"Fuck!" Fray muttered, leaning out the plane windows to gape at the slight wreckage. "It's only little but we're stuck. Might as well wait here a while."
"Oh no, what about your photo shoot?" I say in thumping panic. It'd be bad if he didn't make it on time. He'd been talking about the gig for weeks.
"Relax bun," he beamed in reassurance, consulting his black-leathered watch. "It's only sixteen hours till then. Let's go out."
The other passengers had already begun to disembark and we followed suit just as the pilot began saying unto a microphone. "My apologies. We're having a bit of a problem with our tech assistants and therefore we can't continue the journey today. I'd advise you all find a hotel to lodge and assemble here by ten tomorrow or if you want, you can find another plane. My apologies once more." through the disheartening murmurs from enraged passengers, Fray and I ambled onto the road.
"Where is this place?" I asked, rubbing my arms to keep warm. All I could see around us were trees and thickening foliage, no sight of a building or a cab. I look up at Fray to see his eyes narrowing. "You cold?"
"A little," I replied honestly. In one swift motion, he peeled off his red denim jacket, draping it around my shoulders. I latched on it, muttering a thank you. He was so sweet.
"Not sure we'll find a place good enough to sleep in," he said, our footsteps in sync as we padded in the middle of nowhere. It was surreal. Last week, if I'd been told I'd be with Fray Williams, walking in the brink of nowhere on our way to Los Angeles, I'd have laughed out loud and called the person crazy.
I drew in calm breaths, head pounding and hands freezing. I wasn't sure if I was reacting to the near crash with the plane or what he told me about not calling him. He was handsome, I looked like mush. He was famous, I was unheard of. He lured in women, I die for boys. Opposites. Nothing to pull us both together though I spent nights thinking about him, smiling stupidly as I ran my fingers over his photos which I'd cut out from the magazine covers. That's how crazy I was. Pulling my phone out of my pockets, I checked for a message or a call from Mom but found nothing. Judging from how worried she looked when she found out Fray and I would be travelling to Los Angeles together, I expected my phone to buzz to death with calls and texts demanding where the hell we were.
I'd taken Fray's number all right but never felt the need to call him. I didn't want to come off as a creep or be too obvious that I was into him but I waited for him to call anyway. To check up on me as he always did. Never happened. Slowly I began to think I was foolish pinning for someone who would never, even if the world washed away like or love me back. He'd always consider me as a little cute brother who he had to look out for.
Did he misread my gestures? Did he think I forgot about him and simply didn't care? What if I brought it up and he snapped, his expression back at the plane when he pointed it out had been tight. He probably wouldn't want to speak of it and I wasn't in the mood to argue. We'd be stuck with each other for a few hours and already, the butterflies deep in my guts were in full swing.
"Back to the world man," he poked my sides unexpectedly and I jumped back in fine fright.
"Fray! You scared me."
"Stop your daydreams, we've arrived!" we stood in front of a large bustling resort with the inscription, Home or no engraved on the neon calligraphy. Cars were moving in and out of the place and I was sure a good number of passengers would end up here.
"It's beautiful," I gaped at the towering structure in wonder. "But won't a night be too expensive? I mean, I'm out of — "
"Mike?" his solemn tone halts me from my uncertainty. I looked up at him. "You worry too much. Don't worry, I've got you."
"Fray — " I began to protest.
"No objections!" he said sharply, causing me to flinch. "Let me handle it. Put your cash back in."
"Thank you,"
Painfully sweet and caring? Check.
We lodged in and I must admit, the interior is more stunning than it's exterior. There was a fountain in the middle of the lobby where the water streaming out flowed through all the channels fixed in all the corridors. An Arizonian theme and they also served goulash. It was perfect. We were instructed to go up to Room 202 which had a king-sized bed and shinning tiles that just pulled me in. There was a remote control on the mahogany table which we could use to change the lightening themes and ring up the receptionist for whatever we needed.
"No words Fray, no words." I laughed, plopping headlong into the soft foam and bouncing about while he just watched me in amusement. "What's with that face? Come on, hop in with me."
He shook his head, putting our bags away. Well, it's more of my bag because there's no way I'm travelling without packing at least a shirt, even if it's for two days. Packing was one of the joys of travelling, it was compulsory no matter what.
"Shower first, play next." he beamed, slipping his plaid white T-shirt over his head quickly before I could look away causing my eyes to bulge out at how buffed up he was underneath. Not too buffy, a little lean and sexy.
I blink, alerting myself of how rude it was for me to stare. You wouldn't blame me, right? Boys are hot devils, pushing innocents to temptation. I'm innocent.
"Love the view?" he smirked, instantly entrancing me. Lord, help me survive this night. I looked away, turning but still hearing his rustling movements as he stripped himself bare and ambled into the bathroom.
It was only when the door slammed shut, I found it easy to breathe again.
Pulling my phone out once more, I surfed through my photos, forcing my fingers not to click on the special album I'd created for Fray. It was his most dirty shots, ones that made me gulp each time I took a look at them. In one, he was on terribly tight shots which clung tightly to his thighs, hanging low and exposing the upper half of his round, tight ass. He was in a dance pose, his waist curved invitingly. Oh fuck it, I clicked on the photo, licking my lips deliriously, unaware of the silent figure hovering directly above me.
"You have this?" I jolted at his voice, fumbling with my phone which fell anyway with a crash. We both stared at the splintered screen, momentary anger coursing through my veins.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, bending to pick it up. His damp hair which smelt of peaches and something rosy was shoved an inch close to my mouth, and like an addictive drug, I inhaled it hungrily. He came up with all the pieces intact. "It was never my intention to do this. I'll make it up to you, get you a new phone."
"No-no, the phone's old anyway. It's no big deal." I said nervously, hoping he won't bring up the issue about staring at his bare picture. Gawd, I was so close to ignoring, What the hell made me click on it?
"Why do you have that bare picture of me?" he asked, the bed dipping as he sat beside me. Caught! I wrung my fingers over and over like a petulant child. "I-I-I never... it's my...er... Sasha.." I was breathing hard. Damn him for making me feel this much. Damn him for seducing me.
"It's my favourite picture of you. I've had that since last year." I said truthfully, a strange boldness overcoming my initial timidity. Yes, tell him. What's there to lose anyway?
"You know," he reached out for his trousers to take out his phone too. "I have a picture of you too. I took it from Sasha that night you turned sixteen and since it's been my wallpaper." he flicked his phone on to show me a humiliating picture my sister had taken that crazy night where she made me wear her wig before putting on my suit. In it, I was smiling and looked pretty. But I couldn't understand why he made it his wallpaper. I mean, Sasha would question it right?
"But Sasha.." I trailed off, unable to process this new information. "Did she know you had it as your wallpaper?"
"Yeah, she did." he winked at me. "But she has nothing to lose if she's lesbian right?"
Shock would be an inappropriate reaction explaining how I felt. Stunned, I gaped at him, mouth hanging open. He was damn serious. No hint or trace of a smile was on his face.
Sasha, was a lesbian?
"And I care about you so it's kind of a win-win for the both of us. I fell in love with your shy, nerdy personality on the first day. It was like the sky opened and shoved you down with how ethereal you looked."
I nodded, recalling that evening as though it was yesterday. I'd finally gotten my dream phone that day and had practically run a whole mile, grinning and laughing stupidly at my accomplishment with my Dad lagging far off. When I'd ambled into the neighbourhood, I detected a sedan which perked my curiosity. I moved into the booming laughter within our house and that's when our eyes locked. He sat, talking with a second guy and Sasha but upon seeing me, his lips pursed as he took in my whole figure. A woven silence settled, Sasha puncturing it with her frenzied introductions.
"You were the most beautiful human I'd ever seen, gushing over a new phone and your eyes... God, your eyes made me swoon. Mentally of course." he closed his eyes for a moment, perhaps trying to conjure up a familiar image of me that night, gaping at him silently.
"I remember," I whispered. "It was the most glorious moment of my life."
"After that, I began thinking about you every single moment. Each time I close my eyes to sleep at night, it's your face that comes to mind."
"You never told me you felt this way,"
"Oh come on, you're were sixteen."
"Now?"
"Seventeen but still...it doesn't feel right. I'm gonna be 21 this year, do you think people would enjoy the fact that I date a child?"
"I'm not a child!" I said, affronted. "And when did you of all people start considering what others say about you?"
"I wanted to spend time with you, to take you to every photo shoot and wind up late at Beck's munching pizza and chilled coffee. I wanted to sleep and wake up next to you but you were a damn mega nerd who was halfway through grad school. I couldn't try my luck. I couldn't make you fall for me."
He searched my face for an expression, something which probably showed I wasn't uncomfortable with this bit of news.
"But you never called."
A lot of horrid options of what I should say was floating through my mindstream. I still couldn't find one suitable enough so I had to go with. "Me too. I waited for your calls like a child waits for Christmas."
"Fuck," he swore, tapping his knees. "What would you have said if I did call?"
"We'll start with hello..." I trailed off, not sure of what would've happened after that. Perhaps I'd have initiated a late lunch or something. "Then go out for ice cream?" I was jabbering with nerves. What a stupid answer.
He leaned backwards unto the foam, arms around his stomach trying to control his laughter. Guess I did say something funny after all. " You're so cute sometimes, it makes me wanna kiss you."
My lips fell open in shock. "Kiss?"
He quickly sensed his slip up and reached out for my hand, giving it a light squeeze. "Look, I know this whole information is so sudden and I want to give you time to gather your feelings together. Sasha and I broke up long ago but I stayed back because I never wanted to lose you. You don't have to say or explain anything. I'll wait. And even if you don't feel the same way, I'm at least glad I got to tell you my heart and mind. I'll go down now to handle a few things concerning our staying here for the night. Think carefully about it."
He left the room, leaving me in total despair and perspiration. I didn't know where to start from, digesting it all but one thing was certain, I didn't want to lose him too.