and grab on to my leg anyway."
"I just wanted to hang out."
"So in other words you're just a tease?" Matt crossed his arms over his chest.
"NO!! I'm not!! Don't say that!" Brian snapped. "I'm sorry! Sorry for trying to be nice to you! Sorry that you obviously thought I wanted something in return other than starting out as friends."
For a second Matt looked genuinely hurt.
"So I guess I don't understand. You sent me all that stuff but you only want to be my friend and hang out? You don't......like me like that? You send poetry to guys you wanna ........skate with?"
"No, that's not it. I DO like you. Doesn't mean I'm going to fuck you on the first date."
"This isn't a proper date and I was not expecting you to." Matt's eyes narrowed and he glared at Brian before fixing his gaze back on the movie. He crossed his arms over his chest but he didn't get up. They watched the rest of it in silence.
"Are you still hungry?" Brian asked softly after the movie finished.
"Not really but I could nibble something if you want to." He added hastily "And no, that's not some sort of come on, so don't freak out."
Brian didn't want to make Matt any more pissed off so he merely nodded and suggested popcorn.
"Sure, that sounds good."
Matt followed Brian into the kitchen and soon a bag of popcorn was spinning in the microwave.
"Lived here long?" Matt asked, still looking around as if he was inspecting the house for rodents.
"Most of my life. I think we lived in another house once but I was too small to remember."
"Think you'll move out when you're sixteen?"
"I um, wasn't planning on it."
"So you're folks are cool then?" Matt asked as the microwave beeped.
"They're okay."
"Me? I cannot wait to get the hell out of Dodge. I was meant for much better things than this shitty town could offer."
"So what do you want to do?" Brian pulled open the bag and was about to dump the contents into a bowl when Matt waved him back and stuck his hand in the bag.
"It's cool." He stuffed a handful in his mouth. "I'm not real sure I just know I don't want to stay here. You?"
"I don't know. Maybe teach. Maybe be a coach. Maybe just do something with computers. I really have no idea."
Matt nodded.
"Hey Haner, open your mouth."
"Why?"
"Oh for god's sake I'm not sticking anything .....inappropriate in it!!" Matt dug into the bag of popcorn again. "Or don't open your mouth, fuck it!" A piece of popcorn suddenly bounced off Brian's nose. "Well you may be a coach but you sure as hell won't be a receiver, buddy boy!"
"No fair! I wasn't ready!!" Brian backed up and opened his mouth. The next several minutes turned into a popcorn flying free for all until the bag was emptied and both boys were out of breath from laughing.
"Didn't you say something about bringing your dog in?" Matt asked, looking out the window at the setting sun. "You might want to do that now."
Brian stuck his head out the back door and called.
"What did you just call your dog?"
"Uh, Nanook." Brian waited for the other boy to either ask why or burst out laughing.
"Like in the Lost Boys?!"
Brian nodded, feeling a grin spread over his face.
"That is so cool! That is like the best name ever!!"
"Thanks." Brian could feel himself blushing and becoming warm all over. But after several more attempts, the dog didn't come bounding up and it was getting too cold to stand there with the door open.
"Tell ya what, we can go look for him. I'll take you." Matt offered.
Brian thought it was getting way too chilly for a stroll outdoors but he wasn't going to question Matt wanting to do anything with him so he agreed. Matt ushered him out the front door and that's when Brian saw the car parked on the curb.
"You drove here? In a car?!"
"No, it's a dog sled! Yes, a car, dumbass!" Matt shook his head. "A car. Four wheels, gasoline powered, 300 horsepower..........people use them as transport."
"But.....you're MY age! How is that possible?!" Brian followed him down the where the shiny black dream on wheels sat.
"It's possible because I took my step dad's keys." Matt shrugged, producing the keys from his pocket and jingling them. He opened the door for Brian.
"It's gorgeous! Aren't you going to get in trouble?"
"Eh...it's only a Volkswagen." Matt said dismissively. "And I do it all the time. The only catch is that if I get pulled over or get in a wreck, I'm on my own. I won't be bailed out and I have to pay for all the damage, mine and whoever I hit, out of my own money. So I tend to be careful and it hasn't happened yet. So it's all good." He turned the ignition and the Cure began to blare from the stereo.
"Sorry. Guess we should turn that down so you can call the dog."
"Don't be sorry............." Brian's voice trailed off in amazement. "That is the best sound system I ever heard!!"
"Pfffffffffttt....it's factory! If this really was my car, I'd have something MUCH nicer!"
As the sun disappeared completely and darkness fell, they rolled through the neighborhood in silence except for the stereo and Brian calling sporadically for his dog. It was cold but Matt had turned the heater on, despite the fact that Brian kept the passenger window down. The combination of the cold air from the window, the warm air from the vents, Robert Smith in the speakers and Matt so close to him navigating through neighborhoods he was unfamiliar with had lulled Brian into a state of near hypnosis. It was almost a disappointment when they did find Nanook nosing through an overturned trash bin several streets away.
"Um, what now?" Brian asked, the dog's ears pricking up when he heard his name.
"You get your dog and I take you home."
"I get my dog.........in your car?"
"Well it's not technically mine so who cares!?" Matt laughed. "If the dog doesn't howl and drown out the Cure I have not problem with having him as a passenger."
Brian opened the door and called and Nanook took a running leap, landing right in Brian's lap. Full of canine joy, the dog began to paw Brian's shirt and lick at his face. This was fine but then the pooch decided to give the same treatment to Matt.
"Ahhh! No! Get off me!!" Matt said as the muddy dog jumped from Brian's lap to his. "I can't drive and dog sit both."
"He likes you!" Brian laughed.
"Ewwww! His hair is getting in my mouth!" Matt made a face. "He stinks!" Brian pulled the dog back into his lap. With the windows up now, the scent of the car's interior quickly went from new car to wet dog. Thankfully they were close to home. When they got back Matt started stripping as soon as he got in the door.
"Okay, where's your washer?"
"We....ah. We don't have one."
"Are you fucking prehistoric?!" Matt blurted out. "Do you beat your laundry on rocks or what?"
"We did have one!" Brian put his fists on his hips. "But it broke and we haven't had the money to get it fixed. We take our stuff to the Washeteria next to the school." He sighed, dropping his hands. "I could hand wash it for you."
"Don't bother, the mud and dog smell probably won't come out anyway. Just toss it." Matt threw the shirt to Brian and went to get his bag in the bedroom. Brian stood, shocked, and looked down at the label. He couldn't even pronounce the name. Who knew how much it cost. He held the inner collar up to his face and inhaled. It even smelled expensive. Maybe he could save up enough to get it dry cleaned. He certainly couldn't afford to replace it. He folded it carefully and slipped it between the cushions of the couch for safe keeping.
He found Matt laying on his stomach on his bed, glancing over an old copy of Rolling Stone. He'd changed into a t shirt and shorts. The one bare bulb in the ceiling fan was making a halo around his dark hair and his legs, while not as long as Brian's, looked far more muscular. For a moment Brian just stood there watching before approaching the bed and sitting down.
"So, do you have any music or do I need to crank up an old Victrola?" Matt winked at him.
"Yes, I have cds, Richie Rich. What do you want to listen to?" Brian pulled out his cd case and poked Matt in the ribs with it as he presented it to him.
"Dude, metal is so dead since GNR broke up....." Matt flipped through the disks. "Hey! Rancid!" He grinned and handed the cd to Brian. "Tim Armstrong is so fucking hot! Someday I am so going to get a tattoo on my neck. That is the sexiest thing ever."
Brian had never heard another guy talk about liking........well, another guy before. Especially not someone famous. He could only smile and nod as he turned on the cd.
"I mean, Robert Smith and Martin Gore are great but there's just something to be said about a manly man who could just.........throw you down and have his way with you. Don't you think?"
Brian started laughing. No one had ever spoken to him like this and he had no idea how to respond.
"You are so damn repressed, Brian!" Matt shook his head. "Embarrassing you is so easy, it ain't even fun anymore! You need to rent some porn or something."
"Why rent it when I could borrow yours?" He was trying his best to flirt back but it was so hard when he had no earthly idea what he was doing. "You must have some or else you wouldn't be bragging about it."
"Of course I do! What else do I have to scare my folks with? My family is Catholic so that means the unholy trinity is being openly gay, leaving porn for them to find and refusing communion."
"You refused communion? Why?"
"Okay, number one: It's wine. And I am never drinking. EVER. I have the body of an athlete, I am not fucking that up with liquor. Number two: If Jesus is alive like they teach us? Don't you think he needs his blood for himself? And number three: If Jesus' blood really is wine.......... sounds like Jesus was an alcoholic! Would you wanna follow a guy like that?!" There was that cocky smile again, daring Brian to say something back. "You wouldn't watch porn with me, Haner. You're so scaredy I couldn't even put my arm around you on the couch without you getting your panties in a twist."
Brian's chagrin must have shown on his face because Matt reached over and ruffled his hair.
"It's okay though. Someone in this world has to stay innocent. Might as well be you."
"Can I aspire to be as worldly wicked as you?" Brian teased, trying not to show how hurt he really was. If there was one thing no 14 year old boy ever wanted to be, it was innocent.
"Sure. You can be the president of my fan club. You can spread the Gospel of Matty far and wide."
"Porn and skateboards for all?"
"Amen and Amen, my son." Matt pretended to bless Brian. "Hey, if you like Rolling Stone, I have a subscription. And I read really fast. I'll bring 'em to school and share 'em. Not like we really need to do work ALL the time when we're there."
"Cool."
The room was getting chilly and Brian was getting very tempted to scoot closer to Matt and cuddle up to him. He excused himself to turn on the heater, shut the dog up in the kitchen and lock up for the night. When he returned Matt was already under the covers, in his bed.
"Hope this is okay. I don't like sleeping alone in strange places. It sort of creeps me out."
Okay? Brian was overjoyed to find Matt in his bed but he knew better than to show it.
"I am sorry about your shirt." He said, changing the subject as he climbed in bed.
"It's okay. I guess Nanook was just so happy to be in from the cold he couldn't help himself. How long have ya had him?"
"Oh man, as long as I can remember. I think we got him as a pup for my brother’s fifth birthday."
"I've got a brother too. Are you two close?"
"Not really. He's a brat!"
Matt laughed and asked Brian to turn off the light. First Brian was afraid he was going to try something, then he was afraid he wasn't. But all Matt seemed to want to do was talk, so talk they did. They named favorite movies, favorite heroes, favorite comics, favorite skaters, movie stars, musicians and even talked a bit of politics. Finally though Matt was taking longer and longer to answer. Then he didn't answer at all.
Anyone else would have considered the night to have at least ended on a good note. Matt seemed to be sleeping quite comfortably next to Brian and surely that meant the night had not been a total wash up. But Brian did not think so. He lay awake for hours listening to the clock tick and the sound of Matt breathing. It was hard enough to sleep with Matt in the same bed but for some reason Brian was starting to feel a chill in the air. He was sure he'd turned on the heater, but the room seemed to be getting colder by the minute.
Finally he gave up and got out of bed. He knew something was up when he stepped out in the hall and flipped the switch and nothing happened. He made his way to the kitchen but the lights were out there too and the refrigerator and freezer weren't on. Next to the fridge, Nanook snoozed in a ball with his head resting on his rear paws. Two of the three occupants of the house were sleeping soundly, why couldn't he? He checked the breakers but they were all set to on. He flipped them back and forth, nothing.
They must've paid the bill late again!
He thought. A lot of times his dad didn't have the money to pay the bill in full so he'd either send payments or pay it late. He'd always call the electric company first and let them know though. This time either he forgot to call in the hurry to go check on his mother or the electric company had gotten tired of the late payments and just shut the electricity off for spite.
Could this night get any worse?!
He didn't bother trying to salvage the expensive food in the fridge, he left it. It was all for Matt anyway.
He felt his way to the restroom, checking to make sure that at least they had running water. They did. There he found a used towel and brought it back to throw around Nanook though the dog had enough fur to keep him warm. Brian didn't want to take a chance though.
He walked slowly back to the bedroom, grabbed the blanket at the foot of the bed and threw it over Matt who continued to sleep soundly unaware. When he went in search of one from himself he found the linen closet only contained towels and his parents' room was locked.
Perfect. Perfect shitty ending to a perfectly shitty day.
Careful not to wake Matt he crept back in bed and tucked his arms inside his t-shirt. The night wore on, the temperature dropped and Brian was then way too cold to fall asleep. All he could do was lay there surrounded by thoughts of his own failure and imagine how Matt was never going to speak to him again after he managed to get out Brian's front door in one piece. He could only imagine the stories Matt would carry back to his friends at school. He probably wouldn't even let him call him Matt anymore, he'd probably go back to just being Matt. Brian curled himself in a ball, covering his face with his hands.
He had no idea how long he'd been crying but he had assumed his hands were so tight over his face that there was no way he could be heard. Suddenly though the bed shifted and he felt a hand on his side.
"Brian, what's wrong?" Matt sat up and immediately ducked his arms back underneath the covers. "Christ! It's freezing! What's going on? What are you doing without anything on your side of the bed. Where's your blanket?"
"I...I only had one. I wanted you to be warm. I ruined everything else! I couldn't let you catch a cold too!" Brian gulped, without turning around. "I'm so sorry. I know you're not ever going to hang out with me again. Hell, you'll probably never even speak to me after this. I should have planned it out better! I should have known----! I should have asked—! I just–! I just–!" Brian's voice broke into incoherent sobs.
"Brian, babe. Take a breath for God's sake! You're gonna choke on your tongue or something!" Matt seemed more startled at his behavior and loss of control than sympathetic or concerned and that only confirmed Brian's fears that he had screwed things up to the point that his new friend hated him.
"Didn't mean to wake you up—." He sniffled, shivering and rubbing his hands over his arms after wiping at his nose. He sat up. "I'll go sleep on the couch."
"Oh you will NOT!" Matt scolded, throwing back the blanket. "You'll freeze out there without something to cover up with." He didn't wait for Brian to respond before pulling him back down in bed, pressing himself up against his thin, shaking frame securing the blanket around the both of them. "Just lay close to me, I'll keep you warm. The blanket is plenty big for the both of us if we're close enough together."
Brian nodded, still trying to catch his breath from both his teeth chattering and crying.
"What happened, babe? Is the heater out?"
Brian gave up. There was no use in trying to pretend he was even close to being in the same league as Matt. Suddenly the whole plan of him spending the night seemed like the stupidest thing he could have ever come up with. There was no sense in trying to front or be anything he clearly wasn't.
"My folks didn't pay the bill on time or didn't pay enough of it. I don't know. Our electricity was cut off. I didn't know, man. If I'd known I would have never asked you over. Just another stupid mistake."
"And you only had one blanket?"
Brian was becoming aware that Matt's arms were around him, starting to realize how close their bodies were and all the places where their skin touched. But the question seemed full of scorn and condescension. What kind of person only owned one blanket? He began to cry again as he nodded.
"I tried to get into their room but it was locked."
"And....and you gave your one blanket to me?" Matt seemed dumbfounded. Obviously the rich did not share.
"I didn't want you to be cold!" Brian cried. "I'd already ruined everything else! I didn't know you didn't eat the same food I did. I bought the most expensive stuff I could. I spent all the money my folks left for me to try and impress you, and I could have just asked! You were so nice to take me to find Nanook. I didn't mean for him to ruin your shirt! That shirt probably cost more than everything in my closet!! There's no way I can pay you back for it!! I'm not as good as you, I'm not as smart as you and all I wanted was to prove that I could fit in with your friends and I can't and I'm sorry! You could have gone with them and done something fun tonight and here you are in this shitty house I'm embarrassed of now with no fucking heat, freezing to death with me. I am really, really sorry!" He sobbed.
"Brian...shhh...." Matt's lips pressed to his forehead as he began to rub at Brian's back and shoulders. "Don't say that. There is nothing wrong with this place. You did not ruin anything about tonight. Do you have any idea how nice it was to go and hang out with someone who wasn't trying to one-up me the entire night? To have a conversation about something other than who's going where on vacation and who stayed at the nicer hotel? It is so nice to lay here and hold someone who's not trying to get me drunk and get in my pants. Brian, you don't understand. I don't get to do this. I don't meet nice guys like you. This has been a great night for me."
Brian tried to speak but it was coming out in gulping gurgles so Matt shushed him again.
"Don't cry, Brian. I ....I could have been a lot nicer about things. I was awful, you shouldn't apologize for anything. You were the perfect host tonight."
"No. No I wasn't."
"You were perfect and fun and accommodating and understanding. I'm just used to being around shallow people. Shallow people act a certain way and you have to act a certain way back, and sometimes you do that so much you forget how to be around anyone else."
"Why did you even agree to stay over?" Brian sighed, still shaking against the cold, but finally starting to calm down a little. "I'm nothing like you're other friends."
"Which is exactly why, Brian." Matt said softly. "You're nothing like them. You're real and intelligent and kind, and grateful for what you have. You're a real person and not a projection of someone else's expectations."
Brian couldn't think of anything to say and wasn't even sure he was understanding what Matt was saying. He nodded and pressed a little closer, still waiting for Matt to come to his senses and push him back.
"I'm used to interacting in a certain way with people. It's like we use the language of disdain. If we showed any genuine love or appreciation of one another, it would be seen as weakness."
"Well that's just stupid!" Brian blurted out, then regretted it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean...."
"No. It is stupid. But that's how some people are and there's no sense in trying to change them, you'll just drag yourself down to their level. Some days it's just easier to play along." Matt had inclined his head and his lips were so close to Brian's ear he could feel the warm exhale of breath. "They're not all fake, any more than I am. We just have to try and keep up appearances for everyone else. Kind of a hard job."
"Don't think I could do that." Brian mumbled, feeling calm return to him for the first time since he'd opened his eyes that morning. He now realized how warm and safe he felt with Matt's arms around him.
"I wouldn't want you to. And you don't have to." Matt let go of him enough to run a finger down the bridge of his nose. "You are not like them so you don't have to pretend. But that doesn't mean you can't be my best friend."
Brian was so surprised at this he lifted his head and his mouth collided with Matt's chin.
"Oh! I'm sorry! Did I—?"
Brian's apology was cut off by a swift, soft kiss that ended so quickly, he almost wondered if he'd dreamed it. Matt's mouth was on his, pressing hard, then nibbling at his lower lip, then pressing again and then it was gone and Brian's head was being held to his chest once more.
"Just wanted to show you I wasn't mad." Matt's voice held the slight edge of laughter waiting to escape. "And face it, who better to give you your first kiss? You know you wanted it and were too scared to ask."
Brian was speechless so Matt continued. "Do you have a number to get a hold of your folks?"
"Yeah." Brian breathed though he was still so stunned he barely heard the question.
"Call them tomorrow. Tell them you're going to stay with me until they can arrange to get the electricity back on."
"What? You...you want me to stay with you? Are you sure?"
"Brian!" Matt sounded as if he couldn't believe Brian would question him. "I was absolutely horrible to you and yet you gave me the only blanket you had and were prepared to silently freeze your ass off the rest of the night just so I'd be warm. That is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me. You AND the dog are staying with me. End of story. I'm not going to let you stay in a cold house without electricity. Especially all by yourself. In a house with no lights and no heat? Friends don't do that."
"Friends...." Brian sighed sleepily, relaxing against Matt as his body finally felt like it was retaining warmth. "What is your house like."
"Um...it's big. You can have your own room if you want."
"I don't like to sleep alone in strange places." Brian giggled. "How's that for aspiring to be like you."
"Bless you my child. You have said the magic words that earn you another kiss. If you want it."
"I do."
Brian slid up higher in the bed, reaching out to Matt and bringing his face closer until their lips met again.
"Mmm...that was nice. You learn fast."
"You're a sensai."
"Grasshopper."
"Teacher."
"Teacher's pet."
"Master."
"Servant."
"Dave Gahan."
"Martin Gore."
"Goodnight Matt."
"Goodnight Brian."
The END
